Joe Birrell
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Born | 11 March 1930 Cockermouth, England |
| Died | 19 November 2024 (aged 94) Norwich, England |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event | 110 metres hurdles |
| Club | Barrow Grammar School |
Joseph Robert Birrell (11 March 1930 – 19 November 2024) was a British hurdler who competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics.[1]
Biography
[edit]Birrell was born in Cockermouth, England, on 11 March 1930. He was educated at Barrow Grammar School and gained significant success as a junior, winning the junior AAA title in 1947.[2]
Birrell became the British 120 yards hurdles champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1948 AAA Championships.[3][4]
Shortly after the AAAs, Birrell represented the Great Britain team at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, when aged 18. He competed in the men's 110 metres hurdles, finishing 4th in heat three.[2]
Birrell finished third behind Don Finlay at the 1949 AAA Championships[5] and completed his national service in the army until 1950. He went to Loughborough College in September 1950.[6]
Birrell's younger brother Bob went to the 1960 Summer Olympics.[2]
Birrell died on 19 November 2024, at the age of 94. He was survived by his wife, Marjory, and their three daughters.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Joe Birrell Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
- ^ a b c "Biographical Information". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "Won AAA titles". Daily Herald. 5 July 1948. Retrieved 12 April 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ The People Sunday 4 June 1950, page 8]
- ^ "Joe Birrell, hurdler at the 1948 London Olympics who later coached Idi Amin at basketball". The Telegraph. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
External links
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- 1930 births
- 2024 deaths
- Alumni of Loughborough University
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics
- British male hurdlers
- Olympic athletes for Great Britain
- People educated at Barrow-in-Furness Grammar School for Boys
- Sportspeople from Barrow-in-Furness
- Military personnel from Cumbria
- 20th-century British Army personnel
- British Army soldiers
- English male hurdlers
- English hurdler stubs