FIVE WIN AWARDS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30466, 13 June 1964, Page 10

FIVE WIN AWARDS

Sportsmen Honoured

Five sportsmen have been recognised by the Queen in the Birthday honours list . Four of them—H. J. Elliott, J. Clark, A. V. Bedser and K. 0. Johnson—have been awarded the 0.8. E., while the music critic and cricket writer, Neville Cardus, has gained a C.B.E. '

Elliott, 2 26-year-old Aus? tralian middle distance. runner, had achieved, at the time of his retirement in . April, 1962, 17 of the 72 sub-four minute miles recorded. His best of 3min 545 sec, set ih Dublin in August, 1958, stood as the world record until it was beaten by P. G. Snell in January, 1962. An ’ Olympic gold medalist in the 1500 rrtetres, Elliott was never beaten in a mile race. He once turned down an £BO,OOO offer-to turn professional and instead became a chemistry student at Cambridge University. Bedser was one of the outstanding professional cricketers since the war and held the record for the number of test wickets until it was broken by J. B. Statham last year. He was assistant manager of the M.C.C. team which toured Australia and New Zealand last season—the first time a professional cricketer had received that appointment.

Clark, a 28-year-old Scottish racing driver, won the world motor racing title last season and became the first man to win seven championship races in one season. A Berwick sheep farmer, he was recently voted Britain’s “Sportsman of the Year.”

Mr Cardus won a literary reputation as the cricket and music critic for the “Manchester Guardian.” He became the foremost writer on cricket in the world, particularly when he was describing the English cricket scene. Mr Johnson managed the 1948 Australian cricket team, the only side to complete a tour of Britain unbeaten. The team was captained by Sir Donald Bradman, then on his last tour. Mr Johnson also managed the Australian Services team which played in the. “Victory Tests” after the war. He has given valued service to Australian cricket as an administrator and selector since 1945.