Shot to Prominence

After completing GCE's in 1963, Barbara and her friend Margaret Ashcroft found their way down to Wallasey Athletic Club for the first time. After several years of being a keen but unsuccessful athlete, in 1967, Barbara suddenly shot to prominence when she travelled to Rochdale to take part in the 3rd and final Women's Northern League cross country race of the season, and instead of finishing in her normal position, well down the field, she actually won the race, finishing ahead of Phyllis Lowis who had won the previous two races. Within three months, Barbara finished 2nd in the Women's Northern CC Championships, 20th in the Women's National CC Championships, and was first counter in 3rd place in the winning Northern team versus London and the Midlands in the Women's CC Inter League match. Then in the summer on the track she won the Cheshire half mile championship and won a 3000m track race in a time of l0min 6sec that was, at that time, regarded as a world record. For these achievements, she was awarded Wallasey's Sports Personality of the year for 1968. This w as only the beginning of Barbara's very successful athletics career.

The photo shows Barbara Banks just beating Jill Simmons of Wirral A.C. in the women's 880 yards final of the Liverpool Parks amateur athletic championships held at Wavertree Playground on 23/7/1969.

Team Champions

Although Barbara was always competitive, she was never very ambitious, and was not prepared to let running dictate her lifestyle. Barbara was a free spirit and just when her athletics career was taking off travelled to Mexico in 1968 with her good friend Margaret Ashcroft to watch the Olympic games. Among other great performances, they had the good fortune to be in the athletics stadium, watching the men's long jump when Bob Beaman achieved his incredible World Record leap of 8.9m and when Dave Hemery won the 400m hurdles for Great Britain in a World Record time.

Barbara continued to run well in 1969 and 1970 at a time when a number of very good lady runners were members of Wallasey AC. In 1969, she set an English native and UK national record of 9min 54sec for 3000m on the track at Stretford in the summer, in the autumn was included in the potential athletes' squad for the Commonwealth Games, and in the winter led the Wallasey Senior Women's team to the Cheshire Cross country championship. The success continued in early 1970, winning the Northern CC Championships, and later, after finishing 4th in the National CC Championships.

The photo shows Northern Cross-Country winning team 1972 at Rawthenstall comprising from the left Janice Watts, Margaret Ashcroft, Barbara Banks and Mary Caldwell

Maryland

Barbara was selected to represent England in the International CC Championships in Maryland USA, where she finished in 4th place, 2nd counter in the w inning English Ladies team. A further international appearance in a 1500m race followed in Warsaw Poland, but unfortunately Barbara missed out on the Edinburgh Commonwealth Game's selection. Barbara was a better long distance than middle distance runner at a time when women did not often compete over distances further than 1500m on the track. If there had been a 3000m or 5000m race at the Games, Barbara would have had a better opportunity to qualify. After further successes both individually and with the Wallasey Ladies team that included Margaret Ashcroft, Janice Watts, Mary Caldwell and Shaena O'Dell, Barbara, in her inimitable way, set off for a six-month trip to India. Despite missing so much training and competition Barbara returned to gain even more successes both individually and as part of the Wallasey Ladies team. After finishing 5th in the National CC in January 1973, Barbara was again selected to run in the Women's International CC Championships, this time at Wageram, Belgium where she was 5th counter in the English winning team. This was after leading the Wallasey Women's team to further successes in the Cheshire CC Championships, a magnificent victory in the Northern CC Championships, and a remarkable 5th place finish in the National Championships. In 1972, she also captained the Cheshire Woman's team that included Margaret Ashcroft to a first ever win in the Inter Counties.

In June 1973 Barbara flew to India to marry Budha Majumdar. Although she competed for a couple of years after that, competitive athletics began to take a back seat.

The photo shows Barbara Banks (England) setting the pace in the International Cross-Country Championship in Maryland. Photo Francie Johnson

Lillian Board and Jane Perry Eclipsed

Perhaps Barbara's most famous race was the 1 mile held at the West London Stadium on 10 May 1970, when she finished 2nd to Jane Perry of Wirral AC. The race attracted so much attention and achieved blanket coverage in the National press because it was the first 1-mile race attempted by Lillian Board who was the European 800m champion and an Olympic 400m silver medallist. Although the public were desperate for Lillian to win, she had to be content with 3rd place. Barbara enjoyed a remarkable athletics career despite her laid-back attitude to success. She considers herself to be unremarkable, but somebody who always gave of her best, and considers that if she could do it then there is hope for everyone else. She is still very active, taking part in orienteering events, and guess what; she has represented England at orienteering as well.

The photo shows Barbara Banks (97) and Jane Perry (95), Lillian Board (96), at West London Stadium on 10th May 1970.