1956 AUSTRALIAN
50 KM WALK CHAMPIONSHIP AND OLYMPIC TRIAL
MELBOURNE, SUN 9 SEPT 1956
In July 2006, we accepted a wonderful addition to our VRWC trophy
cabinet, compliments of VRWC life member Ray Smith – his 1956
Australian 50 km Championship gold medal. The story of this medal
underlines it's significant place in Australian racewalking history.
In the late 1940's and early 1950's, Ray was one of our top sprint
walkers, excelling on the track and over the shorter distances.
Consequently, many people were surprised when, in 1954, he decided to
train for the 1956 Olympic 50 km event. Working under the watchful eye
of legendary coach Percy Cerutty, he upped his mileage and worked hard
on his fitness.
His first outing over the 50 km distance was on 27 August 1955 in a
VAWC 50k club championship race over the Olympic course. According to
his training diary, he retired at the 21 mile mark with leg problems.
Five weeks later he fronted for the 1955 Victorian 50 km championship
on 1 October. He led all the way on the tough out-and-back
Showgrounds/Rockbank course only to be caught and passed by Jim Short
as he left Ballarat Road to go down the hill and on to the showgrounds.
The loss spurred him on. He had finished his first 50 km event and
this, combined with his top position in the Australian ranking over the
20 km distance (1:39:24) gave him a lot of confidence as he headed
towards the Olympic trial.
His next outing over the 50 km distance was the 1956 Australian 50 km
title race and Olympic trial. This event was held on the Olympic Games
course on Sunday 9 September 1956, starting and finishing at Olympic
Park rather than the MCG. Walking a wonderful race, he finished 2nd to
New Zealander Norm Read (who went on to win the 1956 Olympic 50 km
race). Ray’s time of 4:40:24 broke the Australian and
Victorian Residential records and and won him the Australian Title. It
also gained him selection, along with Ron Crawford and Ted Allsopp, in
the 50 km for the 1956 Olympic Games.
Next time you travel by car from the city down St Kilda Rd and then up
Dandenong Rd to Oakleigh, take a look at the undulating terrain. The
number of hills and rises make this one of the toughest courses ever
used for an Olympic 50 km event. Official Trial/Championship results
were as follows
| Norm Reid |
NZ |
4:30:16.2 |
|
| Ray Smith |
VIC |
4:40:24.6 |
1st Aust Champ, new Aust. Residential Record |
| Ron Crawford |
NSW |
4:45:19.2 |
2nd Aust Champ |
| K Keogh |
NSW |
4:45:35.6 |
3rd Aust Champ |
| D Melzer |
QLD |
4:53:03.8 |
|
| Jim Short |
VIC |
4:54:43.8 |
|
| Harry Tetlow |
NZ |
4:59:53.4 |
|
| C. Walker |
NSW |
5:00:42.4 |
|
| Bill Kirby |
NSW |
5:05:29.8 |
|
| Tom Daintry |
QLD |
5:06:06.6 |
|
| John Busst |
VIC |
5:08:36.2 |
|
| E. Waite |
NZ |
5:10:16.4 |
|
| Peter Waddell |
NSW |
5:10:59.8 |
|
| Len Chadwick |
VIC |
5:16:28.2 |
|
| Les Hellyer |
VIC |
DNF |
|
| John Smyth |
VIC |
DNF |
|
| Harry Summers |
VIC |
DNF |
|
| E. Edwards |
NSW |
DNF |
|
Ray's 1956 Australian 50 Km
Championship Gold Medal
His success was never contemplated by the Officials Selection
Committee. Most athletes in those days officiated whenever possible and
he had been named as an official well before the trial. In fact, he had
already collected all the officials uniform in preparation for his role
as an official.
The race report, by Bruce Welsh, in the Herald, commented as follows
Smith surprised. A former track
champion, Smith had only walked in a 50-kilo event once before and took
more than five hours. Yesterday, he stuck to his task gamely and
finished nearly five minutes ahead of National record holder Ron
Crawford (N.S.W.), clipping 10 min. 39.8 sec. off Crawford's mark.
Defending champion Les Hellyer
collapsed about seven miles from the finish. The 41 year old Hellyer
said he suddenly felt sick and light headed. He started to stumble
around in circles and fell across a parked car before attendants got to
him.
Ray's fourth and final 50 km race was the Olympic event in November
1956. His racing strategy tells the story. He led through the 5 km mark
with Abdom Pamich and held on with the lead group until the 10 km mark.
Then he faded in the hot conditions, passing the half way mark in 10th
place. On the long return trip home, his Portsea training saw him come
to the fore and he passed a number of flagging walkers to finish sixth
(4:56:08). It was a finely judged race in hot conditions.
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Tm Erickson
VRWC Webmaster
Melbourne, Australia