ROGER LAWTON is a man with athletics running through his veins.

And in a lifetime devoted to the sport he has been rewarded by becoming the new president of the North of England Athletic Association, who are responsible for promotion and development in the North of England.

Roger, 64, from Marsh, has been involved with the Association since the mid-Seventies, serving as secretary and currently being chairman of the road running and treasurer of the track and field sections.

He will serve in the `top job' for a year in an Association which covers some 400 clubs and 45,000 members, from Cheshire and Derby to the Scottish borders.

A keen sportsman, Lawton joined Longwood Harriers in 1955 and competed in long distance running events, stepping up to marathons and ultras - 24 hours running over six days - in America, Greece and South Africa.

And during the Apartheid regime in South Africa, Lawton ignored the ban preventing athletes racing out there to enter several events.

"During the mid-Seventies to early Nineties, sanctions were still being applied to South Africa which banned English athletes from competing out there and the South Africans from competing here," explained Lawton.

"That affected the top stars of the sport because if they raced there then they faced a ban from competing in this country.

"But it didn't stop me from racing out there because, as an enthusiastic amateur, I could deal with a ban because I didn't enter top events.

"Racing has taken me all over the world, including three days running down the Danube, and a six-day race in America across New Jersey," he added.

Lawton, also a member Holmfirth Harriers since 1966, has seen many changes in athletics.

He said: "I've always taken an interest in the organisational aspect of the sport, and have grown up with it.

"I went on my first committee in my early 20's and was one of the youngest people to do so . . . I'm still one of the youngest people now!

"In fact 90% of runners compete in the veteran's categories now.

"The men and women's associations came together under one banner in 1990 and there is now also a greater level of professionalism on and off the track.

"For years, the people who used to run athletics used to work from offices set up in their spare bedrooms, nowadays we have professional staff and offices.

"The sport is very money orientated now," he added, "and, unfortunately, there is a huge gap between the top stars and the keen amateurs.

"I remember in the days when Derek Ibbotson competed, he used to just muck in with the rest of us but the top stars are on a different level now.

"At the Tokio and Melbourne Games, blokes like me used to get trackside after being handed down some tickets from some of the competing athletes, but now you just can't get near. But that's just a sign of the times and changing circumstances."

Lawton has been married to wife Anne for 43 years and she said: "Athletics has been a way of life for us and it has given us a lot of enjoyment and heartache as well!

"It's been a family thing really, and we've seen places and met fantastic people that we might not have otherwise."

The couple had an active part at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Lawton was clerk of the course for the race walks and the pair were marshals for the cycling and marathon events.

And in addition to his sporting prowess, Lawton is a keen quiz participant, notching up a hat trick of appearances on TV's 15-1!