William Stoney was runner-up in the ASA 200 yards breaststroke three years in succession 1920-22, before eventually capturing the title in 1923. He was runner-up again for a fourth time in 1924. He qualified for the 1920 Olympics after finishing second in the Olympic trial at Southport. However, at the Antwerpen Games, he just failed to qualify for the 200 metres breaststroke semi-final after finishing third in his heat. At Paris four years later, he fared even worse, finishing fifth in his heat. Stoney won many Yorkshire breaststroke titles, and also captured the backstroke title. He was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) in World War I, and in his role as a local council clerk, had the honour of being the local mayor’s secretary for a while.
Great Britain