ATHLETICS EUROPEAN GAMES CONCLUDE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27442, 31 August 1954, Page 6

ATHLETICS EUROPEAN GAMES CONCLUDE

Sixteen Gold Medals To Russia BANNISTER WINS 1500 METRES (N2. Press Association —Copvripht} BERNE, August 29. Russia took the honours in the fiveday European athletics championships which ended at Berne today by winning 18 of the 38 gold medals. In an unofficial points tabulation, the Soviet athletes scored 269 points. Britain came second with 100 J. Czechoslovakia and Hungary each won four gold medals and Poland one, bringing the total wins by Iron Curtain countries to 25. Britain Won three gold medals. Highlights of the last day today were another brilliant win by Roger Bannister, the British miler, and the defeat of Emil Zatopek, the Czech runner, in the 5000 metres. Three world records were brokenall by Russians. Bannister, the first man to run a four-minute mile, crowned a glorious season by winning the 1500 metres in the Games record time of 3min 43.8 sec. This was outside the Australian John Landy's world record. Vladimir Kuc, of Russia, gained a runaway win in the 5000 metres and set up two world records. He finished ,100 yards ahead of Chris Chataway and Zatopek, and won in 13min 56.65ec. His time for the three miles was 13min 27.45ec.

Earlier Games officials had announced Kuc’s time for the 5000 metres as 13min 58.4 sec, and for the three miles as 13min 27.65ec. However, the timekeepers' jury later amended these times. The alterations made no difference to the two world records Kuc broke. These figures beat the previous world marks of 13min 57.25ec, held by Zatopek for the 5000 metres and the 13min 32.25ec, held jointly by Chataway and Freddie Green for the three miles. Five of today’s 12 finals claimed another world record when the burly hammer thrower, Krivonosov, did 8334 metres.(2o7ft 9Jin). Britain's Best Day Today was Britain’s best in the championships. In addition to Banmister's gold medal, Britain won three silver medals and two bronze medals. The final pladngs in the unofficial team championship were: Russia 269 points, Britain 100}, Czechoslovakia 83, Hungary 81, Germany 78, Finland 59}, Sweden 53, Poland 39, France 25, Italy 24. Norway 13, Belgium and Jugoslavia 10, Holland, Rumania and Switzerland 8, Denmark 5, Ireland 2, Bulgaria, Greece and Luxembourg 1. Russia and Switzerland shared the honours in the finals of the European men's rowing championships at Amsterdam today by both winning two of the seven finals. Russia won the eights and the coxed fours out of the five finals for which they qualified and the Swiss won two of. their four finals, the single sculls and the coxed pairs. Britain was in three finals, but won none. Course records were broken in all seven finals. Denmark won the coxless pairs, Italy the coxless touts, and Germany the double sculls.