Roger Leigh-Wood

Roger Leigh-Wood made his first appearance in the Oxford vs. Cambridge match in the 120y hurdles in 1927, and in 1928-28 he finished second in the 440y. He also placed third in the 100y in 1928. At the AAA Championships he finished third in the 440y in 1927-28, and in 1930 he finished fourth in both the 220y and 440y. He was at his best on Achilles Club tour of South Africa in 1929 when he set personal bests for 440y both on the flat and over the hurdles. Although he did not compete in the 440y hurdles at the 1930 AAAs, he was chosen to represent England at the British Empire Games, where he took the silver medal behind Lord Burghley and also won a gold medal in the 4x440y relay. On leaving Oxford he became a merchant banker and, after war service as a Lt. Commander in the RNVR, he joined the board of a number of leading financial institutions and became Deputy Chariman of the Chartered Bank. He was the High Sheriff of Hampshire (1964-65) and a Deputy Lieutenant (1970) and he served as Rear-Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron (1970-74). His father, Sir James William Leigh-Wood, KBE, CB, CMG, adopted the additional surname Leigh by deed poll in 1919.

Personal Bests: 220y – 21.9e (1929); 440y – 48.2e (1929); 440yH – 55.4 (1929).