Ralph Banthorpe

Sprinter Ralph Banthorpe was a schoolboy prodigy during his time at Wolverhampton Municipal Grammar School and was the 1967 and 1968 senior 220 yards English Schools champion. He was also the senior Midlands champion in both the 100 and 220 in those same two years. Although he never won a senior AAA title, Banthorpe finished second to South Africa’s Paul Nash in 1968, and was also third in the 200 metres behind Alan Pascoe and Martin Reynolds in 1971. Banthorpe was, however, the indoor 200 champion in 1968.

Having made his Great Britain début while still at school in 1967, Banthorpe was selected for the Mexico Olympics the following year and reached the 200 semi-final, but finished seventh in a race won by the eventual gold medallist Tommie Smith of the USA. Banthorpe also reached the semis with the GB sprint relay squad.

After the Olympics, Banthorpe went to Birmingham university as a dental student and was the UAU 100 metres champion in 1969 and 1970, and 200m champion between 1969-71. He also won the British Universities 100 and 200 titles in 1971. He qualified as a dentist that same year and later took over a practice near Shrewsbury.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.5 (1968); 200 – 20.73 (1968).