THE JOHN C BARD TROPHY
Outstanding UK veteran thrower |
 Presented to the Hammer Circle by Lt. John Bard of the U.S. Army, as a memento of his active participation in hammer competitions in the U.K. during his graduate years at Oxford University. He achieved his PB of 181 feet in 1956 He returned to the United States in that same year and he presented the trophy to the Hammer Circle in 1957. It took until 1958 to be manufactured in London. It took the form of a 3 inch diameter medallion on a plinth. On one side of the medallion is a relief impression of a hammer thrower in action, and on the reverse is a reproduction of the Hammer Circle badge.
The trophy was intended to be awarded annually to the 'most outstanding senior world hammer thrower'. Other conditions were that it's award shall be confined to active or honorary members of the Hammer Circle who normally reside outside the U.K., and that it only be awarded once to the same athlete, except in most exceptional circumstances, and that the qualification 'outstanding' does not necessarily apply to the athlete with the longest throw, but that it should be interpreted in its broadest sense. Each winner of the award will be presented with a suitably inscribed replica.
The first winner, in 1959, was Hal Connelly of the U.S.A. The then World Record holder and a most worthy recipient. In a letter to Bill Stringer he said 'Let me take this opportunity to thank the Hammer Circle for the very nice trophy I recently received. It shall always be one of my most cherished possessions'.
The 2nd winner in 1960 was Vasiliy Rudenkov of the U.S.S.R. who won the gold medal so convincingly in Rome. Making him an honorary member and presenting him with the replica proved much more difficult. Despite several representations to the Russian Embassy in London, it was not until September of 1961, when visiting London with the Russian team that the trophy was presented, along with a Hammer Circle tie and badge.
The trophy was not awarded in 1961 as no thrower was considered to have qualified as outstanding. After a few years it was realised that it was impossible to present this trophy. John Bard then agreed that it should go to the outstanding U.K. Veteran Thrower. This trophy tends to go to that person who has made a significant personal achievement as a Veteran.
| Winners | | 2009 | Jack Kee | | | 2008 | Malcolm Fenton | | | 2007 | Chris Black | | | 2006 | Rob Earle | | | 2005 | Bill Gentleman | | | 2004 | Chris Melluish | | | 2003 | Chris Black | | | 2002 | Chris Black | | | 2001 | Chris Black | | | 2000 | Chris Black | | | 1999 | Malcolm Fenton | | | 1998 | Chris Black | | | 1997 | Jenny Cunnane | | | 1996 | Malcolm Fenton | | | 1995 | Chris Melluish | | | 1994 | Paul Dickenson | | | 1993 | Mrs Pat McNab | | | 1992 | Paul Dickenson | | | 1991 | David Bayes | | | 1990 | Mrs Pat McNab | | | 1989 | Peter Aston | | | 1988 | Peter Aston | | | 1987 | Chris Melluish | | | 1986 | Jack Kee | | | 1985 | David Bayes | | | 1984 | David Bayes | | | 1983 | David Bayes | | | 1982 | Jack Kee | | | 1981 | David Bayes | | | 1980 | Niall McDonald | | | 1979 | Laurie Hall | | | 1978 | Niall McDonald | | | 1966 | Gyula Zsivotsky | | | 1961 | Not awarded | | | 1960 | Vasiliy Rudenkov | | | 1959 | Hal Connelly | | |
