Background
Chipchase was born in Hebburn in the north of England.
Chipchase was born in Hebburn in the north of England.
His career best was 71.00 m (232 ft 111⁄4 in), set in 1974. He retained all those titles for following year. His international championship debut came at the 1970 European Athletics Junior Championships, where he placed eighth with a mark of 57.76 m (189 ft 6 in).
He would go on to take that title six times over his career.
He set a British junior record of 64.14 m (210 ft 5 in) in the 1971 season. This stood for eight years until it was beaten by Martin Girvan.
At the 1973 American Automobile Association Championships he placed third behind Britain"s most dominant throwers and 1972 Olympians, Howard Payne and Barry Williams. Chipchase"s career peaked in the 1974 season.
He improved the previous games record three time during the competition, ending with a best of 69.56 m (228 ft 21⁄2 in).
That August he set a personal best of 71.00 m (232 ft 111⁄4 in) in Edinburgh – a mark which placed him among Britain"s best ever throwers at that point, behind Barry Williams, Paul Dickenson and Chris Black. He competed at the 1974 European Athletics Championships, coming tenth in a field dominated by Soviet and German athletes. He made only one major international appearance after 1974 – a sixth-place finish at the 1978.