David Jones

Sprinter David Jones was the son of a famer. He was educated at Felsted School, Essex where he first took an interest in running. Initially a long-distance and cross-country runner, he soon realised he could only last the pace over short distances. Jones subsequently went on to join the band of successful British sprinters in the early 1960s.

Jones won three consecutive AAA 220 yards titles 1959-61, was runner-up in 1962, and won his fourth title in 1963. He was only the second man after McDonald Bailey to win four 220 titles. Jones was runner-up to Peter Radford in the AAA 100 yards in 1960 and was third behind the Canadian winner Harry Jerome the following year. Jones went to the 1960 Roma Olympics and competed in both individual sprint events and won a bronze medal with Radford, David Segal and Nick Whitehead in the 4 x 100 metres relay. Jones was edged out of a place in the 100 metres final when beaten in a photo-finish by the American Ray Norton in the semi-final.

Jones enjoyed success internationally in 1962 when he won gold in the 4x110 yards relay at the Perth British Empire and Commonwealth Games. He also won bronze in the 220 yards, and at that year’s European Championships at Beograd (Belgrade) he won another bronze with the sprint relay. In the Great Britain v USA match at the White City in 1963, Jones was part of the sprint relay team with Radford, Ron Jones and Berwyn Jones who defeated the invincible USA squad, which included Bob Hayes.

Jones was also a very good hockey player and could well have made the British Olympic squad had it not been for his love of sprinting. He was a fine winger and had a spell with leading club Southgate. He was also the secretary and president of the touring Ghost Hockey Club. Jones, who worked for a local brewery after leaving school, went on to become the assistant secretary of the International Athletes’ Club. He was also part of the ITV track and field commentary team for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Jones had holidayed in the south-west Mallorcan town of San Telmo for many years before settling there permanently in 2003. Apart from a brief return to Britain he eventually died on the island in 2023.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.48 (1960); 200 – 20.9 (1961).