As an athlete Shaun Pickering was an Olympian, Commonwealth Video games shot put medallist and a number of Welsh champion within the shot, discus and hammer. But the throws large, who died on Thursday aged 61, may also be remembered for his passionate and energetic efforts to spice up the well being of British athletics, most notably the nation’s up-and-coming younger athletes by way of the charity that was named after his father.
Shaun was the son of Jean and Ron Pickering and you’ll wrestle to discover a household that has had extra of a optimistic impression on the game in Britain. An Olympic dash relay medallist in 1952 and European lengthy soar champion in 1954, Jean was a much-loved determine within the sport and died in 2013. As an athletics coach, instructor and BBC commentator, Ron was one of many best-known characters within the sport earlier than he died unexpectedly in 1991 aged simply 60. Now, the game is mourning the lack of one other member of the household with Shaun surviving only one yr longer than his father.
Born into such an athletics-mad household, Shaun was destined to get pleasure from a life in athletics himself and after competing within the shot put on the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and World Championships in Athens in 1997 he went on to win bronze within the shot on the Commonwealth Video games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
Shaun Pickering (Mark Shearman)
With a better of 20.45m in 1997, his shot greatest nonetheless stands because the Welsh report and it locations him No.6 on the UK all-time rankings. He was additionally a tremendous discus and hammer thrower with bests of 54.38m and 68.64m – the latter being a Welsh report on the time – and impressively received a hat-trick of throws titles on the Welsh Championships a complete of 3 times.
After retiring as an athlete, Pickering was indefatigable when it got here to retaining his dad and mom’ legacy alive. Alongside along with his sister, Kim, he labored with missionary zeal to construct the profile of the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund, which was arrange following his father’s loss of life.
Referred to as the No.1 athletics charity in Britain, the ‘RPMF’ has given greater than £2 million to gifted younger athletes over the previous 32 years largely within the form of annual grants. Round two thirds of British athletes in groups for latest main championships have been helped by the charity at some stage and, amongst different issues, it helped Mo Farah purchase his first pair of operating spikes at a time when soccer boots have been most likely extra tempting.
Shaun Pickering (Mark Shearman)
Jean and Ron have been robust, decided and charismatic characters and Shaun inherited their traits. Being the son of such athletics greats, he had huge spikes to fill however did so in model and made an enormous mark of his personal on the game. His principal space of data was not surprisingly the throws – the place he possessed an encyclopaedic data – however his curiosity spanned all occasions, along with the advertising and marketing and politics of athletics plus the complicated world of broadcasting and tv rights. “Being often known as Ron Pickering’s son opened many doorways and launched me to many nice individuals,” he stated shortly earlier than his loss of life.
Possessing some of the progressive and imaginative minds within the sport, he was by no means wanting concepts to advertise and construct the No.1 Olympic sport. He was passionate and generally argumentative however at all times with the nice of athletics on the forefront of his coronary heart. Beneficiant along with his time and data, he was a superb good friend to many athletes and numerous coaches.
Standing at 6ft 6in tall and weighing properly over 20 stone in his peak years as a thrower, he was an intimidating determine however he was the archetypal light large. Approachable and pleasant, he would at all times discover the time to supply assist or recommendation.
It’s no shock, due to this fact, that social media was awash with tributes after the RPMF broke the unhappy information by saying: “It’s with deep unhappiness that we discovered of the passing right this moment of our beloved Shaun Pickering. Shaun did a lot for athletics and to hold on the superb legacy of his dad and mom Ron and Jean. All our hearts exit to Shaun’s household and buddies at this dreadfully unhappy time.”
British Athletics posted: “Everybody at @BritAthletics is so saddened to listen to this information right this moment. Shaun beloved the game passionately and cared deeply for athletes and his many buddies throughout the game. His work to proceed the success of @RunforRon Fund supported so many athletes.”
The English Faculties AA stated: “A beautiful man, and an enormous advocate for generations of younger athletes,” whereas England Athletics added: “We’re deeply saddened to listen to of the passing of Shaun, who cared passionately for our sport and was an inspiration to so many.”
Lynn Davies, 1964 Olympic lengthy soar champion who was coached by Ron, stated: “Meriel (my spouse) and I are distraught with this very unhappy information. We’ve got misplaced a really shut good friend, who was virtually one in all our household.
“We’ve got at all times been very near the Pickering household since I met Ron and Jean Pickering after they first got here to Wales. Shaun was a proud Welsh athlete and a passionate coach and supporter of athletics on this nation, similar to his dad earlier than him. Shaun was a giant man with a giant coronary heart. We’ll miss him dearly.”
Shaun Pickering with Jemma Reekie and Amy Hunt (Mark Shearman)
Peter Eriksson, the previous Olympic and Paralympic head coach at UKA, stated: “One of many biggest individuals I’ve identified. Shaun helped so many athletes. He’s going to be missed by many and never forgotten. Relaxation in peace, my good friend.”
Ian Hodge, statistician and long-time RPMF trustee, stated: “Shock information to listen to of Shaun Pickering’s passing earlier right this moment. Shaun was a 1996 Olympian, and alongside along with his dad and mom Jean and Ron did an immeasurable quantity for the game of athletics in Nice Britain.”
Fatima Whitbread, former world javelin record-holder, stated: “A delicate large of our sport with a golden coronary heart. He shall be sorely missed,” whereas Chris Turner, director of heritage at World Athletics, added: “Athletics and serving to athletes have been the core of his existence.”
Because the tributes poured in, Paralympic sprints champion Richard Whitehead stated: “Shaun’s legacy would be the Athlete, Coach however extra importantly an important man!! Nice, nice loss to everybody.”
Sprinter Adam Gemili provided heart-felt feedback as properly when he posted: “I can’t consider that is actual. I’m really coronary heart damaged. Shaun was one of many kindest and most beneficiant souls I’ve ever identified. He gave me a house for a yr once I first moved as much as Loughborough. Gone approach too quickly. Relaxation straightforward Shaun, you’ll by no means be forgotten!”
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