Mike Parker

During his time at Repton School, Mike Parker took up hurdling and represented the school at the London Athletics Schools´ meeting at White City in 1956. On going up to Cambridge University, he became an athletics Blue, competing in both the high hurdles and the hop step and jump. In 1959 Parker was appointed the junior treasurer of the Cambridge University Athletics Club, and in 1961 became president.

Parker won the AAA 120 yards hurdles title in 1964 and enjoyed four other podium finishes, including finishing second to Pakistan´s Ghulam Raziq in 1968 when, as the highest UK finisher, Parker was that year´s champion. Additionally, Parker was the AAA indoor champion three years in succession1964-66 and was five times the Midlands champion 1960, 1963-64, and 1967-68. He set the UK national record of 13.9 in an international match against Hungary at Budapest in October 1963.

Parker´s 1964 AAA triumph saw him selected for the Tokyo Olympicsm where he reached the 110 hurdles semi-final before finishing last of eight. He went on to win silver, however, at both the 1966 European Athletics Indoor Championships at Dortmund and the British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Kingston, Jamaica. Parker appeared at his second Olympics in 1968 but was eliminated in the first round.

Personal Best: 110H – 13.9 (1963).