SYDNEY WOODERSON (Bespectacled), a World record holder in his time plus running a mile in 4:4.2 at the White City, back in 1945 and, being a Senior National Cross-Country hampion in 1948 Sydney won the 1938 European Championship 1500 & then the European 5000 an in in 1946 in 14:08.6. He talked to me about the latter here.
In that European he was a up against, future Olympic Champions Gaston Reiff and Emil Zatopek plus an Olympic bronze medal man Willy Slijkhuis?
“I obviously went to Oslo for those Championships with the idea of winning and I knew that my chief opponent again was to be Slijkhuis (Netherlands) and he was in some ways. I shot past him at the beginning of the back straight, and found it much easier to win, than I had done at the White City in the AAA’s when he had led most of the way, until the last bend but on the last lap I eased past him and won by a few yards. At Oslo with the great number of first class competitors, it was really that they were leading most of the way and I gradually moved up from the back of the field to 10th, then third. Then second behind Slijkhuis and, as I said, I took the lead on the back straight”
Now from another unique interview
DOROTHY MANLEY, wife of John Parlett the 1950 2 lap Champion in the European and Commonwealth of 1950.
Dorothy Manley was 2ND in the Olympic 100m Final in London in 1948 and, was a AAA’s 200 Champion in 1950. The first 3 in the Olympic 100m, om the 2nd of August 1948 was the Final 1st ‘The amazing’ Duch Lady, Fanny Blankers -Koen of the Netherlands in11.9 2nd Dorothy Manley (GBR) 12.2 and 3rd Shirley Stickland (Australia) 12,2.)
Dorothy told me much later “I have got vivid memories of the Olympic Final. I was absolutely terrified before that. When the six of us were in the tunnel, I heard someone call my name and I realised it was the chap who, eventually became my brother in law. Just hearing his voice sort of have helped, as I was going to my mark, you recognised it, putting my starting blocks in. I was in the lane nearest the crowd
I looked to where the others were but I got a very good start.
Obviously l was not going to beat Fanny but I was absolutely focused on what I was doing, after my very good start”