Athletics: Lydiard honoured by athletics bosses

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Better late than never. But 40 years?

The country's athletic bosses yesterday finally acknowledged Arthur Lydiard's role in one of the world's greatest sporting revolutions.

Surrounded by many of the athletes who followed the Lydiard doctrine in running to the top, 86-year-old Lydiard accepted the plaque which welcomed him into his sport's elite as a life member.

But why, it must be asked, did the honour come almost 30 years after he was recognised with life membership of the Finnish Athletic Federation?

Not that Lydiard ever sought such awards.

Appreciably slowed by four strokes - "another one will just about finish the job" - Lydiard, in accepting the award from Athletics New Zealand president and Lydiard disciple Don Willoughby in Auckland, spoke warmly of the athletes who had done it "his way" and the results they achieved.

Asked which of those many accomplishments had given him the most satisfaction, Lydiard replied simply: "Round the Bays."

Sure, he fondly recalled the really great moments - the three medals (two gold) in Rome in 1960. And Peter Snell's double-gold in Tokyo four years later.

But he obviously took just as much satisfaction from seeing ordinary people getting out running or, at least, jogging.

"To be recognised along with people such as Ces Blazey, Herb Towers and Graham Davy, who gave and continue to give so much to our sport in New Zealand, makes me feel very honoured," said Lydiard who was accompanied at yesterday's function by his 38-year-old wife, Joelyne, and three of his four children.

"I can't bloody walk any more," he said with an obvious degree of frustration.

And, "I used to talk too much. Now I can't talk." Another frustration - the result of medication. Or, "I'm not getting any faster. At 86 you don't bound around like you used to."

He might not, physically, be as sharp as the coach many of those great athletes remember on the long runs from Mt Roskill to the way beyond and back. But he retains the wit which made such painful runs bearable.

Murray Halberg, in many ways the guinea pig for Lydiard's revolutionary methods, was joined yesterday by many others from the Lydiard stable, including Bill Baillie, Ray Puckett, Jeff Julian, Diane Rodgers, Barry Magee, Heather Mathews, Merv Hellier, Bill Sutcliffe and Dave Sirl.

Halberg said: "Wherever we were [with Arthur] there was an element of fun."

To Lydiard: "Thanks for that. Often when we returned from training my stomach muscles hurt - from laughing."

Halberg also recalled the Rome Olympics and going out for that epic 5000m in which he ran the world's best off their feet.

"As I went out [for the 5000m] I asked officials and athletes who had won the 800m," Halberg said.

"To a man they shook their heads as they muttered 'Snell.' Arthur had already said to me that Peter would be an Olympic champion before me. That was all the incentive I needed."