On a number of occasions I represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Decathlon. However one match against Holland in Vlardingen, 1963, is carved into my memory, as that was the day when I demolished a hurdle in the 110 metre race and as a result met a legend of track and field. Normally a hurdle will tip over when you hit it, but I had clattered this one so hard, it split apart and flew off the uprights!

Back at the start collecting my gear, an elderly blond haired lady came over, showed me the bits of what used to be the top of the hurdle and said with a smile, “What shall we do with this?” After a classic double take to confirm my first impression, I knew she was Fanny Blankers-Koen – the legendary Dutch winner of 4 gold medals in the 1948 Olympics.  So I replied by asking her to sign the two bits, which she did, smiled again and handed them to me.

To read the rest of this personal account by Jack Jones – and to see some photographs of the autographed hurdle, along with a photo of Mary Peters and Eef Kamerbeek, please visit his website by Clicking Here