Loss Of Mr Lydiard Disgusts Visitor

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31831, 8 November 1968, Page 13

Loss Of Mr Lydiard Disgusts Visitor

“The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON.

J. H. Barrington, the 27-year-old Cornishman who has dazzled the squash rackets world with his feats in the last two years, is baffled, even disgusted, by an attitute in New Zealand sport.

This is the indifference throughout the country to the fact that the athletics coach, Mr A. L. Lydiard, now lives overseas.

Barrington, in New Zealand for the Rothmans International round-robin squash series, sale he was a confirmed disciple of the Lydiard philosophy to sport and training“He’s a remarkable man,” he said. “I think it must be one of the greatest tragedies of New Zealand sport that you let him out of the country so easily.

“I suppose it’s the old story. Officialdom is always reluctant to accept someone who is outside the pale, so to speak. “People always seem to be very suspicious of the professional sportsman, which is very silly. After all, your professional is your teacher.”

Barrington said he hoped New Zealand sport would be kinder to its present national squash coach, Mohammed Dardir.

“He’s the man who can help you develop the considerable squash potential you have here,” Barrington said. “Dardir Is without doubt the best professional coach in the world and when he was playing seriously he was one of the world’s greatest halfdozen players. “It’s a pity that because of his coaching commitments you have never seen him playing his best squash.”