Cassidy, Gary

GARY CASSIDY joined the Melbourne Amateur Speed Skating Club at Melbourne Glaciarium around the time it was founded in the late 1940s. On 11 July 1954, he placed second to George Hawker in the 220 yards in the Canterbury Ice Skating Club Championship at Lake Ida, New Zealand. At the 1957 New Zealand Senior Speed Championships, he won the 440 yards (40.0) and came second in the 880 yards (1.37.0).

Cassidy represented Australia in the World Allround Championships in 1959, 60, 61 and 62. In the 500m at Davos in 1960, he competed with teammates John Eyre and Colin Hickey who finished 20th.

Back at Lake Ida, he raced at the NZISA Long Track Championships on 17-18 July 1975. He placed 12th (49.0) in the 500m won by Jim Lynch (43.0); 16th in the 1500m (2.50.2) won by Colin Coates (18.04.1); 10th in the 5000m (11.58.7) won by Coates (8.57.5); and 8th in the 10000m (24.07.2) won by Coates (18.04.1).

Gary Cassidy returned to Lake Ida for the last time at the 1977 Championships. He was the sixth inductee to the Australian Ice Racing (AIR) Roll of Honour.


1975 NZISA Long Track Championships, Lake Ida 17-18 July
500m 49.0; 1500m 2.50.2; 5000m 11.58.7; 10000m (24.07.2)

1977 NZISA Long Track Championships, Lake Ida 18-19 July
500m (48.5); 1500m (2.42.3); 5000m (10.30.6) 10000m (21.10.0)

World Allround Championships
1958-59 No results recorded Oslo
1959-60 500m 45,5 (34)/ 5000m 9.08,3 (41)/ 1500m 2.25,9 (41) Davos
1960-61 500m 45,3 (27)/ 5000m 9.24,3 (41)/ 1500m 2.33,6 (40) Gothenburg
1961-62 500m 46,0 (35)/ 5000m 9.21,5 (46)/ 1500m 2.35,7 (45) Moskva