Mike Bullivant

Mike Bullivant won the Midland Counties 7-miles title as an unknown 22-year-old in 1956. It was unfortunate for him that Britain had some excellent distance runners at the time like Gordon Pirie, Bruce Tulloh, Ron Hill, Derek Ibbotson, and Roy Fowler. Nevertheless, Bullivant was selected for the three miles at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and finished 11th.

Bullivant finished third in the AAA six miles behind winner Tulloh in 1959 and third in the six miles, won by Pirie, in 1961, when Bullivant won the North of England three miles title. After finishing second to Fowler in the six miles in 1962, Bullivant was selected for his second Commonwealth Games at Perth, Australia, and finished ninth.

Bullivant won his only AAA title (six miles) in 1964 in a UK and European record 27:26.44. He was third the following year behind 1964 Olympic silver medallist Mohamed Gammoudi and Ron Hill. Gammoudi finished second in the 10,000 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, while Bullivant was nearly two minutes behind the Tunisian in 21st place. Bullivant was also a fine cross-country runner and won the 1963 Midland Counties title and was Derby champion virtually every year throughout the 1960s.

Bullivant, who was an assistant Magistrates clerk, qualified as a barrister, and in 1979 was called to the Bar in London. He announced his retirement from international athletics in 1965.

Personal Best: 10000 – 29:06.6 (1965).