Dick Tayler Will Recreate Lap At 40th reunion

December 19, 2013

On the 40th anniversary of his famous 10,000 metres victory at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, Dick Tayler is being encouraged to recreate the race.

Organisers of the 40th anniversary reunion on January 24, 2014, are asking Dick to do a quiet lap around a Christchurch park accompanied by as many who can stand, walk, run or travel by mobility scooter.

The reunion has been inspired by Bruce Ullrich, who held the office of Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee at the 1974 Games. Bruce, as Chair of the Christchurch Olympic City Committee which is organising the reunion, went on to be Chef de Mission for three New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams and was also Vice President of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

In attendance at the reunion will be Games Chairman, Sir Ron Scott, now in his 80s, the British High Commissioner, Vicki Treadell, Christchurch Mayor, Lianne Dalziel, Dick Tayler and Keith Quinn, who described Dick’s famous 10,000 metres victory.

During the evening at the Hornby Working Men’s Club, Keith will conduct a Q and A session with Bruce, Sir Ron and Dick Tayler.

Bruce Ullrich sees the reunion as a wonderful opportunity for competitors, organisers, members of the media and the public to gather together and share recollections of “the friendly games.”

“It will be remembered as a superbly run event which started with Dick’s magnificent race at Queen Elizabeth Park and where a host of New Zealanders won medals,” he says.

“Sadly now few of the venues are left as a result of the Christchurch earthquake but the Games will be remembered for the people who took part in those magic 10 days of competition and made us all proud.”

“One of the great features was the world 1500 metres record which was broken by both Filbert Bayi and our own John Walker.”

Malcolm Hopwood, one of the main TV journalists at the stadium, still vividly recalls interviewing both Walker and Bayi after the race and preparing the televised news item for local and international use.

Tickets for the reunion can be obtained from the Hornby Working Men’s Club, telephone 03 349 9026 or ray@hornbywmc.co.nz

ENDS

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