Background to the 1948 Olympic Steeplechase

With the 2012 Olympics coming up it may be worth recalling how we managed -- or mismanaged – back in 1948. Clearly we were unprepared, and probably under-trained, for such a demanding event as the Steeplechase. (It is noteworthy that Brasher won his Gold Medal after 8 years preparation!) There follows a summary of sporting activities at Oxford and RMA Sandhurst, together with results and times for most events competed in.

Michaelmas 1945:

Arrived 29 October, after release from army.

Squash 7

Hockey 5

Running 8 – including trials and 3 matches

V Blackheath & Tyrians – 15 out of 27

v Oxford County – 9

v Cambridge – 9

(Cambridge won 26-29)

Vacation – Walks and table-tennis

Hilary 1946:

Boxing 2

Hockey 8

Squash 5

Running 25

(3 miles in 16’ 42”: 880x in 2’ 3.5”: ran 880x in Varsity Sports – (time not known)

Vacation: Walking in W. Country – up to 25 miles per day, golf, squash, tennis

Trinity 1946:

Tennis 10

Cricket 5

Running 19

(May 18: 880x v London University 2’ 3”

May 24 AAA Heats 880x 2’ 5”

May 25 AAA Finals 880x 5 ^th

May 30 v Marlborough: 2^nd in Mile

June 1: v Oxford County 880x; 1=: 2’ 0.9”

June 10 v Met Police: 2^nd in Mile in 4’ 38”

June 22 Surrey Sports: 4^th in 880x

OUAC Irish Tour to Queens Belfast and Trinity Dublin

(Won Mile in Dublin in 4’ 43”)

Vacation: Scotland – walking and cycling: Tennis, cycling, gardening, harvesting. One 8 mile run

Michaelmas 1946:

Hockey 8

Squash 2

Running 16

(Cross-Country places:

Pangbourne1, Orion 2, Finchley 3, Thames H &H 1, Blackheath 1, Cambridge 3

Cambridge won 26-29 for 2^nd year running)

Vacation: squash 4, golf 1, run 1

Hilary 1947:

Hockey 3

Running 19 (NB Snow from end January to mid-March)

Varsity Sports: 3 miles, time not known but certainly very slow.

Trinity 1947:

Cricket 1

Tennis 2

Running 19

11 880x races:

(2’ 2” in OUAC Sports: 2’ 0.7” v Queens Belfast: 1’ 57.4” v AAA 3^rd)

Vacation:

July 5: Hackney Sports 2^nd in 880x in 2’ 4” (Beat Bannister and won toast-rack!)

July 12: Oxford Pressed Steel Sports 880x in about 1’ 58”

July 18: AAA 4^th in heat in about 2’

Tennis, sailing, swimming, Dartmoor walking, 2 runs

Oct 4: Thames Hare & Hounds Short Challenge Cup 1^st

Michaelmas 1947

Running 20

Hockey 1

(Cross Country places:

Thames 9, Orion1, Blackheath 4, Finchley 1= with Curry, Monty Hillier 9, Cambridge 7; Oxford had first four places and won by 17-38)

NOTE: Nominated by now to train for 3,000m Steeplechase for 1948 Olympics

26 Nov: first try over hurdles

28 Nov. filmed with Peter Curry walking through Tom Gate, Christ Church for Olympic film

Vacation:

Dec.13 for Thames v Blackheath 10^th

Jan. 13 first visit to Herne Hill for Steeplechase coaching from Bill Thomas – about 5 visits in all..

Olympic Preparation – 1948

23 Jan took up temporary post as History Lecturer at RMA Sandhurst. This provided a track for training and company on training runs.

Feb 7: for Thames v Bradfield 1st (time was 12” over course record)

Feb 14 for Thames in South of the Thames; 19^th (Team 5^th out of 24)

Feb 25 for Thames in Southern Counties: 14^th (Before Curry for the 1^st time)

Mar 6: for Thames v Charterhouse 1^st

Mar 13: for Thames v RMA Sandhurst 1^st

April: holiday period: Runs and long walks

April 17 Training at Butlins, Clacton, 12 mile run with Peter Curry

April 23 and 27: 25 mile walks

May 14: ran a steeplechase course for first time!

May 25: Achilles v Oxford Centipedes: won 880x in 2’ 2.5”

May 29: Surrey Sports. 4^th in mile in 4’ 37”

June 5: Achilles v Poly 4’ 26” for mile

June 7: To White City for practice over steeplechase hurdles and water-jump

for first time!

June 9: Achilles v Latymer: 880x in 2’ 4”

June 12: Uxbridge, Southern Counties Steeplechase 2^nd

June 19 Kinnaird Trophy: mile in about 4’ 45”

July 3: AAA 2^nd to Peter Curry in Steeplechase in 10’ 34”

July 7: Olympic Invitation.

July 10: Motspur to run for Achilles in Victory Relays – no information on this.

July 20: Herne Hill – training session. Three-quarter mile in 3’ 15”

July 24: Birmingham Waddilove Trophy: 5^th in 2 mile 9’ 30”

July 27: Herne Hill – final training session. Collected Olympic kit

July 29: Olympic Opening Ceremony

Aug 3: Olympic Steeplechase Lap times provided by Norris Macwhirter

````` Tudor Curry

Lap 1: 63.9 67.2

Lap 2: 73.6 73.7

Lap 3: 75.3 78.1

Lap 4: 75.0 78.0

Lap 5: 77.2 79.0

Lap 6: 87.9 78.5

Lap 7: 101.6 82.0

Lap 8: (Half) 54.9 47.6

10 Mins 10.9 seconds: 9 Mins 42.1 seconds

August 10: wedding – honeymoon in France and Belgium

Sept 14: took up temporary post at Abingdon School

Oct. 9: Achilles v Sandhurst: 2= with Peter Curry

Oct-Dec Six training runs with school team and to mark course

1949: Last Competitive Running

Jan 18: Offered post with Exeter University

Feb.12: Horsham for South of Thames for Thames H&H 33<sup>rd</sup>

Mar 3: Ran for Thames H&H v Bradfield

Mar 12 Varsity Sports: Achilles Meeting at Park Lane Hotel

Mar: 31 Down to Devon, near Tavistock, for Exeter Univ. post

No further competitive running. Played hockey for Tavistock and some games for Devon. Trained Kelly College, Tavistock runners.

1956-63 Post with the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Played hockey for the staff side and trained the midshipmen and cadet team for athletics and cross-country.

Feb. 1959 Dartmouth won Plymouth Command CC: 6 in first 11

Nov 28, 1959 BRNC team in Exeter road race

June 22-3: 1960: BMA Sports Symposium at Torquay: Dr. Roger Bannister a speaker

March 1961: Plymouth Command CC: BRNC 16 in first 33

Sept: 21, 1961: Ran five and a half hilly miles from Shaldon to Hele, Torquay for BRNC team in the Exeter-Paignton Road Relay. Aged 35.

1978 (aged 54) Arthritis: double hip replacement.

Geoff Tudor, March, 2010