In the track and field events against Germany, British athletics suffered a complete "black-out." It was the darkest day in the history of the sport for us, but I shall never forget the emotional scene at the Cologne Stadium yesterday afternoon.
More than 45,000 coatless Germans "heiled" themselves hoarse as the British team, headed by the Union Jack, marched into the arena. They were simply frantic.
It was difficult to reconcile this amazing demonstration of good will and friendship with the feverish preparations for defence of home; with the wild rumours here of week-end movement of troops said to be greater than ever before; with the camouflaged army lorries bearing their loads; of men dressed in civilian clothes.
There was a short speech of welcome to the British team, followed by three ear-splitting roars as the speaker asked them to welcome our sport comrades. Everything possible was done, down to the smallest detail, to eliminate the risk of unpleasantness.
The Nazi salute, which has caused trouble hitherto - especially at the Olympic Games in 1936 and again when England and Aston Villa played footbal at Berlin - was not given by the German team, who stood to attention in uniformity with their guests.
Nothing like it has ever been seen in international sports rivalry in my recollection.
It was a strong rebuke to those A.A.A. officials at home who did their utmost to get the match cancelled on political grounds.
It was unfortunate that the performances of our representatives were so disappointing. We failed to win any one of the 13 events. The nearest to success was in the 110 metres hurdles, where Lockton, our No. 1, dead-heated with Kumpmann for first place in 15sec dead.
The match was won by Germany by 93.5 points to Great Britain's 42.5 points It was a bad look out for our chances at the Olympic Games in Finland next year. Such a heavy reverse has never been known before, not even when our men have been competing against the world's best.
Still, there were some pulse-stirring finishes and none better than Dennis Pell's great battle in the 1,500 metres, which he lost to Kaindl in 3min. 50.2secs. Their times were announced as identical, but the judges saw inches between them and Pell had to be satisfied with second place.
It seemed to me that he was the victim of miscalculation.
This is a 500 metres track and he made his effort as he would have done at the White City or any other of our tracks which are four laps to the mile. Kaindl was losing right up to within two yards of the tape, when he seemed to make a terrific leap and flung himself over the line.
There was another staggering finish in 5,000 metres, which saw a grand fight by Jack Emery, who was playing a lone hand against Schaumburg and Fellersmann.
Emery hared round the last lap, but Schaumburg passed him going into the home straight, and it developed into a scrap for second place between the Englishman and Fellersmann. They almost fell over the finishing line with elbows locked.
Here again, the watch failed to divide the two and, on this occasion. Emery was given the decision by inches. His time 14min. 40.4sec, was only 2-10ths-sec behind the winner.
Then we saw the celebrated Harbig - the Dresden municipal worker whe recently beat world's figures for the 800 and 400 metres. He simply ran away from A. G. K. Brown, but did not have a comfortable journey against Alan Pennington, who challenged him until they entered the straight, where Harbig pulled out a terrific stride and breasted the tape in 46.9sec. as against Pennington's 47.3sec. Brown was beaten for third place and was definitely right out of form.
400 METRES. - 1. R. Harbig (G.), 46 9-10sec.; 2, A. Pennington (G.B.), 47 3-10sec.; 3, H. Hamann (G). 47 7-10sec.; 4, A. G. K. Brown (G.B.), 48 8-10sec.
Ends
Source - Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Monday, 21/08/1939 by W Capel Kirby
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