Pat Clohessy
Patrick Andrew "Pat" ClohessyAM(born 16 May 1933)[1]is an Australian runner and distance running coach.
Middle Distance Career
[edit]Clohessy grew up inMuswellbrook, New South WalesandTamworth, New South Walesdue to his father Patrick being the postmaster withPostmaster-General's Departmentin these rural towns.[2]He took up running when he joined the Muswellbrook Athletics Club in 1953.[3]He had early success in winning the 1954 New South Wales Country Championships 880 yards and one mile events in record time.[3]He then moved to Sydney to run for Randwick Botany Athletics Club.[4]Clohessy then moved to the United States to study and lecture at theUniversity of Houston.He encouraged Australian middle distance runnerAllan Lawrenceto study at theUniversity of Houston.Lawrence went on to win the 5000m at 1960NCAA Championship.[5]
Notable performances by Clohessy as an athlete included:
- Won the 3 MilesNCAA Championshipwhilst at theUniversity of Houstonin 1961 (Philadelphiain 13:47.7) and 1962 (Eugenein 13:51.6 )[6][5]
- Won theAmateur Athletic Union3 miles in 1963.[6]
- 7th in the 3 Miles at the1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games[1]
- 3rd World Games in Helsinki in 1963.[6]
Coaching career
[edit]After returning to Australia from the United States, Clohessy became a teacher and athletics coach atXavier CollegeinMelbourne.[7]It was at Xavier College that Clohessy started to coachRobert de Castella,who would go on to win the marathon at the1982 Commonwealth Games,1986 Commonwealth Gamesand the1983 World Championships in Athletics.[7]In 1983, after 16 years at Xavier College, he was appointed distance running coach at theAustralian Institute of Sport(AIS).[8][7]It was a position he held until 1994 when he took up anAthletics Australiacoaching position inBrisbane, Queensland.[7][4]
In 1998, he took up a position as athletics coach at theUniversity of Queensland.[7]
Clohessy was an athletics coach on the1980and1984 Australian Olympic teamsand1983and1987 World Championships teams.[7]
Notable Australian and AIS athletes coached by Clohessy include:Robert de Castella,Krishna Stanton,Simon Doyle,Shaun Creighton,Susan Hobson,Pat Scammell,Matt Favier,Pat Carroll,Andrew LloydandBrittany McGowan.[7]
In 1994, Susan Hobson edited the book - Pat Clohessy: athlete, coach, mentor published by the Australian Sports Commission.
Recognition
[edit]- 1984 - Member of the inauguralAustralian Sports CommissionBoard[9]
- 1988 - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to sport as a track and field coach.[6]
- 1997 - Life Membership ofAthletics Australia[7]
- 1997 -Sport Australia Hall of FameGeneral Member[6]
- 2000 -Australian Sports Medal
- 2014 - Life Governor ofAthletics Australia[7]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Pat Clohessy".athhistory.sportstg.Australian Athletics Historical Results. Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2017.Retrieved18 September2017.
- ^"Popular Citizens Farewelled".The Muswellbrook Chronicle.9 August 1955.Archivedfrom the original on 28 September 2017.Retrieved28 September2017.
- ^ab"Clohessy is one of our best in years".8 February 1954.Archivedfrom the original on 28 September 2017.Retrieved28 September2017.
- ^abRollings, Barry (24 December 1993)."Clohessy resigns".The Canberra Times.Archivedfrom the original on 28 September 2017.Retrieved28 September2017.
- ^ab"NCAA Division I 5000m Championships (USA)".Association of Road Racing Statisticians website.Archivedfrom the original on 23 September 2018.Retrieved28 September2017.
- ^abcde"Pat Clohessy".Sport Australia Hall of Fame website.Retrieved26 September2020.
- ^abcdefghi"Five honoured".Athletics Australia website.Archivedfrom the original on 29 September 2017.Retrieved18 September2017.
- ^Hourigan, John (6 February 1983)."lohessy becomes fifth AIS athletics coach".The Canberra Times.Archivedfrom the original on 28 September 2017.Retrieved28 September2017.
- ^"Sports commission meets".The Canberra Times.14 September 1984.Archivedfrom the original on 28 September 2017.Retrieved28 September2017.
External links
[edit]- Pat Clohessyat theSport Australia Hall of Fame
- Patrick 'Pat' Clohessyat Australian Athletics Historical Results
- 1933 births
- Living people
- Australian athletics coaches
- Australian Institute of Sport coaches
- Olympic coaches for Australia
- Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees
- Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal
- Australian male middle-distance runners
- Houston Cougars men's track and field athletes
- Sportsmen from New South Wales
- People from Muswellbrook, New South Wales
- Athletes from New South Wales
- NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners