Athletics NSW celebrates 135 years

20 April 2022

Athletics NSW celebrates 135 years

On this day 20 April 1887, 135 years ago, Athletics NSW was founded. Titled the Amateur Athletics Association of NSW, it would also manage athletics in the new nation. At a meeting at the Messrs Levy and Scotts’ rooms in Oxford Street in Sydney, E. G. Carter, honorary secretary of Ashfield AAC, formally moved a motion “It is desirable to form an association to be called the Amateur Athletics Association of New South Wales to take the management of amateur athletics sports in this colony”. The motion was seconded by F. W. Maddocks, Honorary Secretary of Eastern Suburbs AAC.

Carter also said: ”…the want of such an association is keenly felt here, especially at the present time, when speculative amateur handicaps are being got up. There are also such a number of unattached amateurs that the clubs suffer at their sports’ gatherings in consequence.”

More than 20 men attended the historic meeting including representatives from Sydney & Teachers AAC, Sydney High School and Newington College.

The first patron was Premier Henry Parkes and President Richard Butcher (Eastern Suburbs AAC). The first committee would include leading sports administrator Richard Coombes. One of the first, now controversial rules, was to ban labourers from being admitted to the association.

In 1887 the NSWAAA and the NSW Amateur Cyclists’ Union petitioned the State Government for a grant of land to hold amateur competitions. This was granted and the Sydney Sports Ground (SSG) was built. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, the venue was the home of women’s athletics in NSW. The SSG was the venue for the Australian Championships in 1920, 1936, 1958, 1966, 1971 and 1977).

In 1888 the first NSW Championships were held, just one event was contested the 1000 yards. The following year the 100 yards and 440 yards events were added.

Richard Coombes took a small NSW team to New Zealand in 1889 to compete in their national championships. Coombs asked Ne Zealand to send a team to the 1890 NSW Championships. The Inter-Colonial meeting held at Moore Park in Sydney on May 31, is regarded as the first unofficial Australasian Championships. Unusually instead of a wooden take off board for the long jump, an eight-inch slab was used by officials.

The Inter-Colonial meeting was a great success and laid the foundations for future championships and a union. It became obvious that an Australasian Championships were required and in 1893 a Memorandum of Agreement was entered into by the Amateur Athletic Associations of New South Wales, New Zealand and Victoria to hold championships every two years with the venue being rotated. The first Australasian Championships were held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in November 1893, and with seven victories, NSW was the leading team. The star at the championships was William MacPherson who won the 100 yards (9.9), 220 yards (22.7) and 440 yards (50.2). The mile was won by Victorian Edwin Flack.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: An 1890s committee, includes two prominent administrators (standing left) W.B. Alexander and (seated second left) E.S. Marks. Both served as Secretary of Athletics NSW.