The blue suede shoes have been swapped for trainers and shorts replaced the gold lame suit, but the King is back in his home city of Memphis.
As Craig Smith crossed the line in Sunday’s half-marathon in Tennessee it was one of his proudest moments of his life as the 52-year-old is one of Britain’s top Elvis Presley tribute acts. His devotion to the King of Rock’n’Roll began at the age of seven, when he first saw one of his films. “Since then I have been hooked,” he said.
Craig, who now lives in Prestatyn, served in the Royal Engineers for 12 years and received a NATO medal for serving in Bosnia. In 1981 a friend of his bet him he could not perform as Elvis at a golf club event, so he went out and bought some gear – and has never looked back.
He is in great demand and in the past has sung in Memphis as a guest of the Graceland Foundation. While working as a care assistant at a home in Falkirk two years ago he reached the final of the Care Sector’s Got Talent competition. “I’ve done a lot of shows in care homes,” he said. “They love Elvis and to see their faces when I come out is amazing.”
He has actually visited the Memphis 33 times and, as a keen runner, has raced there four times.
A member of Prestatyn Running Club, he draws his inspiration from his uncle Terry Miles, from Rhyl, who was also a member of the club and competed well into his 70s.
Craig specializes in half-marathons and has picked up several age-group awards in North Wales and the North-West over the years, but Sunday’s result was special to him. Despite having arrived just 36 hours earlier and having a heavy cold he finished third overall in 1-50.18 and was the first Master (veteran) home.
“Picking up an award in Memphis has blown me away,” he said. “I’m not getting any younger but I want to test myself all the time. I’ve had a terrible two years with injuries.”
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