Sam Blatherwick

Sam Blatherwick certainly had a long and varied aquatic career. At the age of 11 he was the Yorkshire Schoolboys Life Saving Champion, a title he won three years in succession. He later became the six-times British Life Saving Champion, and in 1908 tied for first place with Germany’s Oskar Schiele in the Royal Life Saving Society’s coveted King’s Cup at Highgate Ponds. He also finished third in 1911 and tied second in 1912.

As a swimmer, Blatherwick won more than 300 trophies and was the first Yorkshire mile champion in 1908, and went on to win it in its first six years of existence, 1908-13. He also won the Yorkshire quarter-mile title seven times, 250 yards three times and 100 yards once. He finished third in the 15-mile race on the River Thames from Richmond Lock to Blackfriars in 1910 and 1911, won by fellow Olympian Syd Battersby on both occasions. On a Scandinavian tour in 1909, Blatherwick won the 100 and 400 metres freestyle titles of Finland, and the Swedish 100 metres title. The following year he won the German open 100 and 400 metres freestyle titles and was also their breaststroke champion. Despite his many successes, Blatherwick never won an ASA title; finishing second in the 200 metres breaststroke in 1910 was his only podium finish.

Blatherwick joined, and became captain of, the Croft House SC water polo team, and helped them to win six Yorkshire titles as they went on to become the most prominent side in the County for well over a decade. He was also a swimming coach at Croft House and was appointed the senior Yorkshire ASA coach. He developed many talented youngsters, and developed the skills of 1948 Olympian Jack Hale. Blatherwick worked as a swimming baths attendant most if his working life, and in 1927 was appointed manager of Sheffield’s Hillsborough Baths.