A WONDER RUNNER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 37, 12 August 1930, Page 10

A WONDER RUNNER

AMAZING PAAVO NURMI

RECORDS A MATTER OF COURSE

BUBGHLEY'S HUEDLINGI-

The amazing Paavo Nurmi, tlia "Phautom Finn," is •still the Nurmi of old, and Lord Burghley, the noted Cantab. anfi Olympic champion, hurxllcr, remains a great "timber topper." If there were any inclined, to the belief that these two worldrenowned figures in amateur athletiei were past their best, they answered the sceptical—in fact left no room for doubt—at the British> Games, promoted by the "News of the World," and held last month on that historic sports field,Stamford Bridge. . '

It was tlio eighth annual meeting, and prominent officials as .well as tlia athletes, declared that it was the 'finest; of all. Tlte principal attraction was the triangular match between. teams drawn from the Stade Francais (of France), the combined Berliner and Deutseher Clubs (of Germany), and tha A.cliilles Club (of Great Britain). La Stadc Francais is one of. the- oldest athletic clubs in France. A history of over a quarter of a ' century il possessed by the Berliner Sports Club, and the Deutscher Sports Club is * young off-shoot of some .ten years' growth. Founded in 1920, the membership of the Achilles Club is restricted to Oxford and Cambridge athletes, past and present; the club had its origin, in the successful International' r-eluy match between the United States Olympic team and the combined teams of the British Empire, which followed upon the Olympic Games at Antwerp. On this occasion the- match between tins teams from the four clubs produced several exciting duels. The Achilles Club -triumphed over the visiting athletes. ' • 32.000 PRESENT. Over 32,000 people were present at the Games, which gives some idea of the support accorded amateur athletic* in the Old Country, and they ver'a thrilled many times by the stirring contests. They were provided with a feast of sport. ■ < ■ : Some interesting particulars of tlia big gathering have been received by Mr. H. Amos, of Wellington, including an attractively illustrated programme. Incidentally "the ex-New Zealandery Dr. A. E. Porritt, F.R.C.S., who went Home as a. Rhodes Scholar, is mentioned in the programme as one' of the match judges. . _ BURCJHLEY AND NURMI. Good as were some of the other performances, the achievements of Lori Burghley and Nurmi were the outstanding feature of the big meeting. Nurmi easily broke Alfred Shrubb 'a six miles world's record, which had stood for 26 yea.J, and received a tremendous reception from the crowd. The famous Finn reeled ofi lap after lap in effortless style, and at the end of his wonderful run old-time athletes, who have witnessed and taken part in. record races, marvelled at Nurmi^s fresh condition. Lord Burghley proved that ho lias lost none of his'1 brilliant form by winning the 120 yards hurdles xp 14-ssec —the fastest-time, ever reiorded in England. Commenting on "performances'in the "News of the World," Joe Binks, eiholder of mile record, said that Lord Burghley's exhibition of hurdling was amazing, more especially as a number of people believed h© had passed his best day. "Bearing in mind," the writer adds, "that this was accomplished on a football field and not on. a prepared track, one can appreciate the full meaning if I say that , Lord Burghley's performance is the'greatest ever. It is pretty safe to say that ou one of the prepared cinder tracks Lord Burghley would have returned 14sec." As to Nurmi, Binks writes as follows: "Nurmi is the finest running machine the world has seen, and probably we shall never ,see the like of. him again." Nurmi has a stride of'about 6ft;. his arm action is higher thau thafc o: most distance runners, but he explains that he gets a good pull at. his lungs by this action and thus gains strength and endurance as a set-off t» the slightly extra amount of energy; expended to keep the arms higher. A COMPARISON. Nunni's- figures mile by. mile in th» six miles event in comparison wit a, those of Shrubb were: : —. Xurmi.- Shrubb. Mm. Sec. Mm. Sec. One mile \.. i «'2-3 . 4 46 2-S Two miles 9 43 4-» .. « « 2-5 Three miles 11 -H 3-5 11 1u l-£ Four miles 19 46 2-s . IS 50 2-S Five miles .. ii i=> 3-;> 21 m :.-» Six miles 29. 36 2-5 29 . 09-.2-5 NURMI HIMSELF. What manner of man is Nurmi?. -lii a special article, Joe Binks gives something, of the disposition, of this worldbeater. When Nurmi finished; his re-cord-breaking six miles run at Stamford Bridge, the writer says, he walked on to the. grass, picked up,;his. coat', and slipped humbly away to his drcss-iiig-room. Shy, retiring, a man of very few, words, Nurmi, two evenings later, left Victoria Station en route for his home. Only four knew of_ his departure, which was as unostentatious as his arrival. ■ . ' "Nurmi just loves running," says'thfi writer, "but I can realise from his con^ versation that records come to him just as a matter, of course, and having ac r . eomplished the job he set out to do, that; is the end so far as Nurmi troubles." Steam baths and massage play a big? part, in Nurmi's training. lie has iia special foods, and on his recent trijfc to England he tackled everything, put before him, even treacle pudding.... THE FUTURE— NO SHORT RACES. When asked about his future, Nurmi said he would not take part in anjj moro short races, but would now keep to the longer distances. Asked about; the. possibility of his running .twelve miles in the hour, Nurmi said he would do that at Stockholm, if Mr. Binka. would go specially to see him do it* Tito writer having assured.Nurmi thafc ho would bo delighted, Nurmi remarked "0.X." "The simple confidence of. the man is amazing," says Mr. Binks.- '' I fully believe he will accomplish this feat at his first attempt, marvellous as it really is. .-. . The fact that no man has ever run twelve miles in the hour is nothing to Nurmi. He knows he can do it." . . ! . ■ Mention was made of his great mile record of 4min 10 2-osec, and Nurmi made the astonishing reply: "This record not good. Larva, Loukola, and . Purjr will each lower the figure thi« summer in Finland." . "I asked him what' he thought lis could have run a mile in, all out," continues Mr. Binks. "He said iv 192-41 lie would hay I interrupted him with 'A-i,' but he smiled and said, 'Oli, no, no, 4.6 possibly.' . This only goes to prove that my opinions, expressed; in 1924, that no living athlete had ths slightest chance with Nurmi, weri cor. set." ■ :