Cyril Holmes

In the years leading up to World War II, Cyril Holmes and Arthur Sweeney dominated British sprinting. Holmes’ best year was 1937 when he won the AAA 100y, both sprints at the World University Games and five times in six starts in individual races for Britain in various international matches. His only international loss that year was in the 100y against Germany when he finished second to Sweeney. In 1938 he was the double sprint champion at the British Empire Games (100y and 220y) and he finished second in the 4×110 yards relay (with the non-Olympians Ken Richardson, Sandy Duncan, and Lawrence Wallace). In 1939 he won the AAA 220y. He was also the AAA indoor champion at 70y in 1936-37. Holmes continued to produce top-class performances throughout the war during which he served as an instructor in the APTC at the RMC Sandhurst. He closed his international career in the match against France in 1945 and then concentrated on rugby. He was capped three times on the wing by England in the 1947-48 season and scored a try on his international début in the Calcutta Cup match against Scotland. He was employed as a director of the family oil company.

Personal Bests: 100y – 9.7 (1938); 100 – 10.5 (1939); 220y – 21.2 (1938).