Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 1 (April 1, 1938.)

A Tribute to Boot's Trainer

A Tribute to Boot's Trainer.

The athlete, be he boxer, swimmer, cyclist or runner, successful in winning championship honours is lauded to the skies, but seldom is a word of praise given his trainer—often a man who has devoted hours of time to fit his charge for the strenuous competition.

And that is why Pat Boot, hero of the half-mile at the Empire Games, treasures a cable he received from A. L. Fitch, the American athletic coach, who sent the following message to him in Sydney: “Congratulations to self and trainer on excellent run.” Fitch included the trainer! Boot's trainer, Arthur Drury, a professional athlete of renown ten years ago, is, in my opinion, the best trainer New Zealand has had in years. He takes a personal interest in each athlete under his care and learns their little whims. He does not train two men alike, but he certainly gets the results. He has trained winners of New Zealand cash titles in all events from 100 yards to one mile, and from 440 yards to one mile in New Zealand amateur championships. At the present time he has his eyes on an athlete with whom he hopes to win the 100 and 220 yards New Zealand amateur titles and so complete the list in both codes! Boot has asked me to publicly acknowledge through these columns, the assistance rendered him by Arthur Drury.