S. African Walker Quits

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30941, 23 December 1965, Page 15

S. African Walker Quits

IBy

PETER TONGE,

in the "Christian Science Monitor.")

JOHANNESBURG.

Walking used to be the comic act at South African track meetings. It would frequently evoke laughter from spectators who could not equate it with serious athletics.

That this is no longer so is to the credit of a 41-year-old printer’s engineer—George Hazle.

In 10 years of serious walking Hazle has captured a string of national titles —17 in ail—broken every domestic record from one mile to 50, won international acclaim for a victory and third place in the London-to-Brighton race, and received America’s Helms Award for Africa (1963).

“The beauty of walking," explained Hazle, “is that you can end up your athletic career that way, and extend it for several years too. Look at me. I was 31 before I started walking and 34 before I won my first championship.”

He could also add that he has never been beaten in a championship event in South Africa since then. Hazle believes walking is a branch of athletics in which it is relatively easy to become technically proficient. “Certainly its rewards for hard work are high,” he pointed out.

When Hazle talks of hard work he means it. “I cover from 50 to 80 miles a week in training,” he said. “Anyone who wants to do reasonably well at it must think in terms of at least 35 miles a week. If he can push that close to 60 miles so much the better.” What stands out most in Hazle’s career? The Helms awards (“I didn’t expect that”) and this year’s London-to-Brighton. His time, Bhr 3min, for the 53-mile course earned him third place behind the Olympic gold medalists Abdon Pamich (Italy) and Don Thompson (Britain). It also made him the fifth fastest walker over that famous course.

“It was my first experience in years,” said Hazle, “of really top-class opposition. It makes me wonder how far I would have gone if there had been tougher competition against me at home. Out here I’ve always bad to walk from the front.”

As every critic of the sport sees it, Hazle could continue walking from the front for a few more years yet. Why then give up? A desire to coach has influenced him as much as anything. "You’ve got to decide one day,” said Hazle, “and retiring now will give me greater authority when I coach. The youngsters will remember me as the man no-one could beat, and they’ll listen to me all the more for it.”