Dick Tayler's time for the 10,000m that day, 27:46.4, has never been beaten on these shores. It was one of those "out of the box" moments. It was also the first major sporting triumph that New Zealanders ever witnessed on colour TV, with the necessary technology introduced just in time for the Friendly Games, as Christchurch became known.
Arthritis robbed Dick Tayler of his athletics career not long after the Christchurch games. He will be long remembered however for a day when New Zealanders roared with delight as he beat a world-class field to kick off quite possibly the best Commonwealth Games of all time.
2 comments:
Yes IV2 they were memorable and probably the end of the amateur era of what is now known as the Com Games (cringe every time repeated) for many of the competitors and the committee who delivered in spades and if any sports administrator deserved his Knighthood then Sir Ron Scott was that person.
I was at QE2 Park that day in 1974 and saw Taylor's run. It was a wonder to behold and he always seemed to have the measure of the English race favourite David Bedford. Taylor's post race celebration as he jumped up and down on his victory lap was warmly received.
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