THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1954.
ON THE 24 HOURS IN THE STRANGE
LIFE OF GORDON PIRIE
SOCCER SIDE
(Edited by Marshall Fallows)
The town clock boomed twice na Chelsea manager Ted Drake drove into in Kenilworth Street Kenilworth Street, Reading. All good citizens were abed. Tod woke up Reading Manager Juck Smith and said: "I've come to sign Stan Wicks." Why the hurry? Two hours earlier, at midnight, the Daily Express had he intended going to phoned My Drake to confirm an "inside" story ... that Reading the following morning to sign the 26-year-old 6ft, 2ins. Reading centre- bull.
"How on earth did you get to hear
of *?" exclaimed 12
Haggland former Arsenal and centre-forward. "O negotin- tions were strictly seend
"When the meas appears to
have J11
The morrow managers in Britann SE 20% petition...anyway, no comment, please,"
No
Pictures, No Dances, No Smokes No Drinks, No Fun-Just Work And Grinding, Relentless Training
By J. L
MANNING
No pictures, au dances no smokes, no drinks, no FUN-just work and grinding, relentless, and torturing training.
That is the day in and day out life of Douglas Alistair Gordon Pirle, the man whs hus set out to be the world's greatest-ever distance runner.
cau
he And at the end of it alt
crammed full flu ilmeelt zo
of energy that be just has to run and run and ruri,
grinding, Plou, plod,
Ono thing ho
enjoy,it by". "How are you. Piggy club dance or two, but no other
1 from change his food. with of the energy he uses, is dear," she adds to' Piric with a
I
Thank 1 friendly znie. "I've ordered | gruelling mileuge.
and snow Rowet pork,
plod, through 'rain SOUS- Juve over etta a man od ke it for you.
1 there's plenty uf and fog. Gerschler exeuses him him.
He lives by n schedule- Pultana pudding." .
only when he has a temperature and fever. German "When are you going to be- chedule (Tum
"Do conic an Ameri-an citizen, Gor-
you
ever get bilalers coach so harsh that it would
aks make even the toughest Com-don,"
the market-pluce running 20 or 30 mlies a day?" 1 asked him. barber. mondo quail.
If I do I "Not very often. "When you give me a decent
Just run them off. They're the hair-cut." was the reply.
Then alence. Pirle is taking least of my worries. But my in the calories by the hundreds, feet and legs are as strong as they ever will be. That's the No special diet, except (but it
In Army result of training in mensured in platefuls. There
tremendous
boots several hours of
a night. is
before bed- which is what I used to flo." work to be done
uver feel "Don't you
Bike time, and by no means is all of
It 47792 at his desk the giving this marathon training a bok.
miss some nights?" I asked." "Wanderful eater, him." saya
"Always the waltrasKI, bedroomecomi helping. don't
as she puts down ce
ונות
וגין
To find out just what that schedule means I have spent duy with the 22-year-old bank clerk
one day to four under
LOTS OF HONEY I slabed my vigil ment Pick U woken 7.45 in his
IT
minute
On the con- Manager Jack Smith forecasts] shaking at Leeds?
und any cavious clubs abght future for the brothers | trary
Dat the big Alan and John, both buck, when jem sulf take
to leave they return to full-time training. Welshman is unlikely
An open At present they are doing their the United. But it is
Some Leeds folk secret that Nation Service.
wotale fire to see the entre- MOST ADAPTABLE Eddle Firmant, Charlton's 20-forward put u bifle more vigour
African, must into his play. yone-old South
Strange that for most adaptable |
such # be the
player and u powerfully-built And then Manager Drake got player in League Soccer
7% to Reading.
season he has appearel former Army boxer, Charles is out his ear, drove
back,
with the up- Saath, woke up at
inside right, loo, too gentle woke up Jack Stan Wicks, and confirmed the centre-forward, inskie-left, and position to suit some of his best
friends. "a adage
KOMALI manages outside-left.
Save Firmam.
Latest comment. "He's a great "I'll play any- work is never dune
ways where.
but I prefer the the player but he'd be even better
who hopes Manager Jnomy it be put a little Dooley spirit The departure of ventre-hall tender's job" Start Wieks to Chelsea stull Sced agrees left back is Eddle's late game." John takes no nottee and just keeps un playing leaves two Wickses at Headingbee gamitin
Firimoni has
a wedding date football and it could be that to the game is His made-to-be his approach On March
Hubitrony. daugiater of absolutely right.
Chorlton's
Incentive to Jack Fairbrother lo steer Coventry City into the First Division is that he would bevon
of the highest-paid in football. Bunagers
1 con- remembered as the man who attract provides for a big salary Wolverhampton Wanderers
ant ach step up the frent At the Soccer game.
The job 1s
as big as Fair For Pirle every day is divid was ringing pound the clubs Inst
brother's cheery
Theed into four $22119. grin. week in desperate search for
Road ground which has to stave off the re- plovem
known erowds of more than Election Bueal
40,000 now Jose toney weekly There are a friends in fugl-
on an average gate of 12,000. The Sale of Cash Sweep, ball when you are on the spot,
The missing thousands? They That above willy' Tickets on
otice tops duthe-free map
Ku to the Bioingiaan LETTE the other end Is w close on Friday, 29th January.ogh gong But he may have fou
Fairbrother, "If we "But,"
the football the affer as follows:--
find help when he phoned his former player Frank Taylor, gates will look after themselves."
NOTICE
THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLA!B
Special Cash Sweep on the Pearce Memorial Cup
Saturday, 30th January, 195bi Over 1,000,000) Hekels
sold to date.
the
382 Nathan Road, Kowloon. at 4.00 p.m.
6 D'Aguilar Street, At 5.00 p.m. Queen's Building, Ground Floor, Chater Road,
nt 6.00 p.in,
Geme
Robinson,
J
Major Frank Walsall manager,
Buckley.
Aho
IN
the well
m
mue Stoke City's manager.
Whether Frank can do any
to problematic), but he has never forgotten his
thing to hel
As
and ete
full-back Wolverhampton Mr Taylor knows about Buckley's methods. They talk about all Hr Suv
alfancy ghemes after the Iric of
of the detent by Hungary, The Draw will be held in Lat Wolves bad mo the Public Betting Hudl at The ; ideas long before that happened.
And the Stoke manager pont, Race Course, at 10.00 a.m. On
svete of the methods he Saturday, 30th January, 1954,
employs which, he says, were "all patented by Frunk Buckley."
By Order of the Stewards, PEAT, MARWICK, MITCHELL & CO.
Treasurers.
to
Oxf
of these
NO HEAD-SHAKING John Charles slips out of the headlines os he fails to score at Stoke. Dees th's cause head-
THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB
ANNUAL RACE MEETING
Saturday, 23rd, Wednesday 27th & Saturday 30th January, 1954,
T
(To be held under the Rules of the Hong Kong Jockey Club) THE PROGRAMME WILL CONSIST OF 30 RACES The First Bell will be rung al 11.30 a.m. and the First Race run at 12.00 Noon each day. The tin interval is after the Fourth, Race (1.30 p.m.).
The Secretary's Office ut Alexandra House will cluse at 10.a.m. each day.
MEMBERS' ENCLOSURE
NO PERSON WITHOUT A BADGE WILL BE ADMITTED. All persons MUST wear thete badges prominently displayed throughout the meeting,
Admission Badges at $10.00 each per day are obtainable through the Serretury on the written or personal introduction of a member, | auch member to be responsible for all visitors introduced by him.
House if ordered in Tins will be obtainable at the Club advanced from the No. 1 Boy (Tel. 72811).
NO CHILDREN will be admitted to the Club's premises during the Meeting. For this purpose a Child is a person under the age of seventeen years, Western standard.
PUBLIC ENCLOSURE
The price of admission will be $3.00 each per day payable 21 . the Gate.
Any person leaving the Enclosure will be required to pay the requisite fee of $3.00 in order to gain re-admission.
MEALS & REFRESHMENTS will RESTAURANT.
SERVANTS
Ve
obtainable ki the
Servants must remain in their Employers' boxes except for passing through on their duties. They may on no account use the Betting Booths in the Members' Betting Hall.
CASH SWEEPS
The cost of a Through Ticket is $60.00. Through Tickets re- served for this meeting but not paid for by 10 a.m. on Friday 22nd January, will be sold and the reservation cancelled for future meetings.
Tickets for the Special Cash Sweep on the Pearce Mentorial Cup scheduled to be run on 30th January, 1954, at $2.00 caeli, may be obtained from the Cash Sweep Offices at Queen's Building, (Chiater Road), B, D'Aguilar Street and 382, Nathan Road, during normal office hours and until 10 am, un the First and Second days of the meeting.
+
The sale of these tickets will close at 4 p.m. at 382, Nathan Road, at 6 p.m. at 5, D'Aguilar Street and at 6 p.m. at the office in Queen's Building, on Friday 20th January, 1054,"
TOTALISATOR
Backers are advised not to destroy or throw away their tickets until after the "all cicar" signal has been exhibited.
ALL WINNING TICKETS AND TICKETS FOR REFUNDS MUST BE PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT AT THE RACE COURSE ON THE DAY, TO WHICH THEY REFER, NOT LATER THAN ONE HOUR AFTER THE TIME FOR WHICH THE LAST RACE OF THE DAY HAS BEEN SCHEDULED TO BE RUN.
PAYMENT WILL NOT BE MADE ON TORN OR DISFIGURED TICKETS.
Bookmakers, Tie Tae men, etc. will not be permitted to operate within the precincts of the Hong Kong Jockey Club,
By Order of the Stewards,
H. MISA,
Secretary:
One
His first move has been to start new training schedule with the ball figuring in almost WIE
"I'm con- every minute of it. vinced that ball play will succeed
and over kick and rush bring back the supporters," says the forner Newcastle goal- keeper, who raised Peterborough United from obscurly to Football Leutue applicants,
will
London Express Service)
TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE
from the bank clerk
on Meailway, Coulsdon, Surrey,
ducks?
amount
In
21
BI,
"Once upon a time, but not
Gordon Pirie with the AAA trophies he received for his outstanding athletic performances. These are the C. N. Jackson Memorial Trophy (left) for the most outstanding athletic performance of the year and the Harvey Memorial Cup for the best AAA Championship performance of the year.--Reuterphoto.
now, It's nutomatic. I get home Spotlighting The Three-Year-Olds Of 1954
change, and out I go running. i have such terrlac energy
HOW
to see looking down silently at other plats of teamed piskiing the must do. I just can't him from a picture-frame over atel
arantelpitoG
the
coloured
rustard.
2710
greengrocer
toli have veen cafe last summer when Gordon 12- broke the world six-mille
O thi+
of his great rival "You should photograph Emil Zatopek, the Czech wonder rTMI".
Sleeping Working
Eating Running
Add these hours they come to 24. anything else
10 hours
8
together and No the foo
Cheat big feed cake v cord. the table, and a bottle of cham pugne. Do you think they'd do iha: for him in America?
The bera
wantexi 10 give for bettier. Gordon his meals bu Gorden old han he was
if he didn't continue to pay." 1.85 p.m.
Back to the bank. As we get there two small boys EL! 1* are gazing reverently
"That's Gordon Piric's door
Bul bank, one of them said. they didn't recognise Jilin.
mattur
mind he'd
The Pirie day begins erdia arily enough. No early morning skipping in the daily duzeRY, garden or deep breathing exer- cises by the open window for hire The serious athletic part
when of the day comes later the day's work is done.
The only coRGAN first thing
the morning is getting him-we-shop Molf washed, sxved. dreamed as quickly as possible
md down to us breditfäst
That light. 12b. dynamo In a lean M. 2in, hunton frame
requires food
RUNS AND RUNS
On the way he called
for SUNY."
"Don't you
at
11
barley and sugar, and bought a few apples Just in case I feel hungry. There will be nothing more tor eat until kater oght after I've fished running" he explained. ever get hungry These cold white eventings I asked.
"Pil may i do. Sometimes I'm to hungry after running for a couple of hours that wherever I am I make tracks for home, go straight to the larder,
Ereakfast consists of three is going helpings of whatever and lots of honey. The honey
to hi la sent
from South Africa by a fillow athlete and admirer out there.
mother Piric.
of Mis
0413 and family of two ether
all daughing
older than supervises the all- Gordon, important meal.
FOR SUNDAY The following is the schedule of events and time table for the track and feld meet between the Island and
Mainland the which is to take place on the Army Sports Ground at Boun- dary
Street on Sunday mencing at 2 p.m.
cum-
so muh
A
and
start eating whatever I can lay hands on, a loaf of bread, any- thing in sight."
to
bank 5 pm. From the home.
Tho
hard part of the day has arrived. Within half an hour the young Mr Pirie has his personality. The changed happy-go-lucky smile has gone.
atender-featured
face stern. He is preparing to spend
liko the next four hours other man in the world. He is going to run all the time,
His that
NO DIET Gordon sits wearing a funny coloured knitted beret. Ho wears this because he sweats
In his training. his hair tends to "dry out" and sland on end unless it'e plas- tered and held down. He wants
nutri to look newt
at the bank.
2.00 pm
1.—100 yds.i Javelin; High Jump: 2.05 P.m.-100 yds. (Women); 2.10 p.m.-One Mue; 2.20 p.m.-Shot Put: 2,25 p.m.-Finish of 1% Mile Rond Walk; 2.30 p.m.440 yds.; 2.35 High Hurdles; pm-130 yds 2.40 p.m.-Discus; 2.45 p.m.-220 yds. Long Jump; 3.00 p.m. -- 8.30 am. It is time to calch 220 yds. (Women): 3.05 p.he bus or pick up Haminer: 3.10 p.m.-Pole Vault; winr 3.20 p.m.-
-880 yds.: Hop. Step Am so to the bank. in Croy and Jump; 3.30 p.m.-Three
dan, where he is n junior clerk Miles: 3.50 p.m.-4 x 110 yds.in the trustee and exccutor de- Relay (Women);
partners. 4 x 110 ydn. Relay: 4.10 p.m.-
the bank I On the way to naked Pirie if he were ever 111 enough to need a doctor.
4 x 440 yds. Relay.
4.00 P.M.-
CHESS MATCH
The Kowloon Chess Club beat the Netherlands community by 13 points to 5 in the chess mulch played at the Peninsula Hotel
last night. One of the surprises
of the evening was the defeat
al
de
of the Colony Champion, J. P. da Carvalho, by F. H. Meyenfeldt.
1
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Parasitic skin. disease, itching tigema etc.
Mitigal
OIL & ourENT
»Bayer « LEVERKUSEN GERMANY.
Van
Wa buy and sali
Diamonds, Jades, Sapphires ASTOR JEWELLERY CO. '63 QUEEN'S ROAD CA TEL: 21750
|
var clou
is
no
Pirle runs and runs and runs. He's had more runs than Don Bradman, a friend live roud.
"No," he said, "but I went to a doctor not so long ago to be examined for un assurance policy. He felt my pulsé bever- ni imas, Then asked, "Good heavens, do you ever take any exercise, young man?”
ها
5.30 to 9.30 p.m. This where tho German master Professor Woldemar coach,
SECRET SCHEDULE
In his running-hour after hour-Piria follows implicitly sent the strict secret schedule to him monthly from Germany. Gerschler is the master who controls the long, limbs of Gordon Firle.
am
thin
help myself. I've got to run or burst."
"How did it start?"
"At school when I was about 11. The football field used tu get flooded so we were sent for runs. I always won. brothers and father runners."
But my are all
THEY LIKE IT Mr Alexander Pirie, a cuble and wireless operator, is # forner Scottish international cross-country runner. All three South sons joined his club, London Harriers, and all be- came no runners.
At the age of 53 Mr Pirle in still running. I often go out for a 20-mile jog," he said. "It keeps me olim and I like doing
He showed me of Gordon and himself running
a photograph through the Surrey countryside with the Olymple torch on its way to Wembley lu 1940. They were the oldest and youngest runners who took part in that relay. Gordon torch-currying was then only 17.
boy
cars."
wolk
Speedy Holwood Is The Type
For The
1,000 Guineas
By
JAMES PARK
no more
There were not many faster two-year-old fillies in training last year than Big Berry. She was than a length behind Crimson at York, and that was about how they hit the gate. Perhaps that would always have happened, as Crimson had the ability to find her stride in a flash.
In four races, Big Berry won twice and was second in the others. She wound up by giving weight all round at Newmarket and setting a pace which got them all in trouble by half-way.
speed merchant It is as a that I visualise Big Berry be- I may be "That's the way to inspire a ing in her element.
said Father Piric.
"I taking a chance in going so far have never forced any of them Bs that and may be she will to run. They just
do it ilke stay a mile,
Certainly she is bred to do other people
drive ог
so as she is a member of the I turned to Mrs Pirie. "Feed-famous Black Ray family. Black ing them is a bit of a problem," Ray had a remarkable number she said, "and I have to give of foals and in the course of her them their evening menis
at carour produced a succession of
winners, some of whom different times, Peter, my other son, likes to eat before he goes high rank. out running and Gordon profers to cat afterwards."
EARLY TO BED
So life goes on at No. 7. The life of the home is the life of athletes for whom no sacrifice is too great and no detail small.
him
warm
too
took
Holwood is a delightful little fly but here again 1 think the dominating factor will be spoed. balanced She Is a perfectly ally with the right attitude to
wards racing and as honest as the day,
hor
the Ally As a two-year-old, seemed to have a nice combina- tion of speed and stamina,
LOOKS WELL IN
On the face of it Hot Water locks well in the Free Handicap as she can meet Court Splend- our on 5lb. better terma when she beat him by a length and a half.
than
the
Hot Water raced on wrong side of the course when third to Never Say Dio at Ascot In July, and perhaps the only time she was in a condition to when SALE do herself justice she won
Hot Water is a home-brod of Blue Pete, out fly by
SITNO it is the Trouble and
and family as King's Bench
come from.
I Cross Petition shall not be surprised if Hot Water steps up on her handl
London Express Service)
The doubt may concer lack of scope, but there is al- ways the possibility that she will grow sufficiently to frame cap mark
out better than year-old days,
bad
In her two-
Holwood never ron race. She was totally unsuited Blind Swinumer to the going in the Queen Mary Stokes but still ren well.
left at the Awarded Medal She was virtuully
but all her post at Goodwood, other efforts were In keeping with her reputation.
She should stay a mile andi there should be every encour agement, to train her for the
London, Jan. 28,
At about nine o'clock Gor don returns from his running around the ronds and over the After his shower-bath downa. he dresses and comes down- stairs for his supper. His silp- Gerschler, of Freiburg Univer-pers and a white sweater are sity, enters his life.
"Muat! warming by the fre keep
these cold nights," explained Mrs Pirie.
Shortly after ten o'clock every night Pirie takes those most famous legs in Britain up to bed to rest, and with this Spartan
bottle! goy a hot-water
"I just fall off to sleep the 100 Guloens She is just the swim feat in 1953, it was
he type to find her best form in Gerschler had him carefully moment I hit the pillow,"
iry running for Bays. "You
the early part of the season. 8.55 0.m.-Piric arrives of examined by heart specjalisty three or four hours every night last autumn. "The finest heart and see what happens to you. the bank to work on his led
said ever seen," ments If he gets a little peckish I have
I just can't stay awake." professor.
And there he siceps under (and he usually does) there is
"That's all I wanted to the watch of the silent Zato some frutt in his pocket.
- time, but no know," said Gerschler.
Now pek 1 D.-Lunch
One day, when Gerschler Wime to go home. He strolls 10 he can do some real work. He pulls the string, Gordon will Dearby street market ntici can stand up to the toughest stagger the world. But first ho into site enfe full of stall-schedulo I have ever given has had to renounce it. holders. There a chair and a anyone, and in three years he {ndle me always kep!
will be doing feats on the run- Gordon,
ning track no-one has ever dreamed of."
for
The day I went with him the friends of the man whom many of America's leading universi-
So this strange
ono
marionette
show is on, with Gerschler from Frelburg pulling the strings and
A blind piano tuner, Icom Battle (Sussex) was awarded a prize for the most praiseworthy ported last night.
known as the A medal,
to was awarded Green Trophy Mennard by
the M. H. Welsh Falry is a good-looking |
(Chonnel Islands) daughter of Fair Trial and as Guernsey
Swimming Club. might be expected from such
took The blind plano tuner breeding, the fllly is only in the 1,000 Guineas. She won two of part in a mass club swim last her four races but, on the summer and coveros 100 yards balance of her form, aho just guided by the voices of fellow misses the first class,
swimmers-France-Presse.
She has a
bright turn
of
speed but appears to have too McKenley's Record much to find to be regarded
Melbourne, Jan. 20.
Herb McKenley,
exriously as a proposition the classic races,
am rather
I Jamaica's
Interested
for
Easy Win For MCC Antigua, Leeward Islands,
Jan. 20.
The MCC won their match today against Leoward
In
hers
ties would like to have dinies Pirlo en Farthing Down obe-former Olymple sprinter, beat | Hot Water because she seemed Islands by an innings and $6
with them were already there,
in her They dismissed *Leeward first season with no more than Islands for 167 in their second three_races. It must have been innings.
dressed in their overalls and diently tolling and perspiring, the world professional record to be of the progressive type. Tung, working clothes,
with paying the closest attention to for 120 yards by clocking 11,2 She had on easy time some collars and ties and come with-minute detalls of the German's seconds today.
monthly letter of instruction. The previous beat profesicunl Gordon goes out every even-time for the distance was 11.25 ing as he has since 1949. No seconds by Jack Donaldson in cinemas or theatres, perhaps a|1000-Reuter.
out.
Cuppa strony tea with extra sugar for Gordon and his mate," calls the waitress sweep-
THE GAMBOLS
WHY DON'T YOU KEEP THE") FLOUR IN THAT TIN-?)
Lag
thought she would stay as her Final scores were:-Leeward one classic engagement is the Islands 38 anch 167, MCC 201.— Oaks.
Barry App lebi
AND THEN I'D HAVE HOWHERE "Ask-silly questions & must”) TO KEEP THE STRING
expect silly answere
Heuter.
POINT 8
Surf's
TREMENDOUS
LATHER
CLEANS DEEPER THAN ANY OTHER