Brian Shenton
{{Short description|English sprinter (1927–1987)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Brian Shenton
| image =150px
| caption =Shenton in 1950 British running kit with his trainer
| nationality = British (English)
| sport = Athletics
| event = Sprints
| club = Polytechnic Harriers
| birth_date = 15 March 1927
| birth_place = Doncaster, England
| death_date = 9 May 1987 (aged 60)
| death_place =
| height =175 cm
| weight =70 kg
| medaltemplates=
{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}
{{Medal|Sport| Men's athletics }}
{{Medal|Competition| European Championships }}
{{Medal|Gold| 1950 Brussels | 200 m }}
{{Medal|Silver| 1954 Berne | 4 × 100 m relay }}
{{Medal|Country| {{ENG}} }}
{{Medal|Competition| British Empire Games }}
{{Medal|Silver| 1950 Auckland | 4 × 110 yd relay }}
{{Medal|Competition| British Empire and Commonwealth Games }}
{{Medal|Silver| 1954 Vancouver | 220 yd }}
}}
Brian Shenton (15 March 1927 – 9 May 1987){{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sh/brian-shenton-1.html |title=Brian Shenton |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213000443/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sh/brian-shenton-1.html |archivedate=13 February 2009 }} was a track and field sprinter. He represented Great Britain in the men's 200 metres and men's 4 × 100 metres relay at two consecutive Summer Olympics (1952 and 1956).[http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=4025 British Olympic Committee]
Biography
Born in Doncaster from a working-class background,[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sh/brian-shenton-1.html Brian Shenton] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213000443/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sh/brian-shenton-1.html |date=13 February 2009 }}. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2012-07-22. he was a member of the Doncaster Plant Works Athletic Club,[http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/features/FEATURE-Athletics-club-back-on.5089193.jp Feature: Athletics club back on track] later having a successful career in the City and reaching the position of Chairman of Noble Lowndes. He died in a car crash soon after retirement.[http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/features/FEATURE-Athletics-club-back-on.5089193.jp Feature: Athletics club back on track]
Shenton came to public attention in 1950 with a series of good performances, culminating in a place at the European Championships as a replacement. Described as the "boy from nowhere", he set a new personal best in the semi-finals of 21.6s, in the finals beating off the challenge of Étienne Bally.Daily Mirror, 28 August 1950
He won the gold medal at the 1950 European Athletics Championships in Brussels, Belgium in the men's 200 metres in a time of 21.5s as part of the British team that first topped the medal table with a medal count that would not be matched for a further 40 years.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/athletics/specials/european_athletics/2088372.stm?at= BBC Sport Team GB at the Euros]
Representing the England athletics team he won the silver medal at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, New Zealand, in the 4 × 110 yard relay and won an individual silver medal in the 220 yard dash at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[http://www.commonwealthgames.com/?at= Commonwealth Games] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718144933/http://www.commonwealthgames.com/?at= |date=2011-07-18 }}
He won the silver medal at the 1954 European Athletics Championships in Berne, Switzerland in the men's 4 × 100 metres relay,{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130414074411/http://athletix.org/?p=1310%3Fat European Championships]}} alongside George Ellis, Kenneth Jones and Kenneth Box.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
File:1950 European Athletics Championships Gold Medal for the 200m.jpg
Shenton was the British 220 yards champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1954 AAA Championships{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=16 April 2025}} and the 1956 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=16 April 2025}}
In 1957 Brian Shenton was timed as having set the English 100 yards native record in a time of 9.7 seconds. However, this was disallowed following a ruling that he had had a "flier". Shenton appealed and received a personal hearing at the AAA.Daily Mirror, 14 and 18 December 1957
Memorabilia from Brian Shenton's athletic career was included in an exhibition of Doncaster's local Olympians in celebration of the London 2012 Olympics.[https://archive.today/20121224142822/http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/db/enews/article.asp?Archive=&CatID=31&Art=5000 Olympic exhibition at Cusworth Hall Museum]
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{Footer European Champions 200 m Men}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shenton, Brian}}
Category:Sportspeople from Doncaster
Category:English male sprinters
Category:British male sprinters
Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1952 Summer Olympics
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Category:European Athletics Championships medalists
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1950 British Empire Games
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England
Category:Medallists at the 1950 British Empire Games
Category:Medallists at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games