The Wonderful Career Of Ronald Opie Recalled.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18496, 23 June 1928, Page 7

The Wonderful Career Of Ronald Opie Recalled.

SOME OF THE PERFORMANCES AND TRAITS OF THE DOMINION’S GREATEST FURLONG RUNNER.

(Written for the “Star” by W.R.K.) THE approach of the Olympic Games commends to all sportsmen these references to the late Ronald Opie, foremost of Australian and New Zealand runners of sixteen years ago, and holder of records which were only shaded by fractions by the great athletes of the older lands.

There is more in athletics than skill In jumping out of the holes, pace between the tapes and rare judgment in spirited finishes. Not only for his wonderful furlong running will Opie be remembered. His name will always be to pedestrian ism a synonym for sportsmanship, and especially one phase of sportsmanship—-modesty. There are many modest runners, but was ever such modesty blended with such capacity for great achievement: Ronald Opie’s memory shall endure as a standard for athletes. It was away back in 1904 when the name of Opie first l>ecame associated with athletics. A quiet lad. with a natural turn of pace, Opie won the Christchurch Bovs’ High School junior cup in that year. However, he was not destined to have his name engraved upon the senior cup along with those of such brilliant young athletes as W. L. Paterson and D. G. Guthrie. Milestone in Athletic History. In spite of this, the coming of Opie was a milestone in the history of Canterbury and New Zealand athletics Seven years later Opie made his name famous at the New Zealand championship meeting at Lancaster Park. By his brilliant performances he ran his way into the team which represented the Dominion and Australia at the Festival cf Empire Games at the famous Stamford Bridge ground in June of 1911. In that same team was al«o Guy Haskins, of Christchurch, who defeated some of the crack collegiate men of America, while at Philadelphia University, and Gerald Kcddell, a great hurdler. When he left the Boys’ High School Opie resolved to follow the teaching profession, and he first became a pup'l teacher at. the Fast Christchurch School. There a life-long friendship sprang up between Opie and A- R. Blank, now head master of the Fendalton School. A keen footballer, cricketer and runner, Blank induced the raw youth in Ronald Opie to have a few runs with him. Opie turned out at St Albans Park in heavy boots, thick so'-ks and heavy tweed knickerbockers, and looked anything but a runner. He stripped off his footwear, stood on the mark with his chum, and beat him easily... The ex-High School junior cup holder became interested in athletics again, and for three weeks he continued to jog round St Albans Park and to indulge in friendly sprints, this time standing Blank up a few yards. The pair then resolved between them that Opie should wait for some suitable event before he showed his paces tp the handicapper. Mr Peter Menzies. This did not suit the happy-go-lucky and carefree Ronald, though. He was next seen at Lancaster Park training with the premier, professional runners of Canterbury and running them off their feet. Opie eventually started in his first handicap from the scratch mark, if my memory serves me right, and from that day he never looked back. Opie Creates Furlong Record. Lancaster Park in 1911 was the scene of the finest running of his career. Opie represented Canterbury in the 100yds, 220yds and 440yds championships. Jn the first event he beat Stohr and Duncan, of Wellington, by two yards in 10 l-ssee, while in the 440yds he beat Harding (Wellington) and Whitney by three yards in 50 4-5 sec. The 220yds event produced the sensation of the day. In the furlong Opie ran a wonderful race to beat Stolir and Hubbard by ten yards in 22sec, a New Zealand record. In that event he was only one-fifth of a second slower than the world’s record, held by B. J. Wefer. Had he been hard pressed that day Opie might easily have brought honour and an all-world title to the Dominion and Canterbury. The holder of the three titles, the 100, 220 and 440, was then selected to go to England to compete in the Festival of Empire games in June, held «n conjunction with the coronation of the present King and Queen of England. The selection was a deserving reward to a deserving athlete. However, he failed to do himself justice in the big events, though he scored a victory over 100yds against some of England’s best at Shepherd’s Bush a week prior to the Empire championships. In the Festival games Opie ran third in the hundred and second in the furlong, the time in both events being a good deal slower than his New Zealand efforts. Opie’s failure was attributed to the cold weather which was experienced at the time. In addition a knee gave way and the New Zealand champion limped badly after the furlong. Opie continued his winning way on his return to Canterbury, but he never really regained his form of 1911. As late as 1915 he won the Canterbury championship over 100yds and he after wards retired from the track.

Champion Had Care-free Personality. Of medium height, broad shouldered and powerful, Opie did not pass muster as a runner when fully clothed. When stripped for the track he was the embodiment of symmetry. His limbs were beautifully clean-cut and he had perfect balance. He was popular with the crowds, beloved by his friends and fellow competitors, and was never guilty of a mean action. He was a sportsman through and through. Much of Opie’s success was due to his wonderful physical fitness, occasioned by his love of the surf. lie did not adopt the accredited methods of training as applied by the speed merchants of to-day. The advent of summer would find him a devout patron of the surf at New Brighton, while he delighted in tanning his skin in the sun and wind, while he jogged for miles up and down the beach. On one occasion Opie and some of his chums, including H. Hamilton, Ray Blank (whose love of the surf resulted in the ultimate foundation of the North Beach Surf Club), and E. W. (“Nuts”) Hasell, of All Black Rugby fame, were disporting themselves on the beach near the pier. A strong nor’-wester was blowing, and there was a decided rip in the surf. The alarm was sounded for a man in difficulties, and the quartette, without taking bearings, made for the danger spot. Opie was first in, but the impetuosity of the party was its undoing. The rip dragged the wouldbe rescuers towards the piles of the pier, and five rescues were eventually necessary, the heroes of the party mentioned being saved from the dangerous piles by ropes thrown from the pier deck.

Early Anecdotes Related. Much to the occasional amusement of his pupils, Opie carried his bright disposition and carefree manner into the class-room at the school where he went through the pupil-teacher stage. On one occasion Mr F. T. (“Dutchy”) Evans, then a master, was required to leave school early in the afternoon to referee an important mid-week representative Rugby fixture. To suit the occasion Ronald Opie was left in charge of a class of strong willed boys. Advantage was promptly taken by the pupils to expend some of their boyish spirits, as lads sometimes will do when a senior master is called away from his class-room for a period. Opie was rather put about to keep the boys in order, and in exasperation he said: “Steady up boys. If “Dutchy” Evans finds out you are unruly there will be a row, and goodness knows what will happen if “Ppd” (Mr S. C. Owen, then headmaster) Chines in.” The use of the ncm de guerre of each gentleman from one temporarily iri authority broke up the class altogether. While attending Canterbury College Opie was involved in.an experience which might have caused him serious harm. He occasionally accepted the standing hospitality of a chunv The chum’s house had been burgled a few weeks previously, and on the occasion referred to, Opie arrived in the dead of a dark night, and gently pushed up a bedroom window. Visions of another burglary flashed across the mind of Opie’s chum inside. At the opportune moment, when the athlete was climbing quietly into the bedroom he was grabbed round the neck in a throttlehold. Everything was in darkness and not a sound was made until Opie fell out the window in a swoon. One can easily judge the surprise and consternation of the pal when lights later revealed the fact that he had done his best to choke the unfortunate Ronald Opie when in quest of a bed. Opie did not aspire to become an all-rounder. As a footballer he was not a great success, although he made a name fqr himself in the only match he ever played for the Canterbury College first fifteen. He secured the ball in his own in-goal area, and ran round the whole opposition to score a brilliant try. The match was against Marists, on the south ground at Lancaster Park, the same ground where Opie made his name famous. A Modal of Modesty.

One afternoon while on his way to attend a workjng-bee at his school in the country, Opie met with the accident which caused his death a few weeks later. His motor-cycle skidded in loose Shingle on the Papanui Road, near Leinster Road. He was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital, where he made a remarkable recovery. In high spirits and surrounded by a coterie of friends, Opie was making arrangements for further adventures. Next day be died suddenly. It was a shock to his intimate associates. Thus passed one of the greatest personalities of the track in Canterbury and New Zealand. When he died he had hardly a championship trophy left. He had distributed them among his many friends.