J. E. LOVELOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22999, 30 September 1936, Page 11

J. E. LOVELOCK

SIR JAMES PARR’S PARTY MR JORDAN AND RUNNING SHOES (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail* LONDON, August 29. The last party at which Sir James Parr, as High Commissioner, was host was a very pleasant function. It was organised to welcome Mr J. E. Lovelock and to congratulate him on his victory in the 1500 Metres at the Olympic Games in Berlin. Quite 100 New Zealanders met at the British Empire Club, St. James’s square, on Wednesday evening. Cocktails and sherry were served. On the platform with Sir James were the guest of the evening, Mr W. J. Jordan, Sir M. Myers, and Mr R. M'Keen, M.P. Briefly outlining his record since arriving in England as a Rhodes Scholar, Sir James referred to Lovelock as a very great New Zealander —indeed, his name was better known than that of the High Commissioner himself jor of Mr Jordan. Lovelock was the greatest miler of all time; he had won his race by force of character.

Mr Jordan conveyed the regrets of Lord Bledisloe at inability to be presen',; he sent his greetings, with good wishes and expressions of admiration. “Yes,” said Mr Jordan, “ Lovelock has brought great honour to New Zealand, and I wonder when the day will come that we shall have running shoes introduced into our Coat of Arms.” People realising and understanding the times had reason to look with pride upon the develonment of the human family, especially upon the young manhood who do so much in ways of research. Lovelock had brought pride not only on himself but to the little Dominion of which they were all so proud. At the time the victory was announced Mr Jordan and Mr Berendsen were in Toronto, and they experienced a thrill of pride when the posters in the streets announced the great victory for New Zealand.

With modesty and some humour Mr Lovelock thanked all his friends most sincerely for their kindness. He said there was much fun to be got out of athletics. LEADERSHIP A REQUISITE

Sir M. Myers indicated three reasons why he was very glad to have the opportunity of speaking: (1) As a citizen of New Zealand he was very proud of Lovelock’s achievements. (2) Hj was a vice-

president of the Olympic Association in New Zealand, and on behalf of that association he expressed congratulations. (3) He was one of those responsible for the presence in England of Lovelock, this in his capacity as a member of the Rhodes Scholarship Trust. When the board selected Lovelock they felt they were choosing a man whom Cecil Rhodes would himself have selected had he been able to make a selection. Leadership was one of the requirements indicated by Cecil Rhodes, and the selectors all felt that Lovelock possessed that quality. Indeed, if he himself were any judge of human nature young Lovelock was to-day the same modest gentleman as on the day when he was selected for a scholarship.

THOUGHT OUT BEFOREHAND Dr A. E. Porritt, himself once a noted athlete, now a member of the Olympic Council, spoke with great enthusiasm of Lovelock’s feat, and told of the tremendous thrill that passed round the stadium when the New Zealand flag was unfurled at the moment of Lovelock’s brilliant victory. He outlined the plan that Lovelock had in mind as to how he intended to run the race and how he had adhered to that plan in every detail. Only three people in Berlin knew that he was intending to make an early sprint—Lovelock himself, his trainer (Mr W. G. Thomas), and the speaker. Just at the moment when the field, after three very fast laps, was imperceptibly easing up in preparation for Lovelock’s famed finishing spurt, the New Zealander took them all by surprise by producing an early sprint. In a few seconds there was a gap of 10 yards, and the race was over, bar the shouting. Lovelock’s victory was magnificent. Much had been said about Jesse Owens—Dr Porritt did not belittle anything he had done, but most of his successes had been in short events, over in a flash. Dr Porritt paid tribute to Mr W. G. Thomas, without whose coaching Lovelock would never have been able to - do as well as he had done in the Old Country; without Mr Thomas the Berlin event would never have been run as it was. Mr Thomas had been invited to the function, but he was unable to attend.