Athletics club marks 50 years of talent

ATHLETICS Chilwell will celebrate 50 years of producing top end talent with an anniversary celebration next Sunday.

The club started with little athletics in 1966 before expanding to include a senior club in 1967.

Since then it has produced a swag of elite level athletics talent including Olympian Lee Troop, Para- lympian Richard Colman, Kelly Cartwright, Ned Weatherly (above) and past champions Graeme Lloyd, Paula Hutton, John Bedggood, Jenny Howard and Geoff Saunders.

Athletics Chilwell Life Member Peter Anderson said the anniversary was a great chance to celebrate the club’s phenomenal history.

“We have had Australian representatives at Commonwealth Games and Olympics with Lee Troop. Over the past 50 years we’ve done very well,” Anderson said.

“Clubs go up and down (in terms of talent), but we have done well with our athletes.”

The club was founded by local primary school teacher Ray Neal and has expanded significantly since its early days as a Little Athletics club.

The afternoon function will be held on Sunday, May 7 at the Geelong Bowls club from 2.30pm.

Anderson said he was still on the hunt for club memorabilia or photos.

“It’s a great chance to get together and reminisce,” Anderson said.

“It’s a great achievement and it’s going to be a nice afternoon.”

Anderson encouraged anyone with memorabilia or with an interest in coming to the event to call 5229 3920 or 0402 263 842.