Two great New Zealanders -- tough as nails, interesting personalities. Baillie was in four Commonwealth Games and and never got a medal. I was cheering for him in the '64 5000, thought he might get at least third. Did Scott finally beat the demons of his alcoholism? I once recall reading that he ran the 1958 Commonwealth 3 mile (where he got the bronze) while he was drunk. Or was it hungover?
Bill is still as tough as nails. Does IronMan now. Holds record for ocer 60's at Hawaii. Wanted the over 70's. Not sure if he has that or not.
Sadly, Neville Scott passed away some months ago with Cancer. Some references made here and on Track & Field News site.
I saw those two fine runners in races in their prime. Does anyone know if Scott occassionally raced without shoes?
Baillie had a very long career at the top. He was seventh in the Bannister-Landy Miracle Mile in Vancouver in 1954. He was 6th in the Olympic 5K in 1964. I think that I may have met him at least once at a party held by our Sunday breakfast running group. I did enjoy seeing both of them race.
Yes. Scott did occasionally race in bare feet. There's a story about a race in which he was running barefoot and got spiked (I believe) and had a big chunk of skin ripped from his heel, finishing anyway.
Fine review of Ballie's career, including his 20k WR, in the book Arthur's Boys, if you can find a copy (likely used in the Australia/NZ bookstore universe, but likely accessible through alibris or amazon).
I was sure that I had seen him race without shoes. I don't trust my memory.
Great book. Getting harder to find these days.
An aside on Neville.
About 35 years ago a bunch of us (including Neville) were having a beer after a run and were talking "Running Stuff".
Then a couple of us asked Neville "Who was the hardest to run against, Snell or Elliot., and who did he rate the better".
Neville said they were both as tough as nails and he said although he would give the edge to Snell it would be only in certain situations.
He said when you ran against Herb Elliot he displayed this awesome ability to just "Run away" from you. He just took 2 or 3 metres at a time. He just "eased away" and you just could not go with him.
He said Snell would be with you one second and 20 meters down the track the next. He just "exploded" away.
Neville felt in a slow run race that Snell would beat Elliot but if the pace was on from the gun he said he would not like to put money on the result.
Orville, Neville ran without shoes here in NZ quite a bit as the tracks were grass. I don't believe he did that on the Cinder Tracks of North America.
I have a picture of him running with Ron Clarke when he (Neville) ran a 13:10, 3 mile. I think it may have been at the LA Colesseum.
Sorry !! To finish :: He was in shoes.
I may have seen him run without shoes somewhere. It may have been at Mount San Antonio College. And then again it may have been someone else.
So he managed to get the alcohol problem in hand and still manage to have a beer now and again?
When did Scott officially retire from competitive running? I know he didn't qualify for the Olympic 5000 in 64 - did he try out for the 66 Commonwealth team, or had he packed it in by then?
bump
I believe that when Scott was 30 or 31 he had some sort of injury, Achilles maybe, that sent him to retirement. I believe he took took up cycling at that point, and later, golf.
thanks.
bill baillie's best record was 'appetite for destruction.'
wait...that was the american bill baillie.
neville scott was my uncle and yes he did run with no shoes in Nz on grass tracks which were common then. He was a fantastic 5000 runner who wrestled with alcohol addiction . He should of won the 5000 at the Olympics in 64 he was on form but injured himself . He recovered to race in south africa breaking the 5000 south african record. He also raced Bob Schul at that time in America lost to him by some 2 or 3 meters over 5000 while carrying an injury . He raced at least 2 or 3 times in the states at that time but the archillies injury ended up finishing his running career so he had an operation and took up race bike riding. Ron Clark said Neville was won of the hardest athletes to beat. as a side line In the 1956 1500 meters final he finished down the track he had 6 bottles of beer before the final due to his nerves
paul Nicholson wrote:
neville scott was my uncle and yes he did run with no shoes in Nz on grass tracks which were common then. He was a fantastic 5000 runner who wrestled with alcohol addiction . He should of won the 5000 at the Olympics in 64 he was on form but injured himself . He recovered to race in south africa breaking the 5000 south african record. He also raced Bob Schul at that time in America lost to him by some 2 or 3 meters over 5000 while carrying an injury . He raced at least 2 or 3 times in the states at that time but the archillies injury ended up finishing his running career so he had an operation and took up race bike riding. Ron Clark said Neville was won of the hardest athletes to beat. as a side line In the 1956 1500 meters final he finished down the track he had 6 bottles of beer before the final due to his nerves
Nevilles brother Gavin is my Father, he use to tell me about Neville running without shoes.