WMRA president dies

Posted in Dishing the Dirt by Matt Ward on Wed 11 Feb '09

© www.jamd.com

Danny Hughes - a tireless president

Having worked tirelessly for 15 years as the WMRA President Danny Hughes will not live to see the inaugural World Mountain Running Championships in 2009, something which he had pushed the IAAF to recognise for nearly a decade, as he sadly passed away on Monday.

At 72 years old Hughes could have retired many years ago, however his endless dedication to the sport of mountain running meant that he could never leave the sport that he loved. His CV makes for fascinating reading, not only was a top class athlete but also a nuclear engineer for over 36 years. Having sat on nearly every fell running association or council during the 1980’s Hughes ‘graduated’ the pinnacle of the sports’ administration, the WMRA, becoming President in 1994.

Professional Experiences
1958 – 1994 Nuclear Engineer

Education
1955 – 1958 BSc. degree. Liverpool University.
1974 – 1977 BA. degree. Open University
Sport Activity
1950 – 1996 Club athlete track, cross country, road and fell running
1987 England fell running champion in my age category
1988 British fell running champion in my age category

Sport administration
1994 – present President of the World Mountain Running Association.
1984 – 1994 Secretary of the World Mountain Running Association.
2002 – present Member of EAA mountain running commission.
1980 – 1984 Chairman the British Fell Running Association.
1980 – 1984 Member of BAF Council
1965 – 1985 Local club secretary

© www.kondis.no

Hughes - doing what he loved best...

Speaking of his death his wife Norma stated

Danny died suddenly this morning (9th) of a heart attack. It is the way he would have wanted to go but of course a big shock to us all. I have all the family here so am very lucky

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  1. Gwilym Feb 12, 01:45 AM

    I’m sorry to hear of Danny’s death. It will be a great loss to mountain running. My last WMRA race was the 2008 Feuerkogel Lauf at Ebensee in Austria where I was fortunate to win the 2nd prize in the M60 category, an engraved vase, which I will now treasure in his memory. Every time I place a flower in it I will think , with gratitude, of Danny Hughes and all the good things that he did for our sport.

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