Henry Howes

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameHenry James•Howes
Used nameHenry•Howes
Born11 October 1928 in Brentford, England (GBR)
AffiliationsAldwych Speed Club, Guildford (GBR)
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Although born in London, Henry Howes’ family were originally from Lincolnshire and during World War II, the young Henry returned to the county as an evacuee, staying at Holbeach. After the war, he joined the Aldwych Speed Skating Club and soon showed early promise. A trainee carpenter at the time, he won the British indoor half-and one-mile titles as a 17-year-old in 1946. The following year, he won the Amateur Ice Speed Skating Championship of Britain over 11/2 miles at Bury Fen in Huntingdonshire. It was the first time the Championship had been contested in 10 years because of warm weather. He was runner-up when it was next held in 1951.

At the 1948 Winter Olympics, Howes’ best finish was 18th in the 1,500 metres, and in the process, he knocked four seconds off the British record. Howes competed in the World All-round Championships at Helsinki in 1948, and before he eventually quit the sport, won two more British indoor titles, at half-mile in 1950, and one-mile the following year.

Personal Bests: 500 – 46.9 (1948); 1500 – 2:23.0 (1948); 5000 – 8:56.6 (1948); 10000 – 19:32.1 (1948).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) GBR Henry Howes
500 metres, Men (Olympic) 35
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 18
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 19
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) DNF