GOLD TO N.Z. LIFTER Australia’s day, Jipcho’s Games

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 1

GOLD TO N.Z. LIFTER Australia’s day, Jipcho’s Games

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

A bronze is beautiful, a silver splendid; but a gold Games medal is the goal. The winning of them yesterday, the fifth day of the Games, produced some memorable performances: and one of those at the top of the victory dais was the Christchurch weightlifter, Tony Ebert.

Ebert’s crown was won before an enthusiastic audience in the James Hay Theatre, a few hours after his track and field colleagues had contributed, quite handsomely, to a splendid day of sport at Queen Elizabeth II Park.

The prospect of a world record in the classic 800 metres race did not materialise, and the stern test of the 5000 metres resolved itself into a two-man race.

But the colourful capacity crowd at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday had its full measure of drama, excitement and humour on the fourth day of the track and field programme. There were near-world record times in the two major track events and there was the splendid sight of the Kenyan, Ben Jipcho, at the top of his form in winning the 5000 metres. The belief that he would emerge as the personality of the 1974 Games was strengthened by his superb display. John Kipgurgat, also of Kenya, was within two-fifths of a second of the world record for the 800 metres after he had held off his team-mate, Mike Boit, in the final straight. The Australians Apart from these two feature races, the day belonged mainly to the Australians, who took four gold medals, three of them in women’s events. England and Kenya had

their triumphs, and it was a great day for New Zealand too, with a second and two thirds.

What he wanted Jipcho, lithe and light of foot, seemed to have control of the gruelling 5000 metres race almost from the start. He went where he wanted to go, when he wanted to and although he had the most gallant of adversaries in the Englishman, Brendan Foster, the result was not in doubt towards the end.

Both of them beat the previous second-fastest time ever run for the distance and Jipcho was but 1.4 seconds over the world record.

There was a cracking pace from the start of the 800 metres, which was another triumph for Kenya. John Kipgurgat, tall and long of stride, is almost as impressive a figure as Jipcho. But for the New Zealanders watching, there was a great surge of pride in watching John Walker storm home from a depressing distance behind to take third place. For the patriots, there was also Brenda Mathews, swift and graceful, winning a place in the hurdles final, and Pam Hendren, with the one qualifying jump required, beating the present Games long jump record. Their tune Australia came home first and second in the men’s high jump, with Gordon Windeyer setting a Games record. In the women’s events, Australia won the javelin—and took second place too — took the 800 metres, through the lively Charlene Rendina, from New Zealand’s Sue Haden, and had Raelene Boyle flash home first in the 200 metres. Little wonder someone remarked that “They’re playing that tune again” during one of the later victory ceremonies. For England, there was much satisfaction in the success of Alan Pascoe, who set a Games record in winning

the 400 metres hurdles. It was a fine victory, but he contributed more to the enjoyment of the day than his hurdling. Victory lapse After it was over, the cheerful Pascoe jogged down the straight to acknowledge the applause of the crowd. He came to a hurdle, tried to

leap it, but descended in an undignified heap of limbs, metal and wood.

All nonchalance, he tried the next hurdle and it began to look like a silent film. There was another crash. Two hurdles broken, but no dent in Pascoe’s composure. He stood up, looked meaningfully at a third hurdle, and tipped it over lightly by hand. But on his return journey, he did get over; and that somehow set the seal on a light-hearted passage which did more to capture the cheerfulnes of the Games occasion than any number of press statements.