A FORMER world champion triathlete from Wrexham has been entered into the Hall of Fame for athletics in North Wales.

Peter Norman, from Penycae, was diagnosed with leukaemia earlier this year and died at home where he was being cared for by his family.

His own successes in ironman triathlons - which involve swimming two and a quarter miles, a bike ride of 112 miles topped off with a full marathon - and duathlons were all the more remarkable because he didn’t take up running until he was in his 50s.

As well as winning three world triathlon titles in his 70s, Peter was also a former British champion fell runner in his age group.

The competitions took him right around the world and he was still running earlier this year, winning his age-group in the World Duathlon championships in Ibiza in April.

His daughter Kim has now received the posthumous award made by the North Wales Regional Athletics Council (NWRAC) to mark his entry into the Region’s Hall of Fame. 

The Leader: Kim Norman accepts the award alongside Bob Frost (L), Tony Parry and Linda Jones (R)Kim Norman accepts the award alongside Bob Frost (L), Tony Parry and Linda Jones (R) (Image: UGC)

At the presentation in Queensway Stadium was Paul Brooks, Regional Secretary, handing over the trophy to Kim, together with her friends Linda Jones, Tony Parry  and Bob Frost who (with Bernie Jones) had made the nomination.

A statement on the NWAC website said: The October meeting of NWRAC discussed a nomination for the Hall of Fame from Bob Frost – himself an inductee – and Bernie Jones, for the late Peter Norman. Suffice it to say that this was passed unanimously.

"Peter was a stalwart of athletics in North Wales and a long-time member of Wrexham A.C. His exceptional service to that club included organising the Village Bakery half marathon, the Helena Tipping Memorial 10km road races and the Moel Y Gamelin and Ponderosa fell races, all of which were in aid of club funds.

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"He also organised the Farndon 10km on behalf of several charities and was the race director for the club events in the Borders League – not forgetting his involvement in the N. Wales 10 miles championships in Wrexham and the Mayor’s Charity 5km in Rhos.

"His honours included winning the NWRAC “Services to Road running” trophy in 2002 and in 2010 he was awarded the Welsh Athletics “Meritorious Service Award” for 15 years of service to the sport.

"During his career in the sport, Peter won innumerable medals as an athlete at the Regional cross-country championships and represented the Welsh Masters many times over the course of his long involvement. His most recent success came earlier this year at the National cross country championships where he won the M85 category."

Peter's daughter Kim, said her father would have been honoured by the nomination.

She added: "Dad had been part of the running club for as long as I can recall but this award is different as it's not for sporting achievements but for services to the sport which he would have been very honored to receive.

"I received the award with Dad's good friends Linda Jones and Tony Parry who both supported Dad and the family through his short illness back in July and both are and have been Wrexham athletic club members."