John CORNES

Running for Oxford vs. Cambridge, Jerry Cornes won the 880y (1932), the mile (1930-32), and the cross-country race (1931). He placed second in the AAA mile in 1930, was the winner in 1932, and was a finalist in 1934 and 1936. He was also a member of the team which set a world record for the 4x1500m relay in the 1931 match against Germany. Shortly after winning the AAA mile in 1932, Jerry Cornes obtained a cadetship in the Colonial Administrative Service and was posted to Nigeria but, in order that he could compete in the Olympic Games, arrangements were made for him to travel to West Africa via Los Angeles. He also finished third in the mile at the British Empire Games in 1930 and 1934. His track career was interrupted by the years he spent in Nigeria. He missed the 1933 and 1935 seasons and his successes of 1934 and 1936 were achieved while he was on long leaves from Africa. He left Nigeria in 1937 to take up a post in Palestine and he returned to the Colonial Office ten years later. Back in England, he still ran occasionally and was one of the finishers in the Southern Counties cross-country championship in 1949. In 1954 he was appointed Headmaster of West Downs Preparatory School in Winchester.