Sir Arthur's bronze medal and Jack Lovelock's gold stop watch. Photo / Supplied
Sir Arthur's bronze medal and Jack Lovelock's gold stop watch. Photo / Supplied
The Olympic collectibles owned by the late New Zealand Chariots of Fire runner Lord Arthur Porritt are set to go under the hammer.
More than $33,000 worth of the former Governor-General's memorabilia will be sold at UK auctioneers Special Auction Services early next month.
During the 43 years he wasinvolved with the Games, he collected an impressive collection of medals, orders and diplomas among other items.
Included in the memorabilia to be sold is the diploma Lord Porritt received when he won bronze at the 1924 Summer Olympics in France in the 100m race featured in the film Chariots of Fire.
The race took place at 7pm on July 7, and every year after that, he and the winner of the race, Harold Abrahams, met on that date and at that time for dinner, until the latter passed away.
Also included in the catalogue is the gold-plated Olympic Order Lord Porritt received at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. It is decorated with the German State Eagle and swastika.
Other sentimental items to go under the hammer include a gold medal Lord Porritt won for the long jump at his old school, Hurworth in Wanganui, in 1913.
Also for sale is the stopwatch he was given by Berlin Olympic gold medallist Jack Lovelock, a Kiwi, who won it when he came first at a track-meet at Princeton University in New Jersey in 1935.
As well, Lord Porritt's London 1948 Olympic Games miniature torch will go under the hammer.
Lord Porritt captained the New Zealand team at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, but withdrew from the 100m because of injury.
He was New Zealand's team manager at the 1934 British Empire Games in London and at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, which were held under Adolf Hitler's rule.
He was also the New Zealand member of the International Olympic Committee from 1934 to 1967.
