Frank Sando
Encyclopedia
Frank Dennis Sando (born March 14, 1931) is a retired British World Cross-Country Champion. Regarded as one of Britain's most accomplished athletes, Frank was a dominant force throughout the 1950s, winning the International Cross-Country Championship in 1955 and 1957, and representing Great Britain in two consecutive Summer Olympic Games
.
, Sando first began his involvement in athletics at sixteen - breaking the school mile record and showing early potential for distance running.
Simultaneously, Sando began an amateur career at Maidstone Harriers, winning the Kent County Junior Cross-Country Championship in 1948 and the Kent Youth Cross-Country Championship in 1949. He finished fourth in the English Youth Cross-Country Championship in 1948 and 1949.
Having left school, Sando undertook National Service in October 1949, joining the army. In 1951, he broke the Army 3-mile record which had stood for 23 years, having previously that year won the Inter-Services Cross-Country Championship.
The following year, 1952, he finished 5th in the National Cross-Country Championships and 9th in the International Cross-Country Championships. Over the next eight years Sando maintained an admirable record of finishing in the top eight positions in the International Championships, as well as an extended period of captaincy of the British team over seven years. In 1952, he was called up to represent Great Britain
at the Helsinki Olympic Games, in the 10,000m. In this event, he famously finished a respectable 5th - despite losing a shoe early in the race.
In 1954, Sando ran in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, where he finished 2nd in the six miles to Peter Driver and 3rd in the three miles to Chris Chataway. Later in that year he finished 3rd in the 10,000m in the European Athletics Championships in Berne, Switzerland - which was won by Emil Zatopek
. He married Sybil Page in September of the same year.
Sando went on to win the International Cross-Country Championships in San Sebastien, Spain in 1955. In 1956, after returning from injury, he finished 2nd in the International Cross-Country Championships. Running well in the domestic track season of 1956, Sando was selected to represent Great Britain in the 10,000m in the Olympics of that year, and left for Melbourne full of confidence. Unfortunately, he finished in 10th position; probably the biggest disappointment of his athletic career, and marking the final time at which he would represent his country on the track.
In 1957, Sando won the National Cross-Country Championship at Parliament Hill Fields and the International Championships, signalling a return to dominant form and going some way to make up for the setback in Australia.
The International Championships of 1958 resulted in a 3rd place finish for Sando, and in the two consecutive years he finished 2nd and 8th in the same competition. In 1961, he failed to qualify for the national cross-country team, and retired from serious athletics in order to concentrate on family commitments and further study. This was the end of a legendary long distance running career, well-remembered by the international athletic community.
Frank continues his involvement with athletics in an organisational capacity, having been President of Kent County Athletics Association in 1980 and 2003, as well as various other administrative roles within the county organisation. To this day, he continues to be involved in organising grass roots cross-country events.
From 2007-8, Frank served as President of the Old Maidstonian Society.
like their grandfather).
Frank continues to live in Aylesford, Kent with his wife and dog - within sight of the Aylesford Paper Mill training ground where his athletic career first began.
2. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=32046
3. http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/frank-sando-1.html
4. http://www.s195364797.websitehome.co.uk/bah/images/46_49extract.pdf
5. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=32755
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
.
Early life
Frank Sando was born on March 31, 1931 in Maidstone, to Ernest and Maria Sando. Attending Maidstone Grammar SchoolMaidstone Grammar School
Maidstone Grammar School is a grammar school located in Maidstone, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1549.-Admissions:The school takes boys at the age of 11 and over by examination and boys and girls at 16+ on their GCSE results. The school currently has almost 1200 students and approximately 120...
, Sando first began his involvement in athletics at sixteen - breaking the school mile record and showing early potential for distance running.
Simultaneously, Sando began an amateur career at Maidstone Harriers, winning the Kent County Junior Cross-Country Championship in 1948 and the Kent Youth Cross-Country Championship in 1949. He finished fourth in the English Youth Cross-Country Championship in 1948 and 1949.
Having left school, Sando undertook National Service in October 1949, joining the army. In 1951, he broke the Army 3-mile record which had stood for 23 years, having previously that year won the Inter-Services Cross-Country Championship.
Senior career
Leaving the army in 1951, he began working for the Reed Paper Group in Aylesford, Kent, where he met his future wife Sybil Page. After resigning from Maidstone Harriers, Sando joined the Paper Group’s athletics club, juggling work, professional examinations, family commitments and his blossoming athletic career. It was at this time that he gained the nickname: the "Maidstone Mudlark".The following year, 1952, he finished 5th in the National Cross-Country Championships and 9th in the International Cross-Country Championships. Over the next eight years Sando maintained an admirable record of finishing in the top eight positions in the International Championships, as well as an extended period of captaincy of the British team over seven years. In 1952, he was called up to represent Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
at the Helsinki Olympic Games, in the 10,000m. In this event, he famously finished a respectable 5th - despite losing a shoe early in the race.
In 1954, Sando ran in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, where he finished 2nd in the six miles to Peter Driver and 3rd in the three miles to Chris Chataway. Later in that year he finished 3rd in the 10,000m in the European Athletics Championships in Berne, Switzerland - which was won by Emil Zatopek
Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
. He married Sybil Page in September of the same year.
Sando went on to win the International Cross-Country Championships in San Sebastien, Spain in 1955. In 1956, after returning from injury, he finished 2nd in the International Cross-Country Championships. Running well in the domestic track season of 1956, Sando was selected to represent Great Britain in the 10,000m in the Olympics of that year, and left for Melbourne full of confidence. Unfortunately, he finished in 10th position; probably the biggest disappointment of his athletic career, and marking the final time at which he would represent his country on the track.
In 1957, Sando won the National Cross-Country Championship at Parliament Hill Fields and the International Championships, signalling a return to dominant form and going some way to make up for the setback in Australia.
The International Championships of 1958 resulted in a 3rd place finish for Sando, and in the two consecutive years he finished 2nd and 8th in the same competition. In 1961, he failed to qualify for the national cross-country team, and retired from serious athletics in order to concentrate on family commitments and further study. This was the end of a legendary long distance running career, well-remembered by the international athletic community.
Later life
After retiring from athletics, Sando studied at Birkbeck College and graduated with a degree in Statistics in 1964. The following year he resigned from the Reeds Paper Group and joined the Civil Service. He retired from the Civil Service in 1991 as Chief Statistician.Frank continues his involvement with athletics in an organisational capacity, having been President of Kent County Athletics Association in 1980 and 2003, as well as various other administrative roles within the county organisation. To this day, he continues to be involved in organising grass roots cross-country events.
From 2007-8, Frank served as President of the Old Maidstonian Society.
Family and personal Life
Frank is married to Sybil Sando, and the couple have two children - Lorraine and Andrew - and two grandchildren, Benjamin and Toby Abbott (who both attended Maidstone Grammar SchoolMaidstone Grammar School
Maidstone Grammar School is a grammar school located in Maidstone, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1549.-Admissions:The school takes boys at the age of 11 and over by examination and boys and girls at 16+ on their GCSE results. The school currently has almost 1200 students and approximately 120...
like their grandfather).
Frank continues to live in Aylesford, Kent with his wife and dog - within sight of the Aylesford Paper Mill training ground where his athletic career first began.
External links
1. http://www.racingpast.ca/john_contents.php?id=1682. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=32046
3. http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/frank-sando-1.html
4. http://www.s195364797.websitehome.co.uk/bah/images/46_49extract.pdf
5. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=32755