Daylight fading and obviously an attentive, respectful crowd...with a quality field and a less often raced distance. Across the ocean in Florida, USA, those of us with our ears to the ground waited for weeks till our issue of Track & Field News arrived in our mailboxes to inform us of the latest continental results, so often the big ones happening in places like the mysterious and exotic sounding "Crystal Palace". It made our hearts beat faster, believe it or not...to learn of the finishing times and places of the favorite and familiar names from so many different countries. We teenagers played around in mimicking the running strides of some of these heroes, even fashioning our looks (hair, kit) after them, in the dubious hopes of acquiring some of their talent through mere imitation. All part of our histories and so many others'.
Nicely said, as a Kiwi I grew up in Nelson and often saw Rod Dixon and his brother John running around the place. Something to aspire to, enormously talented with legs like tree trunks, both of them.
I always rooted for Tony Simmons - maybe because he seemed so tiny in comparison, yet so brave. Great memories of him fast catching Brendan Foster from miles back and missing out on Olympic bronze in '76 and a heart stopping runner up at the '74 Europeans.
Except he got thrashed by Ian Stewart in the World Cross Country Championships a few weeks earlier! See my biography on Ian, here: ua-cam.com/video/dLy4UEXPnTA/v-deo.html
@@PrentisHancock1 Cross country was a different beast though. I remember Dixon being a better cross country runner then Walker. It was real cross country back then too! Running through big mud holes, climbing over fences, decent hilly parts and rough terrain (compared to today's well manicured courses)! The winner of a major cross country race back then was truly the toughest!
@@brettwilkinson9529 That's good to know. Whenever I hear of someone with Parkinson's disease, I always think of the actor Michael J Fox who was diagnosed more than 20 years ago and how it has affected him. It is a cruel disease.
I was there. It was always great to see JW win his races like that. I didn't remember the fact that he had just come from Milan which made it more impressive. Crystal Palace before they built the stand on the back straight. So many memories of that place especially the Coca Cola meetings and of course the night when Bedford broke the world record
Ian Stewart coming off two great wins in the European Indoors 3000m and then a week later the World Cross Country title, not going so great here, but a great athlete. See his full biography here: ua-cam.com/video/dLy4UEXPnTA/v-deo.html
Is that Dickie Davies commentating with Adrian Metcalfe? If so, I'm impressed with his commentary. The pack didnt fancy the WR pace that the 800m runner was correctly setting for them, but a great race nonetheless.
Must have been on World of Sport on ITV. Back in the 70s they had to sniff around and pick up anything the BBC {Grandstand} didn't. The Beeb wouldn't have touched a non Olympic distance in a non Championship event, no matter how big the quality of the field. So this was a rare weekend when ITV might have got the upper hand on viewers. That said, I don't know what Grandstand were showing that day.
Walker was one of my heroes growing up. It seems like he started getting beat when he cut his hair short and started wearing socks with his track spikes......
What a waste of the last 5 minutes. The only redeeming feature was hearing Adrian Metcalf again. Second only to the legend David Coleman who could make an ordinary race appear interesting as against today's commentators who do the opposite.
Daylight fading and obviously an attentive, respectful crowd...with a quality field and a less often raced distance. Across the ocean in Florida, USA, those of us with our ears to the ground waited for weeks till our issue of Track & Field News arrived in our mailboxes to inform us of the latest continental results, so often the big ones happening in places like the mysterious and exotic sounding "Crystal Palace". It made our hearts beat faster, believe it or not...to learn of the finishing times and places of the favorite and familiar names from so many different countries. We teenagers played around in mimicking the running strides of some of these heroes, even fashioning our looks (hair, kit) after them, in the dubious hopes of acquiring some of their talent through mere imitation. All part of our histories and so many others'.
Well written and evocative piece, from a few Florida boy 🙂
Nicely said, as a Kiwi I grew up in Nelson and often saw Rod Dixon and his brother John running around the place. Something to aspire to, enormously talented with legs like tree trunks, both of them.
What a line up of 70s talent.
John Walker at his best was awesome to watch!
Wish there were more races from the 1975 season when Walker and Dixon were at their peak. Thanks for this!
John Walker a class act at his best !!!
Damn, Walker just of the plane, and he runs like a freaking rabbit. He is a pleasure to watch. One of the best of all time. Thanks for posting.
John Walker is a NZ hero
I always rooted for Tony Simmons - maybe because he seemed so tiny in comparison, yet so brave. Great memories of him fast catching Brendan Foster from miles back and missing out on Olympic bronze in '76 and a heart stopping runner up at the '74 Europeans.
First man to run under 3.50 in the mile.Walker was simply Unbeatable in 1975 and 1976.
Except he got thrashed by Ian Stewart in the World Cross Country Championships a few weeks earlier! See my biography on Ian, here: ua-cam.com/video/dLy4UEXPnTA/v-deo.html
@@PrentisHancock1 Cross country was a different beast though. I remember Dixon being a better cross country runner then Walker.
It was real cross country back then too! Running through big mud holes, climbing over fences, decent hilly parts and rough terrain (compared to today's well manicured courses)!
The winner of a major cross country race back then was truly the toughest!
I've just found out that he is suffering from Parkinson's disease. He really was a great runner.
@@gary1961 yes. He's seems to be managing it the best way he can. He's a fighter with a never say die attitude.
@@brettwilkinson9529 That's good to know. Whenever I hear of someone with Parkinson's disease, I always think of the actor Michael J Fox who was diagnosed more than 20 years ago and how it has affected him. It is a cruel disease.
Another fantastic race. Thank you for these classic races! Pleas keep them coming!
gakaface I was coached by Tony Simmons
Watched this for you Dad... & for the 1970s crew from Olympic Harriers Wellington.
I was there. It was always great to see JW win his races like that. I didn't remember the fact that he had just come from Milan which made it more impressive. Crystal Palace before they built the stand on the back straight. So many memories of that place especially the Coca Cola meetings and of course the night when Bedford broke the world record
havent´t seen this before, great !
There was a third New Zealand runner at the time but was not in the race....Dick Quax
Great track running days for our flying kiwis!
Hello....You certainly had some cracking athletes John Walker, Rod Dixon, Dick Quax
@@philrobinson981 you forgot Phil Costley
Sub 8 min record 3000m SC !
Might have been there as a young boy, if I was I have their autographs!
5 laps 400m
I was coached by Tony Simmons
chris McAllister I am :-)
shit he sat down on a plane for 8 hours lol >And still came out like a BOSS!!!
Hmmm walker ran 4:51'40 for this distance a few days after this!!!!!!
Настоящие сборище звёзд на не олимпийской дистанции.Уокер,-закономерно,-победил,но Диксон и Гардеруд тоже показали высокий класс
Thanks for this upload!!!
Ian Stewart coming off two great wins in the European Indoors 3000m and then a week later the World Cross Country title, not going so great here, but a great athlete. See his full biography here: ua-cam.com/video/dLy4UEXPnTA/v-deo.html
Awesome Kiwis can fly...😊
Is that Dickie Davies commentating with Adrian Metcalfe? If so, I'm impressed with his commentary. The pack didnt fancy the WR pace that the 800m runner was correctly setting for them, but a great race nonetheless.
kvalheim and gärderud my idols and also ian stewart
ANDERS GÄRDERUD IS MY IDOL
All those long, flowing locks...
Not bad for two guys (Walker & Dixon) straight off the plane from Milan!
aah the 70's, when hair was by 'Lion King' !
Time finished 5:00.65
Must have been on World of Sport on ITV. Back in the 70s they had to sniff around and pick up anything the BBC {Grandstand} didn't. The Beeb wouldn't have touched a non Olympic distance in a non Championship event, no matter how big the quality of the field. So this was a rare weekend when ITV might have got the upper hand on viewers. That said, I don't know what Grandstand were showing that day.
Walker was one of my heroes growing up. It seems like he started getting beat when he cut his hair short and started wearing socks with his track spikes......
As I recall, he also had to curtail his training because of compartment syndrome, for which he underwent surgery.
Four seconds slower than Bekele's last five laps in the Olympic 5k final in Beijing, off a pace that wasn't slow.
doped africans doesn`t count
@@64fairlane305 Grammatically incorrect and an unfounded slur.
The al' SX 70
Mmm, Candace Bergen
Epic failed record breaking attempt
What a waste of the last 5 minutes. The only redeeming feature was hearing Adrian Metcalf again. Second only to the legend David Coleman who could make an ordinary race appear interesting as against today's commentators who do the opposite.