Ted Blake: Difference between revisions
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'''Ted Blake''' ([[ |
'''Ted Blake''' ([[19th October]] [[1921]] - [[6th March]] [[1998]]) was an early [[United Kingdom|British]] [[trampoline]] pioneer. |
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Following the development of modern trampolines in the [[United States|USA]] by [[George Nissen]], Ted Blake was a major contributor to their nascence in the [[United Kingdom]] and in developing International Competition for [[trampolining]]. |
Following the development of modern trampolines in the [[United States|USA]] by [[George Nissen]], Ted Blake was a major contributor to their nascence in the [[United Kingdom]] and in developing International Competition for [[trampolining]]. |
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Revision as of 08:15, 5 August 2008
Ted Blake (19th October 1921 - 6th March 1998) was an early British trampoline pioneer.
Following the development of modern trampolines in the USA by George Nissen, Ted Blake was a major contributor to their nascence in the United Kingdom and in developing International Competition for trampolining.
Starting in the first instance by introducing a single second-hand Nissen trampoline to the Loxford School, at which he was working as a teacher[1], in Ilford, Essex in 1949. Whilst at the Loxford School, Ted developed a trampoline squad of sufficient skill that they were invited to do a demonstration at the Festival of Britain in 1951.[2]
Ted subsequently became a senior figure in Nissen responsible as Managing Director for the Nissen UK factory based in Hutton Industrial Estate, Brentwood, Essex. Together with Kurt Baechler of Switzerland, Ted was credited with the introduction of trampolining to Europe.
Being passionate about trampolining he was not only involved in their commercial development but heavily involved in developing the competitive framework we see today.
It is likely that Ted was heavily involved in the UK National Championships which are credited, in 1958, with being the first televised national championships.
In 1964 Ted organised the first World Championships (financed by George Nissen) which were held in the Royal Albert Hall, London. That same year, following these first World Championships, he attended an inaugural meeting of prominent trampolinists in Frankfurt to discuss the formation of an International Trampoline Federation. This was launched as the (FIT) in Twickenham in 1965[3] and Ted became its first Vice-President, a position he held until 1967. So influential was Ted at the time that three of the first four World Championships were organised by him and held in London - at this time they took place every year.
Having delivered at the Senior level, Ted continued to be heavily involved in promoting competition, and in 1973 working with Bob Bollinger and George Nissen created the World Age Group Competition which now runs alongside the World Championships every four years.
Ted appeared, however, to not always be comfortable with authority and in 1972 was scathing about the FIT he had originally developed, questioning why it was so bureaucratic and gymnastics oriented in an international publication of that time.[4]
One of few Britons so honoured, in 1976 he was recognised by the United States Trampoline & Tumbling Association for his major influence on developing modern trampolining by being added to their Hall of Fame.[5]