Peter Elliott
DoB 9th October 1962

The most successful club athlete at international level
Peter joined RHAC when aged 12 – in January 1975.
He ran his first race at Rawmarsh Comprehensive school, in that same year. He only ran because the football field was flooded, and he could not play football – his favourite sport. He sailed home in first place, having no idea that he could run so well. His parents were not athletes, but interestingly two of his great uncles, Fred Smith and Henry Smith had been members of the club. Photos are contained in the history section. Following his win in the school race ,the school team was hastily re-organised. In the cross country event Peter set off in the lead, but unfortunately he and the other six leading runners were misdirected. They emerged on the hard shoulder of the M1 motorway near Brinsworth, and were picked up by a passing police car.

Peter was coached by Steve Moxon and Bill McRobb during his early years with RHAC, and later by Wilf Paish, Kim McDonald and Pete Watson.

Amongst his early successes with RHAC were :

1st Yorkshire boys XC champion in 1977

English Schools Champion in 1977 and 1979 at 800m and Cross Country

Wins in the Yorkshire champs, northern champs and National youths XC titles (in 1980).

Peter is the former under 15, under 16 and under 19 record holder for 800m.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Peter went on to achieve fantastic results and championship performances at National, European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic levels.

Peter was Northern 800m champion in 1981 and 1982.

In 1983 he was ranked No2 in the world indoor 800m rankings (Behind Seb Coe) winning the European indoor silver medal at the distance.

In 1984 he had to pull out of the Los Angeles Olympic games 800m  with a stress fracture in his right foot.

In 1985 he won the Yorks Championship 800m in 1:49.4 , with clubmate Cliff Williams finishing 3rd in 1:51.9.

In 1986 he was 3rd in the Commonwealth games 800m. Steve Cram was first and Tom McKean 2nd. Peter also won the 800m Mobil GP final in Rome in 1:46.91.

In 1987 he won the AAA’s 800m champs in 1:48.71, beat Sidney Maree over 1500m in Spain in 3:34.76 and won the Silver medal in the World Championship 800m in Rome where he set a pb of 1:43.41 to finish behind Billy Konchellah of Kenya
in a world best time for the year of 1:43.06.

In 1988 Peter set a new British Indoor mile record of 3:53.7 at Meadowlands in New Jersey USA., won the Yorkshire 1500m title at Cudworth,
set a new pb for the mile in the Dream mile, and was selected for the Olympic games 800 and 1500m events

In 1989 he was voted “Yorkshireman of the year”

In 1990 he won the Commonwealth 1500m Gold medal in 3:33.39.  

This link takes you to the UKAthletics page on Peter.

The full list of achievements, medals and times are below

Peter winning the Westminster mile in 1987