Donna Hartley
Encyclopedia
Donna Hartley-Wass, born Donna-Marie Louise Murray and formerly known as Donna Hartley (born 1 May 1955) is a British
athlete.
She was born in Southampton
, England
in 1955. She was a south of England sprint champion, and won the AAA's 200 metres in 1972 then the 400 metres in 75. In 1977 she was U.K. 400 metres champion. In 1977 she married fellow athlete Bill Hartley
. The marriage later ended in divorce.
In 1978, she won two Commonwealth gold medals in Edmonton, Canada. Where she won the 400 metres, and the 4x400 relay. In 1979 she was European cup semi finalist winner in both 400, and 400 relay again. She also was runner up in European cup finals in 1975, and 1977 in 400, and 400 relay again.
In 1980, she competed at the Moscow Olympic Games where she won a Bronze medal in the 4x 400 relay.
and as Donna Hartley-Wass competed for several years on the UK women's body building circuit. Wass was Knutt's real name. Hartley-Wass won the National Amateur Body Building Association's "Miss Britain Physique" trophy in 1988, having placed third the previous year. Her bodybuilding career was short-lived and for several years after that she ran a Line Dancing School in Sheffield
near the family home. Hartley-Wass featured on the front cover of Health & Strength Magazine.
Donna trained at a Sheffield health studio jointly owned by Bobby Knutt and Marti Caine, another local television and stage comedienne.
Under the guidance of the health studio manager Peter Ormondroyd, himself a national junior bodybuilder, Donna achieved national success very quickly on the women's Bodybuilding circuit.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
athlete.
She was born in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1955. She was a south of England sprint champion, and won the AAA's 200 metres in 1972 then the 400 metres in 75. In 1977 she was U.K. 400 metres champion. In 1977 she married fellow athlete Bill Hartley
Bill Hartley (athlete)
William John Hartley is an English former athlete.Hartley was raised in Lydiate, Merseyside on the outskirts of Liverpool where his family ran a market garden. He began his athletic career at age 13 as a high jumper. By age 18 he held the Under-19 record for 400m hurdles...
. The marriage later ended in divorce.
In 1978, she won two Commonwealth gold medals in Edmonton, Canada. Where she won the 400 metres, and the 4x400 relay. In 1979 she was European cup semi finalist winner in both 400, and 400 relay again. She also was runner up in European cup finals in 1975, and 1977 in 400, and 400 relay again.
In 1980, she competed at the Moscow Olympic Games where she won a Bronze medal in the 4x 400 relay.
Career after athletics
After retiring from athletics Hartley married comedian and actor Bobby KnuttBobby Knutt
Bobby Knutt is a British television actor, who started in entertainment as a stand-up comedian. He is best known for playing Albert Dingle in Emmerdale.- Biography :...
and as Donna Hartley-Wass competed for several years on the UK women's body building circuit. Wass was Knutt's real name. Hartley-Wass won the National Amateur Body Building Association's "Miss Britain Physique" trophy in 1988, having placed third the previous year. Her bodybuilding career was short-lived and for several years after that she ran a Line Dancing School in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
near the family home. Hartley-Wass featured on the front cover of Health & Strength Magazine.
Medals
- Gold medalist (400m relay) 1978 Commonwealth Games1978 Commonwealth GamesThe 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978, two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal, Quebec...
. - Bronze medalist (400m relay). 1980 Olympic Games1980 Summer OlympicsThe 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
.
Donna trained at a Sheffield health studio jointly owned by Bobby Knutt and Marti Caine, another local television and stage comedienne.
Under the guidance of the health studio manager Peter Ormondroyd, himself a national junior bodybuilder, Donna achieved national success very quickly on the women's Bodybuilding circuit.