Instagram story viewer> @david_tarbotton> Posts
David Tarbotton(@david_tarbotton)'s profile avatar HD Profile

David Tarbotton

@david_tarbotton

4.7K
followers
5276
following
Worked at Athletics Australia, Athletics NSW, & NSWIS, now with Gold Coast CG2018. Documenting athletics OG & CG via stats, images & articles
POSTS STORIES REELS
#OnThisDay 70-years ago, 13 Oct 1956 It was day 1 of the three-day Australian athletics trials for the 1956 Olympics. Events were held on a cinder track at the old Olympic Park venue in Melbourne on 13/14/20 October 1956. Sydney’s Jim Bailey, who had defeated John Landy in America earlier in the year, won the 800m and 1500m, with Landy not competing. Bailey did an extra lap of the track to ‘warm down’, however, the crowd did not take kindly to his action and he received only a few handclaps amid a barrage of boos and jeers. Ahead of the trials it was announced Landy will not run in the Olympic trials. Landy said: "Unless my ankle tendons mend within a month I may not be able to compete in the Olympics." Olympic selectors excused him from the trials but told him he must prove his fitness before he was selected. NSW high jumper Doug Stuart had a difficult journey to the trials. The student at Michigan University, who had a PB of 2.04m and competed for Australia at the 1950 and 1954 Commonwealth Games, sailed on an oil tanker to Jakarta, but missed his connection to Australia and was forced to travel on a Dutch cattle boat to Singapore to reach Australia. The 130,000km journey, which cost him £200 likely effected his performance, as he placed 4th with a jump of just 1.85m. To return to America, he had to work his passage back on a tanker. 1950 CG gold medal winning triple jumper Brian Oliver was except from the trials. Stationed in Darwin at the RAAF base, he received an exception on compassionate grounds because his wife was expecting a baby. He was named in the team 10 days after the trials. Victorian journalist Judy Joy Davies wrote: “A future world athletic champion to fill the shoes of Marjorie Jackson thrilled the crowd of thousands at the women's Olympic trials at Olympic Park during the weekend. She is 18-year-old Betty Cuthbert, of Sydney, who annihilated her more experienced opposition to win the 100 and 200 metres Olympic trials. Blue-eyed, fair-haired Betty, who is as quiet as a lamb off the track — develops into a fighting dynamo with the heart of a lion once her spikes touch the cinders.” Photos Lois Jackman, Jim Bailey, Betty, Marlene by @david_tarbotton
#OnThisDay 25 September 2000 – Day 4 of the athletics program at the Sydney Olympics. The evening session crowd was 112,524 spectators, the largest in history and it is widely regarded as the greatest night in track and field history and is known as ‘Magic Monday’. And of course Cathy Freeman won gold in the 400m - it was a journey which started at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. My collage of her journey. #Sydney2000 by @david_tarbotton
#OnThisDay 16 September 1956, 70-years ago was the first television broadcast. It was just 9 weeks before the Melbourne Olympics. Some images of cameras in 1956 (& prior), including: 1, 3, 4, 5 - 1956 Olympics 2 - 1956 OG Torch relay 6 - 1936 Olympics 7 - 1930s Australian Cross Country Championships by @david_tarbotton
2026 Cross Country Nationals The end of Harry’s junior xc journey Determination 2019 Didn’t make state xc 2020 Covid 2021 17th State xc 2022 14th State xc 2023 6th U17 Nationals (24th U18 race) 2024 6th U18 Nationals 2025 3rd U20 Nationals 2026 2nd U20 Nationals 2023 was a turning point. Joining @toomz13, @newcastleflyers and his group of young runners started it all. Meeting some of his idols at Bathurst Worlds XC was another moment. Elite sportspeople should never underestimate the effect they have on their young fans. Can’t wait to see what lies ahead in the future! #running #australianathletics #nswathletics #crosscountryrunning #motivation by @david_tarbotton
With one week to go until the 2026 Sydney (NSW) Half Marathon Championship, we throwback to the 2013 NSW Half Marathon Championship 2026 Vs 2013 event -Venue – Sydney Olympic Park v narrow pathway at Lake Gillawarna at Georges Hall -177 athletes (53 women) v 2000+ 2013 winners: Jack Colreavy 71:51 and Milly Clark 81:55 Competing were: ▪︎ 20-year-old Rosie Weber (94:57) ▪︎ Athletics Easts trio – Chamkaur Dhaliwal (8th), Rebecca Holmes (9th) & Naomi Tancred (11th) ▪︎ Bankstown’s Richard Kolodziej ▪︎ St George’s Robyn Basman (3rd) ▪︎ Sydney Uni’s Hugh Williams & Meso Images David Tarbotton by @david_tarbotton
Throwback to the 2017 Australian XC – some familiar faces here, including: -Two Milan 2026 Olympians Lara Hamilton and Rosie Fordham. -Abbey Caldwell -Amy Bunnage -Hatfu Strintzos, Zachary Facioni -Tom Do Canto, Max Stevens -Brielle Erbacher -Jaylah Hancock-Cameron -Leanne Pompeani -Ben Bishop -Reece Langdon Images: David Tarbotton by @david_tarbotton
We know about the career of Mona the marathoner, but Steve Moneghetti, born and raised in Ballarat, is Australia’s finest male cross-country athlete. SUPERLATIVES Steve Moneghetti, XC career AT Australian Cross Country: -won medals at the Australian XC 21 years apart (1983 to 2003), including gold in 2003 (see image) -he won five medals and two gold/titles -oldest winner (male or female) aged 40 in 2003 -earliest appearance was 7th in under-19 race (while aged 16) in 1979 in Perth. Won 1982 U19 title   AT World Cross Country: -4th 1989, highest individual place by an Australian male -11 appearances, most by any AUS male or female -best places 4th 1989, 6th 1992, 11th 1987, 15th 1991, 16th 1996 -In 2004 aged 41, he became our oldest representative -Eight top-30 places #TarbyStats Image Steve Moneghetti on the way to winning the 2003 Australian XC title by @david_tarbotton
76 years ago on the 9 February 1950 at Eden Park, Auckland Australian athletes delivered their most successful single day in Commonwealth Games history. They won 6 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze. TONIGHT in Glasgow we should comfortably exceed that as there are 19 events on the program. Another tally that could be exceeded is swimming's most sucessful day which was recorded in Glasgow (29 July 2026 - 9G, 2S, 2B = total 13) 9 February 1950 GOLD (6) 220 yard Marjorie Jackson Triple Jump Brian Oliver 220 yard John Treloar 80 metre Hurdles Shirley Strickland 120 yard Hurdles Peter Gardner Javelin Charlotte MacGibbon-Weeks SILVER (4) 220 yard David Johnson 120 yard Hurdles Ray Weinberg 220 yard Shirley Strickland Triple Jump Les McKeand BRONZE (1) Triple Jump Ian Polmear Images from that day 9 February 1950 by @david_tarbotton
SUPERLATIVES Isaac Beacroft Gold 10,000m walk 38:45.51 Aged 19 years, 13 days ■ Youngest winner of a race walk at the Commonwealth Games (men or women, any distance, any country) ■ Second youngest Australian male gold medallist in an individual event at the Commonwealth Games ■ Youngest Australian male gold medallist for 52 years ■ Coach David Beacroft #TarbyStats by @david_tarbotton
Could the Australian Track and Field Athletics team in Glasgow achieve one of the most successful single day in Australian sporting history?? Day 5 (tonight) we have a few gold medal prospects, but on day six - Saturday night/Sunday morning, this unusual timetable has 19 events to be decided and Australia are a chance to win as many as 8-12 gold medals and a total of 15 to 20 medals. This could far exceed the swimming team in Glasgow who achieved their most successful single day in CG history (9G, 2S, 2B, total 13) and track and field's greatest single day at the Commonwealth Games well over half a century ago. Photos coutesy of Fred Etter by @david_tarbotton
With the Track and Field starting in Glasgow in 24 hours, here are some resources and an invitation to digest the many athlete stories in the athlete biographies. MEDIA GUIDE Visit the Australian Athletics website for the 2026 media guide. I’ve had the privilege to produce these since 2002, including the bumper 2018 edition (310 pages) and 2006 edition (136 pages) which covered the largest ever Australian Athletics team (120) in history. ATHLETE BIOGRAPHIES Thank you to the athletes who have shared their biographical information and allowed me to tell their story. They have given us an insight into their pathway in the sport. It has also been an opportunity for the athletes to reflect on their journey, and who have been influences on their athletics career and supported them along the way. The biographies have enabled them to give a shout out and show gratitude to their support team. Some recommended biographies: ■ Marley Raikiwasa (Shot Put): injured and didn’t compete for a year, on limited preparation this years she has putt the longest distance by an Australian for 38 years. ■ Jackson Sharp (5000m): Most influential person in career: jointly Gary Howard and Mick Byrne (college coach). Gary has (still does) provide unwavering support despite me living in the USA for almost seven years.  ■ Sienna Newton (T38 Long Jump): Diagnosed with a brain tumour at age 8, not in the late teens an accomplished actor and studying at NIDA ■ Ky Robinson (5k/10k): from an unspectacular junior career to now the Australian record holder in 5000m/10,000m. ■ Isaac Beacroft (walks): Only athlete to CG and World U20s. Most influential person in career? Comfortably my Dad who is also my coach, a man who has been on every step of the journey with me and given up so much of his time for my benefit ■ Monique Hanlon (200m): Most influential person in your career? My parents are my biggest support and dedicate so much of their own time to helping my sister and I to train at 100%. Seeing my parents overcome their own battles really puts into perspective how lucky I am when I am healthy, and training well and also motivates me to come back stronger from injury. by @david_tarbotton
The Australian Athletics team in Glasgow are a definite chance to sweep the podium in an event or two. Medal sweeps are rare, here are a few in Australia’s history: 2002 women’s marathon, 1938 women’s 220 yards and 1950 Men’s triple jump. by @david_tarbotton

Download All

Save the photos and videos currently loaded on this page.

0Photos
0Videos
Ready to download 0 / 0

Keep this tab open until your download is ready.
back to up