Tipperary born athletics star, Bill Britton, honoured with commemorative plaque

As part of their 60th anniversary celebrations, Ballinamore Athletic Club have unveiled a commemorative plaque in honour of Tipperary-born athlete William T. Britton (1890-1965).

Bill Britton was born on October 12, 1890 into a farming family in Mullinahone, Tipperary. After school in Callan CBS he joined the staff of the Munster & Leinster Bank, first serving in Waterford, Caherciveen, and later Kilmallock.

While in Caherciveen he won the GAA High Jump in 1915 and the Long Jump in 1918, winning it again in Kilmallock in 1919 and 1921.

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Transferred to Ballinamore he won the GAA Long Jump in 1922 and specialising in the hammer throw due to his fine physical stature he now competed under the Rules of the first National Athletics Governing body for the whole of Ireland called the National Athletic & Cycling Association of Ireland set up in 1923.

While Manager in Ballinamore he concentrated on the hammer event winning the National Title for four successive years, 1923, 1924, 1925, and 1926.

He obtained an Irish International vest in 1923, representing Ireland in the hammer in a triangular match in Stoke against England and Scotland.

In 1924 there was no match probably due to the Olympics and Tailteann Games but in 1925 in Croke Park he again took second position behind Malcolm Nokes of England.

He was not included among the ten athletes sent to the Olympic Games where his winning throw in the National Championships in 1923, if replicated, would have got him fifth position.

In 1926 the Triangular contest was held in Scotland and Bill again placed second to Thomas R. Nicholson of Scotland in the Hammer.

In 1927 he was promoted to manage the Cavan Branch. The following year he took part in the English AAA Championship winning the hammer and retaining the title the following year.

He was to win two more Irish Championships, in 1929 and in 1933 and another AAA title in 1933.

In 1930, the NACA sent a small team of five to the first Empire (now Commonwealth) Games in Hamilton, Ontario. Bill was the sole medal winner, taking second in the hammer.

As the Irish Free State did not participate in future Games Bill had the distinction of being the only athlete in any category to win an Empire/Commonwealth Games medal representing Ireland.

He retired from Athletics in the mid 1930s and on retirement from the Bank he went to live in Bray where he passed away on February 15, 1965.

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