Tony Bullen

Although he had been speed skating since the mid-1950s, the major successes of Nottingham clerk Tony Bullen centred around the period 1963-67. During that time, he was a member if the Nottingham Ice Racing Club and won the Amateur Skating Championship of Britain on the Lincolnshire Fens at Spalding in December 1963. He retained the title when next held in January 1967. On that occasion he broke the championship record of 4:03.74 set in 1908, as he became the first man to win in under four minutes.

In between his two national titles, Bullen competed at the 1964 Winter Olympics in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 metres with a 22nd place finish (out of 44 starters) in the 5,000 being his best result.

Bullen was also a keen cyclist during his skating days and was a member of the Sherwood Cycling Club. He later became a British Cycling Federation coach.

Personal Bests: 500 – 47.1 (1964); 1500 – 2:18.9 (1964); 5000 – 8:12.4 (1964); 10000 – 17:19.8 (1964).