Arthur Jones

Arthur Jones started life as a middle-distance runner with Herne Hill Harriers before getting his chance at race walking, which he continued doing after joining the Royal Air Force (RAF). By the time he had left the RAF he had joined Brighton AC and walking was his priority. He rose to prominence in 1967 when he made his international début and finished second to Ron Wallwork in both the AAA two miles and RWA Race Walking Association (RWA) 20 km. Jones was also third in that year’s RWA 10km behind Wallwork and Shaun Lightman. Jones captured his first major title in 1968 when he beat Bob Hughes to win the AAA two miles. Jones went to the Mexico Olympics that year and was the first Briton home in the 20km in 11th place.

A panel beater at the time of the Olympics, Jones emigrated to Australia six months after the Games. Living first in Sydney, he continued race walking and in 1970 won the New South Wales 10km title and was third in the national 20km. Jones moved to Adelaide in 1975 and it became his new permanent home. He became secretary/president of the South Australia Race Walkers Club and was race director of the City-Bay Fun Run for a few years. He retired from the sport for 20 years until the late 1990s when the Masters Games were held in Adelaide. Jones joined South Australia Masters Athletics (SAMA) in 1999 and later became vice-president 2000-05, and then president until 2009. He was also the race-walk coordinator.

Personal Best: 20kmW – 1-34:51 (1968).