Colin Shillington

Colin Shillington
Personal information
NationalityBritish (Northern Irish)
Bornc.1938[1]
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died2003
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Sport
SportAthletics
Event
Middle-distance
ClubWillowfield Harriers

Colin John Graham Shillington (born 1938 – 2003) was an athlete from Northern Ireland, who represented Northern Ireland at the British Empire and Commmonwealth Games (now Commonwealth Games).

Biography

Shillington was a member of the Willowfield Harriers Athletic Club.[2] He studied at Trinity College Dublin and at the 1958 Ulster Championships won the half-mile title.[3]

Shillington was named by the Northern Ireland AAA in the final 1958 Northern Irish Team for the forthcoming Empire and Commonwealth Games.[4] He subsequently competed at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales,[5] participating in the two athletics events;[6] the 880 yards race,[7] and the 1 mile race.[8]

Shillington continued to impress over middle-distance races and represented the British team.[9] He broke the Northern Irish 880 yards record in June 1960. His father R.E.G. Shillington was a County Inspector and chairman of the RUC Athletic Association.[10]

Later in life, Shillington was president of the Commonwealth Games Council and chairman of the Northern Ireland Sports and Recreation Trust. He died in 2003.[11]

References

  1. ^ "No Medals Yet - But Miller Comes Near". Northern Whig. 21 July 1958. p. 8. Retrieved 16 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "Mile highlight to-day". Northern Whig. 21 June 1958. p. 20. Retrieved 16 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "Only four Ulster titles retained". Belfast News-Letter. 16 June 1958. p. 8. Retrieved 16 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Two athletes added to the Empire Games Team". Belfast Telegraph. 27 June 1958. p. 14. Retrieved 16 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Ulster team for Empire Games". Belfast News-Letter. 19 June 1958. p. 7. Retrieved 16 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Northern Ireland Cardiff 1958". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Athletics 880 Yard - Men Cardiff 1958". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Athletics 1 Mile - Men Cardiff 1958". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Colin Shillington for half-mile in RUC Sports". Northern Whig. 23 June 1960. p. 8. Retrieved 16 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Shillington breaks record in 880 yards". Belfast News-Letter. 27 June 1960. p. 7. Retrieved 16 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Obituary: Sport loses a great benefactor". Belfast Telegraph. 5 March 2003. Retrieved 16 November 2025.