More honours for Cardiff
Thursday 22 October 2009
Last Saturday, 17th October, the Annual General Meeting of Welsh Athletics was held at Llandrindod Wells.
John Penny was duly installed as the new President and takes over from Alan Currie. John was a Vice President for seven years and will be President for the next two years.
Other Cardiff members honoured by Welsh Athletics were John Lister, Mary Webb, Mary Lister and Alyson Hourihan.
Heading the quartet of club members to receive awards was former club Treasurer John Lister.
The Awards Panel recommended him for an Award of Honour in recognition of his work over a long period of time at a higher level than Welsh Athletics. John was Honorary Treasurer of the Amateur Athletic Association and, subsequently, the British Athletic Federation for 10 years and followed this with membership of the European Athletics Association Council for 12 years. He chaired its Marketing Committee and his role included negotiations of television and sponsorship contracts on behalf of Eurpean Athletics. He was responsible for the organisation of the 2002 and 2006 European Championships in Munich and Gothenburg. For this work he was made an honorary member of European Athletics and received the IAAF's Plaque of Merit, only the second person from Britain (after Sir Arthur Gold) to be so honoured.
John is now the sixth club member to have received the Award of Honour in the last three years, following in the footsteps of Paul Darney and Graham Webb in 2007, and of Sean Power, Kay James and John Penny last year.
The Awards Panel recommended three club members for Welsh Athletics' Meritorious Award.
Because of her deteriorating health, the award to long serving athlete, field official and Welsh Masters’ Association organiser Mary Webb was made in the summer, and the award has been presented to her family.
The other two recipients are Mary Lister and Alyson Hourihan.
Mary has been a key member of the club's catering group since the days when the club was based at Maindy Stadium in the mid 1970s, organising the important club canteen on club nights and at home matches. She has also been a member of the club’s General Committee.
Alyson Hourihan, a talented thrower in her younger days, continues to enjoy success as a master athlete as well as making an important contribution as a coach, official and South Wales Regional Welfare Officer.
Congratulation to all.