Olympian McCorquodale dies aged 83

Alastair McCorquodale, who quit top-flight athletics to concentrate on cricket, has died at the age of 83. At the time of his death he was the seventh-oldest surviving Middlesex player.

McCorquodale came fourth in the 1948 London Olympics, finishing with the same time as the two runners in second and third but denied a medal by the on-the-line photo. He was also a member of the 4x100 relay team who finished second behind the USA, and ran in the 200m.

Despite his success, he never ran seriously after that summer - his approach was somewhat unorthodox and he was said to stub out his cigarette trackside before a race - and his main sport was cricket. At Harrow he had played in the 1st XI in 1943 and 1944 as a fast bowler and lower-order batsman, and after quitting athletics he played a high standard of club cricket. In 1951 he turned out three times for Middlesex, and at the end of the season was part of a high-profile MCC tour of Canada.

He joined the family printing firm of McCorquodale and Co, eventually becoming chairman. He was also on the boards of British Sugar and Guardian Royal Exchange.