Winifred Sadie JORDAN

Winner of many Midland Counties women’s titles, Winnie Jordan (formerly Jeffrey) won six individual WAAA titles. She was the 100 metre champion in 1937, 1945, and 1947-48, and the 200 metre and 440 yard champion in 1945, when she also helped her club, Birchfield Harriers, to the 660 yard relay title. Jordan was also runner up in the 100 in 1946 and the 200 in 1946 and 1947.

The year after winning her first WAAA title, Jeffrey travelled to Australia to compete in the 1938 Empire Games, but it was a journey she would never forget. As one of five British 17-year-old girls on board the ship when it docked at Adelaide, they were not allowed to leave the ship immediately due to an outbreak of infantile paralysis (polio). The other girls also quarantined were Dorothy Odam, Lorna Frampton, Joyce Harrowby and Margaret Jeffrey (no relative). Eventually they left the ship, and Winnie Jeffrey won a silver medal in the 660 yard relay, and bronze in the 4 x 110 relay. She also competed in the individual 100, when she was involved in a bizarre event. Originally placed fourth in her heat, Jeffrey missed out on a place in the semi-final. The judges, however, realized their mistake and she was placed third, and thus qualified for the semi. She was unaware of events, and despite trackside appeals for her to come to the start for her semi-final, she could not be found and was therefore declared a non-starter.

Jordan’s next appearance in a major international event was a much happier one. She won two silver medals at the 1946 European Championships in the 100 and 200 metres. In the 4 x 100 relay, along with Sylvia Cheesman, Maureen Gardner and Joyce Judd, she finished fourth.

Personal Best: 100 – 12.0 (1937).