Suzanne Farmer-Allday

Suzanne Farmer-Allday was one of the finest British throwers and, in addition to setting nearly 20 British discus and shot records, she won 16 Senior outdoor and indoor WAAA titles between 1952-63, including four successive years 1958-61, when she won both the shot and discus in the same year. Allday also won the Intermediate (under-17) discus, shot and javelin titles in 1951.

A one-time matron at a boys’ school in Suffolk, and later a teacher, Allday competed in three Olympics without collecting a medal. In three British Empire and Commonwealth Games, however, representing England, she won one gold (discus 1958), two silver (discus 1954, shot 1958) and one bronze medal (shot 1962). She also competed in the javelin in 1954. Her gold medal in 1958 was the highlight of her career and she clinched victory with a new Games record 45.91 metres, with the final throw of the competition. She also competed in the shot and discus at the 1958 and 1962 European Championships, with a fifth place in the shot at Stockholm in the first of those years, being her best result. Allday represented Great Britain 35 times, which stood as a record for a British woman until it was surpassed by fellow discus thrower Rosemary Payne.

Personal Bests: SP – 15.18 (1962); DT – 47.70 (1958).