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| Track & Field Athletics
Australia by Graham
Thomas |
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Profile - Betty Judge
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- Born -
- Australia/Western Australia/Surf
Betty Judge-Beazley was one of Western Australia's first stars in women's athletics. Judge set national records for 880y and starred in the 1940 Australian Championships in Perth, where she was the star of the local team.
Judge was also one of the leading women's administrators and coaches in Western Australia. One of the athletes she assisted was Shirley Strickland, who went on to set world records and win seven Olympic medals.
Judge retired in 1947 to marry and raise a family. Her first son, Kim Beazley junior, later became Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. |
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Betty Judge was a Western Australian student who began competing during the 1938/39 Australian season. Over the next year, she became national record and national championship over 880y.
During her earliest competitions Judge competed in a wide variety of events, including sprints and hurdles, but excelled at the longer 440y and 880y events. She won the WA State 440y in 1939, defending her title until 1941 when championships ceased.
She set state records for both distances - plus a national 880y record - through the 1939/40 season. Her best of 2-24.7 on 2nd March 1940 to win the Western Australian title was also announced to be a world record.
Judge had the benefit of a close rivalry with fellow Western Australian Margaret Orr (Mrs Troode) who was also a talented 440y/880y runner. The two first clashed in 1939 and continued their rivalry after World War II.
With the 1940 National Championships to be held for the first time in Perth, Judge became the Western Australian star of the event, winning gold (880y) and silver (440y) medals. Judge was renowned for having a fearsome kick.
She continued to compete throughout World War II, although ahletics competitions were held irregularly. During the war, Judge moved to Melbourne to continue her university studies.
On returning to Western Australia in 1945, she was instrumental in re-forming the WA Women's Athletics Association and began to coach a number of athletes, including future Olympic legend Shirley Strickland.
Judge resumed competing in the 1946/47 season, winning further WA State Championships at 440y and 880y. She also set another another national record for 880y. She clipped half a second off her record with a 2-24.2 clocking on 8th February 1947. With both 440y/440m and 880y/800m not contested at international level at this time, Judge had little incentive to continue competing. She soon retired to marry and raise a family.
Judge married Kim Beazley, the Federal Member for Fremantle; then the youngest elected politician in Australia. He retired in 1977 as the longest serving member of the House of Representatives.
On 14 December, 1948, the Beazley's first child, a son, Kym Junior, was born. Kim Beazley junior, a Rhodes Scholar in 1973, followed in his father's footsteps, becoming an Australian government minister. Kim junior was Deputy Prime Minister of Australia from 1995 to 1996 and the Leader of the Federal Opposition during 1996-2001 and 2005-2006.
Betty Beazley continued her involvement in athletics after her retirement, becoming President of the Western Australian women's association.
Betty Judge Statistics
PERSONAL BESTS
100y 12.0 Perth 12 Oct 40
220y 27.4 Perth 19 Oct 40
330y 39.8 Perth 14 Feb 41
440y 59.3e Perth 09 Mar 40
60.1 Perth 24 Feb 40
880y 2-24.2 Perth 08 Feb 47
PROGRESSION
440y 880y
1939 61.4 2-35.0
1940 59.3e 2-24.7
1941 61.7 2-30.3
1942 62.5 2-29.8
1943
1944
1945
1946 65.8 2-34.9
1947 63.6 2-24.2
CHAMPIONSHIP HONOURS
Australian Championships
1940 GOLD 880y
1940 SILVER 440y
The above biography is a basic profile.
As soon as I have time, the more detailed bio will replace this
page.
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1995-2008 by Graham
Thomas |
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