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My father only hit me once - but he used a Volvo.
-- Bob Monkhouse
New Zealand History This Week
15 July 1933 Lovelock smashes world mile record
Jack Lovelock’s run at Princeton University beat the existing record for the mile, set by Jules
Ladoumègue, by almost two seconds. It was dubbed the ‘greatest mile of all time’ by Time
Magazine.
The race occurred during the sixth annual Oxford-Cambridge vs Princeton-Cornell track meet.
There was considerable media interest in the mile match-up between Lovelock (Oxford) and
Bill Bonthron (Princeton), with speculation that a new world record might be set. Bonthron
had impressed while winning that year’s intercollegiate 800-m and 1500-m events. Prior to
the Princeton-Cornell meet, Lovelock and team-mate Forbes Horan (Cambridge) competed
against the Yale-Harvard team in the mile. Lovelock won in a time of 4 minutes 12.6 seconds, an
intercollegiate record.
On the day of the event there were up to 6000 spectators at Palmer Stadium, Princeton. Rain held off and by the start
of the programme at 4.30 p.m. the conditions were good for running. The mile was a tactical race. Bonthron took the
initial lead, then gave way to John Hazen (Cornell). To Lovelock’s delight, they set a fast pace. With half a mile to go,
Bonthron retook the lead. As they came to the top corner Horan overtook Bonthron, keen that he and Lovelock reach
the ¾-mile in the time they had set themselves. Horan soon dropped back, leaving the race to Bonthron and Lovelock.
With 300 m to go, Bonthron pulled away. Lovelock was prepared and shortened and quickened his stride, closing the
gap before the final bend. As they came into the home straight he drew level and then passed Bonthron, who was
unable to muster his usual ‘blistering kick’. Lovelock breasted the tape seven strides ahead.
Lovelock’s time of 4 minutes 7.6 seconds broke the world record by 1.4 seconds. It was the first time a New Zealander
had set a recognised world record. As the top miler in the world Lovelock was inundated with invitations to social
engagements and races in Europe and the United States. In 1933 Lovelock ran 33 major races and won most of them.
That year he was voted second in the Sportsman of the Year poll in the US.
16 July 1965 NZ artillery opens fire in Vietnam
161 Battery, stationed at Bien Hoa air base near Saigon, opened fire on a Viet Cong position in support of the American
173rd Airborne Brigade. Between June 1964 and December 1972 over 3000 New Zealand military personnel served in
South Vietnam. At its peak in 1968 the New Zealand force numbered 543. Thirty-seven men died while on active service
and 187 were wounded.
This was the first war in which New Zealand did not fight alongside its
traditional ally, Great Britain. Instead, our participation reflected this
country’s increasingly strong defence ties with the United States and
Australia.
New Zealand’s involvement in Vietnam was highly controversial and
attracted protest and condemnation at home and abroad. Opposed by a
growing number of young New Zealanders, this country’s participation in
the conflict triggered a re-examination of our foreign policy and identity.
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