Ruth Martin-Jones

Ruth Martin-Jones (also known as Ruth Swinhoe and Ruth Howell, born 28 January 1947)^[1] is a former long jumper and heptathlete.^[2]

Ruth Martin-Jones

Personal information
Nationality	British (Welsh)
Born	(1947-01-28) 28 January 1947 (age 78) Criccieth, Gwynedd, Wales
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Long jumper, heptathlete
Club	Birchfield Harriers
Medal record Women's Athletics Representing  Wales Commonwealth Games 1974 Christchurch Long jump

Biography

Martin–Jones is from Oswestry and attended the University of Birmingham, taking a^[3] French PhD.^[4] By 1972 she was teaching in Beaconsfield.^[5]

Martin–Jones finished third behind Sheila Sherwood in the long jump event and second behind Ann Wilson in the pentathlon at the 1972 WAAA Championships.^[6][7]

She competed for Great Britain at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, finishing 28th in the long jump event. She was the first Welsh women to compete at the Olympic Games.^[1]

At the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, she won a bronze medal competing for Wales. Her jump was equal to silver medalist Brenda Eisler, but Eisler had a better second jump.^[1][8] later that Summer she became the British long jump champion after winning the British WAAA Championships title at the 1974 WAAA Championships.^[9]

She also competed at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, and the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton.^[1] In 1978, Martin-Jones won the first heptathlon event in the world at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.^[1]

In 2016, Martin-Jones was inducted into the Welsh Athletics Hall of Fame.^[10]

See also

• Athletics at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games