Concern over future of young athletes

Press, 2 May 1981, Page 64

Concern over future of young athletes

PA Auckland European athletics could not be blamed if it did not welcome promising New Zealand runners, said Mr Norman Coop, according to the president of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. He made this comment in Auckland during a speech on the occasion of the farewell to John Walker and his wife, Helen, who leave for the United States tomorrow.

Mr Coop said people w'ere judged by the company they chose, and this included New Zealand. “If you sit down with the

Devil to supper,” said Mr Coop, “who can blame people if they think you are one of his disciples.” Mr Coop asked if the

Pearlesses, the Rogers and the Gilchrists would get the chance to compete in Europe like Walker in his younger days. He felt that Walker’s visit to Europe had tempered him for his great 1500-metres run against Filbert Bayi at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch the following year. Mr Coop described this as the sad side of his address, but earlier there had been a happier section. Mr Coop recalled the days when the boy Walker had shone in harrier events. . “We saw the wonderful talent there," he said. “And we saw this talent come on the track and it blossomed.” Mr Coop was rather confident that Aucklanders would see Walker back again and possibly running better than his outstanding mile (3min50.585) at Mount Smart in March. Walker strongly urged that squads .of athletes should be sent overseas to Europe, and .money must be available. If this was not done the sport would go back 10 years. This step should be taken immediately, not six weeks before the Olympics. He added that New Zealand had many promising runners. He mentioned Peter Pearless, who would be accompanied by Walker in Europe. He was ready for a Imin 46s 800 m. Walker, who said that he was going overseas to take the opportunity to make money, thanked the many people who had assisted him over the years, including his trainer, Mr Arch Jelley, and timekeepers. The Auckland centre presented Walker with greenstone cuff-links and Mrs Walker with a greenstone pendant. Walker received a travel documentation bag from the Amateur Athletic Association, while Mr Hedley Mortlock, president of the New Zealand Sporting Journalists’ Association, gave him a silver tankard.