Lloyd Delaney’s love of sports and the outdoors remains as enthusiastic today as when he was a track star at high school and university
Lloyd first made his mark as a student at Bart, Collegiate Institute, taking first place in the 100-yard dash at the 1930 Barrie Fair. He was the school, track and field champion in 1931. At the 1932 Tudhope Trophy competition, he was the top junior in the 100 yards, 220, half mile, and was a member of the winning relay team. Al the following year, event, he set a record for the half mile,while winning the 220 and the relay.
In 1933, the BCI team travelled to Toronto’s Varsity Stadium for the provincial high school track and field meet, where Lloyd won the intermediate half mile. He ran in his bare feet on the sharp cinders, because the team could afford only one pair of track shoes in those Depression years. That year, he also won the boys’mile competition in Orillia. He finished first in the 1,000 yards at the 1934 Canadian National Exhibition, junior day. Lloyd demonstrated another facet of his talent while in high school, winning a gold medal for marksmanship.
Lloyd continued to impress while attending the University of Toronto, Trinity College. participating on the school, winning track team. In 1938, he won the half mile at the U of T indoor meet, as well as finisEng first in the 1940 Trinity College harrier. His ability was exemplified at a track meet in Montreal in 1939. where U of T was tied with McGill with only the relay left. Despite the fact that McGill was represented by Olympic and Commonwealth runners, Lloyd and his mates flew around the track, giving Toronto the victory. He also participated in soccer, volleyball and basketball and served as the college’s track manager for two seasons.
When he discovered that the university boxing team did not have anyone in the 135-pound weight cl., he donned the gloves despite a chronic thumb injury, slugging it out in what the local press called a “marvelous bloody battle:’ Lloyd lost the decision, however, and ended up in the hospital with an infection as a result. His opponent fared no better, a fact Lloyd regrets to this day.
Lloyd also attended and worked summers at the Ontario Athletic Commission Camp, now the Ontario Athletic Leadership Camp near Orillia, and became a Scout leader. He acquired expertise in canoeing as well as in conducting wilderness tours, an activity he pursued until quite recently.
After serving at Lakefield College near Peterborough, Lloyd and his wife Helen moved to Midland, where the ordained Anglican minister led the St. Mark, parish from 195710 1968. Sadly, Helen, the longtime librarian at the Midland Public Library, passed away in 1999.
After moving to Midland. Lloyd stayed active in sports. He played baseball until 1982, and participated in and coached recreational volleyball until 2001. In the summer, he is a familiar sight as he paddles a canoe around Little Lake.
Last fall, at the 150th anniversary of Trinity College, Governor Gene. Adrienne Clarkson commented on the 15 team crests adorning Lloyd, blazer. It was a fitting compliment for Lloyd Delaney a most deserving member of the Midland Sports Hall of Fame.
