January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

Eight inducted into Sports Hall of Fame


By Don [email protected] | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Last night's Hall of Fame ceremony promised something for everyone. World champion triple jumper Brian Wellman was selected in his first year of eligibility while world champion sailor Eugene 'Penny' Simmons was also an easy selection.

Also selected was softball umpire Michael Preece, tennis stalwart Allan Simmons, football referee Charlie Marshall and beloved road running legend Stanley Burgess.

The biggest surprise of the night was the selection of two long-forgotten rugby players who suited up for England.

Dr. William Tucker, and his son, Bill Tucker had eight caps for England between them and 32 caps for Barbarians.

William Tucker played for England in the 1890s while Bill Tucker was capped during the 1920s and 30s.

William Tucker, whose dad and grandfather were inducted, said: "It is a huge honour for our family that both my father and my grandfather have now been nominated for the hall of fame. It's a rare thing indeed for a father and son to receive this kind of honour."

While that was the surprise gem of the night, Wellman's selection was almost a foregone conclusion. The four-time Olympian won a host of medals across various major international meets in the 1990s and early 2000.

Wellman, always the class act, said while he was happy to be selected he was still looking for the future.

He said: "Hopefully, I can inspire other Bermudians to do better than me. This is a nice honour to be in the Hall of Fame, but it is not about me, it is about inspiring other Bermudians to do well."

[[In-content Ad]]Stanley Burgess

Born: September 1, 1901

Died: June 3, 1984

* Nicknames: The Iron Horse, Mr. Marathon, Grand Old Man, The Champ, Sir Stanley Burgess

* Won the Bermuda Marathon Derby six times

* won a rival Marathon Derby race five times

* Oldest man to win the Derby at 49

* Ran with a handkerchief on his head and drank a 'secret' concoction to help give him strength.

Charlie Marshall

Born: August 21, 1939

* BFA President 1990-94

* Founding member of the Bermuda Referee's Association

* BRA President 1978-82

* Honorary life-President of both the BRA and BFA

* Received an MBE for services to sports in 1992

* Officiated at 20 international events

Michael Preece

Born: December 18, 1942

Died: July 18, 2008

* Elected to the International Softball Hall of Fame 2007

* Umpired in four World Championships

* Umpired in 16 other major championships

* Umpire-in-chief from 1972 to 2008

Eugene 'Penny' Simmons

Born: November 15, 1938

* Four time Olympian (1964, 68, 72, 76)

* Six time International One Design world champion (1985, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2005)

* Nine-time IOD runner-up

* Bermuda Athlete of the Year 1956, 1985-86

* Bronze medal in the Snipe class at the 1967 Pan Am Games

* Pan Am Games 4 times

* Bermuda National Snipe champion 20 times

Dr. Bill Tucker

Born: August 6, 1903

Died: August 4, 1991

* Capped three times by England

* Capped 13 times by British Barbarians

* Captained Blackheath and Middlesex rugby teams

* Won MBE for his services in the Second World War

* Founded the London Clinic for Injuries

* Helped found the British Association of Sports and Medicine

* Received a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for his services as a surgeon to the royal family.

Dr. William Tucker

Born: August 17, 1872

Died: October 18, 1953

* First Bermudian to represent England at rugby

* Captained Cambridge University rugby team

* Five caps for England

* 19 caps for Barbarians

* Played for Kent

Allan Simmons

Born: December 31, 1929

* Founding member of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association

* Former president of the BLTA

A former director of the Bermuda Olympic Association

* Former ranked #1 tennis

player in Bermuda

* Only person to be ranked #1 in the open and over 45 category

* Instrumental in getting Bermuda to join the ITF

* Lifetime Achievement Award for tennis

* Honorary life vice president of the BLTA

* Represented Bermuda in the Stevens' Cup

* Represented Bermuda in the 1967 Pan Am Games

* BLTA president David Lambert said: "He just wasn't a great player; he was a great administrator with a vision to identify programmes that would help the sport grow. Tennis is enjoying success now because of Allan Simmons."

Brian Wellman

Born: September 8, 1967

* Triple jumper

* Four Olympic games

* Two Olympic finals (5th 1992, 6th 1996)

* World Indoor Champion 1995

* Set World Indoor Championship record with a leap of 17.72 metres

* World Outdoor Championships silver medalist 1995

World Indoor Championships bronze medalist 1993

* Finalist at the IAAF World Championships 1991, 93, 95, 97, 99, 01

* Commonwealth Games bronze medalist 1994

* CAC Champion 1999, 2000

* CAC bronze medalist 1997

* Top 10-ranked triple jumper from 1992-1997, and 2001

* Five-time Bermuda Athlete of five times

* Won two U.S. college titles

* Carifta gold medalist 1986

* National team coach Gerry Swan said: "Brian without a doubt is a classy act. He always conducted himself with dignity and respect."


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