Oswald Groenings

Oswald Groenings was a versatile athlete who placed at the AAA Championships in the 120y hurdles, the high jump, and the long jump. He won the AAA 120y hurdles in 1907 and the Northern long jump in 1908. His best performance was probably his world record of 36.6 for the 300y hurdles in 1907. During World War I he was interned in the same German prisoner-of-war camp as Harry Edward, who had been studying in Germany and he was influential in persuading the West Indian to join Polytechnic Harriers when he came to England after the war. The son of Franz Groenings, a music teacher, he later adopted his mother’s maiden name of Birkbeck.

Personal Bests: 120yH – 16.2 (1908); 400H – 57.6ye (1907); HJ – 1.78 (5-10¼) (1902); LJ – 6.68 (21-11¼) (1906).