John Giles

Shot putter John Giles was around at a time when Britain was starting to develop some good up-and-coming throwers. Nevertheless, he went on to win representative honours with the AAAs, Middlesex, London, England and Great Britain. He was a member of Southgate Harriers (later Haringey AC) when he won his first Middlesex county title in 1948. His victory gained him selection for the Olympics, where he reached the final round, eventually finishing 11th. The following year, Giles was the only Southgate athlete to win an event at the Kinnaird Trophy meeting. He also won the Southern title, before becoming the 1949 AAA champion, when he was the first Briton to win the title since Rex Woods in 1926. That was to be Giles’ only AAA title. However, he finished third in 1948 and 1950 and was second in 1952, when he gained selection for his second Olympics, but this time failed to qualify for the final 12. The new British number one John Savidge went on to finish sixth.

Personal Best: SP – 15.44 (1950).