By Kelly Hamer | Posted: Wednesday November 27, 2024
The 10000m victory by Dick Tayler on the opening day of competition at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch has become one of the memorable moments of NZ sport in the 20th century.
The race itself was a tactical masterclass. Off the pace after 10 laps with the world record holder out front few would have predicted a Tayler victory. A nation roared as R J Tayler powered to victory on the final lap.
Now the gold medal from that day now resides in the TBHS Memorial Library. Thanks Dick!
It’s worth remembering Dick’s TBHS successes. His name appears over 20 times on school sporting trophies. His school 880yds record, run on the Rectory field, of 1m 54.2s was world class. He was a talented winger in the 1st XV. At 90kg he was a formidable opponent scoring 25 tries in 22 matches. The coach suggested this was ‘… the most outstanding performance in the school’s history’.
Such was Dick’s sporting profile in the mid 1970’s a book was inevitable. In 1975 ‘Gold’s Aren’t Easy’ was published, telling the Dick Tayler story. A few of us still have a copy !
Great memories Dick.
Photograph below shows Lovelock shaking hands with Jack Manchester at the New Zealand Society presentations in London. Also in the image is New Zealand High Commissioner Sir James Parr. Function was held at the Hotel Metropole.
