Reg Thomas

After placing second in the AAA mile in 1928 and at 880y in 1929, Reg Thomas won the mile three times (1930-31, 1933). Thomas did not take part in the next three Championships as he was serving with the RAF in Egypt, but on his return home, placed fifth in the AAA mile in 1937. Although stationed abroad he usually returned for the RAF Championships, where he won the mile title eight straight times between 1927 and 1937, 880y (1929, 1933), and 3 miles 91935). Other highlights of a length but interrupted career include a gold medal in the mile and a silver medal in the 880y at the 1930 British Empire Games and a British mile record in 1931. In the British Empire Games he represented England. He could not compete for Wales because Wales did not have a national athletics association in 1930. In 1939 he was 44th in the International Cross-Country for Wales. Having survived the war, during he was commissioned and awarded the AFC, he was killed in a peacetime flying accident when the plane he was flying crashed into a nursing home.

Personal Bests: 800 – 1:53.6 (1929/37); 1500 – 3:53.5 (1937); Mile – 4:13.4 (1931); 2 miles – 9:26.6 (1931); 3 miles – 14:53.4 (1935).