The UQ Athletic Club is saddened to hear of the passing of Pat Clohessy on Monday, 28th of September. The Club wishes to pay tribute to the outstanding contribution Pat made to the Club. With the opening of the newly laid track in June of 1998 Pat was appointed by UQ Sport as the Head coach of the new track and Head Coach of the Athletics Club. UQ Sport’s CEO, James Voight had the vision of Pat reinvigorating the Athletics Club, one of the inaugural Clubs as part of UQ Sport, which had struggled for a number of years. Within a year of his appointment the Club won the athletics component of the University Sport Nationals and went on to win that event another ten years in a row. In 2001 the Club won the National Club Championships and the Oceania Club Championships in Vanuatu. Again in 2003 the Club won the National Club Championships and the Oceania Club Championships in Apia, Samoa.
In his role of head coach Pat continued his coaching bringing through University and community athletes who won national titles and went on to represent Australia on Junior and Senior national teams such as Peter Nowill and Nick Lorenz. Pat welcomed any interested athletes to his squad and got as much satisfaction out of an athlete achieving a personal best as putting an athlete on a national team. In his head coaching role Pat contributed at Clinics and Seminars offered through the Tracks Programs and mentored coaches such as Russel Hansen, Luke Donatini, Allan Cameron and John Purcell who went on to achieve in their own right. Pat often said his role at the UQ Athletics Track gave him as much satisfaction as his role at AIS and his national coaching role and was a perfect way for him to complete his athletics coaching career.
Pat was always seeking competitive opportunities for his athletes. Being based at the UQ Track he was able to benefit his athletes with the extensive competitive opportunities being offered at the track. The UQ Track hosted meets throughout the year, culminating in the flagship meet now delivered at UQ – the 1500m Classic. Pat played an integral role in getting the 1500m Classic established and the UQ Track is now about to offer the 22nd edition of that meet.
Pat left an indelible mark on UQ Sport, the UQ Athletics Club and the Athletics Centre community by his expertise, love of athletics and the force of his personality. Pat’s contribution will be recognized as he is acknowledged at the 1500 Metre Classic scheduled for October 28th at the UQ Athletics Centre Track.
The UQ Athletics Club wishes to expresses its condolences to Pat’s wife Moira and daughter Maria and family at this sad time.