John St.Leger THORNTON

John Thornton finished second to Don Finlay in the AAA 120y hurdles three times (1936-38), having been a finalist in 1931-32. He placed fifth in the 1936 Olympic final, but enjoyed his best season the following year when he won both his international match races, inflicting a rare defeat on Finlay in the match against Germany. He also set a career best in 1937 when he beat the American star Leroy Kirkpatrick in Bruxelles. In the 1938 European Championships 110 metres Hurdles he finished fourth. Thornton worked for Imperial Chemical Industries from 1934-39, when he was commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders. He served at El-Alamein, and in the Sicilian campaign and was killed in the Normandy landings.

Personal Bests: 110H – 14.5 (1937); 220yH – 24.5 (1933).