Farm work helps Tayler

Press, 6 December 1977, Page 42

Farm work helps Tayler

Ashburton reporter The 1974 Commonwealth Games 10,000 m champion, Richard Tayler, whose international career was dashed by arthritis a few months after his Commonwealth Games gold medal win at Christchurch, feels fitter and more mobile at present than at any time since he was stricken by the illness. However, a return to competitive racing is doubtful at this stage. Tayler was in Ashburton on Saturday as guest of the Ashburton Corso Committee, and led the marchers taking part in the committee’s sponsored skm “Walk for Water” fund-raising project.

There have been times since his arthritis attack that Tayler could not contemplate an easy skm walk, let alone running. However, he said he had been heartened by his performance in a Timaru community “fun run” held about two months ago. Tayler said he missed the training and association with fellow athletes which was

once part of his regimen. However, some motivation was lacking and there was also the considerable demands of farm work, on the property he and his father run in partnership at Winchester.

Tayler said he had kept fairly fit handling potatoes, and doing other farm chores. He has been grateful that his progess to this stage had enabled him to run and walk at aH, and says the affliction has made him appreciate his earlier fitness.