FOR somebody who "doesn't particularly like running" Bewdley's Ted Dalton has a remarkable set of achievements to recollect from his athletics career.

The 71-year-old, of Woodthorpe Drive, became an international cross country runner after starring for his Birmingham club team Birchfield Harriers and competed against greats including Algeria's Alain Mimoun and English national cross country champion Gordon Pirie in the 1950s.

However, Mr Dalton revealed had he not been forced to compete in a cross country event during his time in the army he would never have taken up the sport.

He said: "At Budbrooke Barracks in Warwickshire in 1947 there was a race when the first three finishers won a special pass to go home for the weekend and everybody had to compete.

"I began running and at one point passed Corporal Smith who was cycling and he remarked to me how he didn't know I could run. "I replied, 'neither did I'!

"I then ran the wrong way but still managed to win the race and my whole career went from there."

Perhaps his biggest honour came in 1953 when he represented Birchfield Harriers at the English Cross Country Championships.

He finished sixth overall and was first home for the club to become club champion and earned his place to compete in the European Championships Cross Country Championships in Brussels, Belgium.

Mr Dalton went on to compete at several English cross country championships and often defeated the reigning champions.

Running has influenced Mr Dalton's life in more ways than one, as he met his wife Margaret at Birchfield Harriers' training ground. He described her as being 'the prettiest girl at the club at the time'.

His biggest sporting love is undoubtedly table tennis though, and he is still a keen competitor in the Kidderminster and District League.

Mr Dalton said: "I have always loved table tennis and went to extraordinary lengths to play. Where I used to live in Hockley in Birmingham I could see into the Quaker Church building and on Friday night there would be snooker and table tennis events.

"I would sit on a wall and watch and one day actually joined the church just so I could play table tennis!"

Mr Dalton's other hobbies include walking his dog to the river at Arley, mountain biking and cycling. He also enjoys painting, especially cartoons, and spending time with his family, including three great-grandchildren.