Alan Blinston

Alan Blinston started his athletics career with the crack Sale Harriers in 1961. After realising he was not up to the standard required, he packed in athletics and turned to football for three years. He returned to running with the Altrincham & District Athletics Club, however, where he enjoyed success in cross-country, track, and road events.

Blinston first attracted attention in 1967 by winning the Rivington Pike Fell Race, one of the oldest and most prestigious fell races in Britain, founded in 1893 and won by some big names of British distance racing, including Ron Hill, who Blinston beat in 1967. Blinston retained the title in 1968 and 1969, and in between went to the 1968 Olympics. At Mexico Blinston took part in the 5,000 metres but missed out on qualifying for the final after finishing seventh in his heat (first five qualified). There was some doubt as to whether Blinston would go to the Games at all because he suffered from a mild form of epilepsy, but after being given the all-clear by BOA medical officers he made the trip to Mexico.

Blinston enjoyed a special moment in 1969 when he won a five-mile cross-country race in Tunis, beating the local favourite, and 1968 Olympic 5,000 metres champion, Mohamad Gammoudi, into second place. That same year Blinston enjoyed another great moment when he won the bronze medal in the 5,000 at the European Championships in Athens.

Blinston never won a AAA title but was the 5,000 runner-up three years in succession 1969-71, and in the latter of those years was the Northern Counties 5,000 champion. He also won the Rivington Pike Fell Race for a third time in 1977. By profession Blinston was a stock controller at a Wythenshawe shoe factory.

Personal Best: 5000 – 13:39.4 (1971).