Alec Burns

{{short description|British long-distance runner}} {{for|the Trinidad and Tobago cricketer|Alec Burns (cricketer)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Alec Burns | image = | caption = | nationality = British (English) | sport = Athletics | event = middle-distance | club = Elswick Harriers | birth_date = 5 November 1907 | birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England | death_date = 22 May 2003 (aged 95) | death_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England | height =183 cm | weight =66 kg | pb = | medaltemplates= {{Medal|Sport | Men's athletics}} {{Medal|Country|{{ENG}}}} {{Medal|Competition|British Empire Games}} {{Medal|Bronze| 1934 London | 3 miles}} }}

'''James Alexander Burns''' (5 November 1907 – 22 May 2003) was an English track and field athlete who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.<ref name=Oly>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68930 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref>

== Biography == Burns was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. He became the national 4 miles champion after winning the British AAA Championships at the 1931 AAA Championships<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19310704/264/0013 |title=Athletics records may be smashed today |work=Daily News (London) |date=4 July 1931 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 January 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19310706/286/0014 |title=Few AAA titles go abroad |work=Daily Herald |date=6 July 1931 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 January 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=9 January 2025 }}</ref> In 1932 at the Olympic Games, he finished seventh in the Olympic 5000 metres event.<ref name=Oly/>

Burns represented England at the 1934 British Empire Games, winning a bronze medal in the 3 miles contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/london-1934/athletes |title=London 1934 Team |website=Team England |access-date=11 January 2025 }}</ref>

Burns finished second behind Józef Noji in the 6 miles event and second behind William Eaton in the 10 miles event at the 1936 AAA Championships.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000104/19360711/173/0006 |title=AAA Championships begin |work=Western Mail |date=11 July 1936 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=18 January 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19360713/473/0017 |title=Wooderson wins again |work=Daily Herald |date=13 July 1936 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=18 January 2025 }}</ref> One month later he was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, where he finished fifth in the 10,000 metres competition.<ref name=Oly/>

Burns once again finished runner-up at the 1937 AAA Championships in both the 6 miles and 10 miles races.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000650/19370717/014/0014 |title=The Athletic Championships |work=Liverpool Daily Post |date=17 July 1937 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=18 January 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000671/19370719/011/0011 |title=Six records go by the board at White City |work=Evening Despatch |date=19 July 1937 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=18 January 2025 }}</ref>

His grandson was Richard Burns, the 2001 World Rally Champion.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418003426/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bu/alec-burns-1.html Alec Burns] at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burns, Alec}} Category:1907 births Category:2003 deaths Category:Athletes from Newcastle upon Tyne Category:English men long-distance runners Category:British men long-distance runners Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1932 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1934 British Empire Games Category:Medallists at the 1934 British Empire Games Category:20th-century English sportsmen Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics