Leo Brown ‘a natural athlete’

Press, 21 July 1989, Page 27

Leo Brown ‘a natural athlete’

by

JOHN COFFEY

Leo Brown, who was killed in a motoring accident in North Canterbury last Monday night, achieved national distinction in two sports. A New Zealand rugby league centre on tour to Britain and France in 1965, Brown was tantalisingly close to becoming this country’s champion

decathlete three years later. His most notable successes were achieved while still resident in his home town of Greymouth, but Brown was to become a popular figure in both sports after moving to Christchurch in 1968. In one of his last rugby league matches he scored

three tries when Phpanui beat Addington in the 197’1 Canterbury club

championship grand final. It was Brown’s only season with Papanui after two in Marist-Western Suburbs colours.

Brown had enjoyed a meteoric rise to football fame in the mid-19605, alongside another gingerhaired centre, Graham Kennedy, who was by then an established international. From the Greymouth Marist club, they played together for West Coast. In only his second representative year, at the age of 20, Brown was elevated into the Kiwi side alongside Kennedy. Before the tour was over Kennedy was New Zealand’s test captain. Brown did not appear in any of the internationals, but, as was his habit, he made an immediate impact. Brown scored tries in each of his first two appearances on British soil, against Warrington and Halifax, and also scored in his debut in France, against Languedoc Selection. He played nine times on tour.

To gain selection Brown had overcome a severe bout of hepatitis, but he was tb suffer from illness

and injuries while overseas — indeed, throughout his career. At his best, Brown could weave a path through all but the tightest midfield defences with his elusive fast-work, was capable of sprinting away from covering opponents, and was firm in his own tackling.

In a bid to strengthen his physique, Brown gave up his trade as a painter and paperhanger and went to work in the West Coast doal mines, from which many a great rugby league player has emerged.

Brown was destined never to attain his full potential. Greymouth Marist won the Thacker Shield three times in his time, and Brown also played for Canterbury, Southern Zone and New Zealand Marist. In the late summer of 1968 Brown sprang from obscurity to win the Canterbury decathlon title and all but claim the New Zealand championship in dramatic circumstances.

The Canterbury victory was only his third attempt at the 10-event competition — his previous decathlon had been four years earlier, when he set a West Coast record.

Still virtually unknown, and, at 79.5 kg, conceding size and experience to his rivals, Brown went to Whangarei for the national contest.

When the competitors lined up for the final event, the 1500 metres, Brown was in third place, 124 points behind one Aucklander, Ross Pownall, and 102 adrift of another, Paul Lothian. Brown won the race, but Pownall just kept ahead in the over-all standings — 6045 points to Brown’s 6040. Lothian had been left behind at 5867. “He was a natural athlete, a very good allrounder,” said Valdimar Briedis, who coached Brown, first by correspondence and . later at the Technical club. “Leo learned very quickly. You would only have to show him once and he would do it. He needed to read only one book to know exactly the mechanics of athletics. “His old football injuries prevented him from attaining higher standards. But he did not throw his keenness and knowledge away because he became a very successful and talented coach,” he said.

"It is very sad. I knew Leo nearly 30 years. He was a real West Coaster,” said Mr Briedis.