Track & field
Powell River has long history of athletic excellence
By Gerry Gray
When Powell River was just a small community, sports were high on the things to do list, mainly because there was very little else to occupy one's time between mill shifts or school classes. One of the most popular activities was track and field. The "track" was a dirt oval and the "field" was just that, a field.
Today the city is in the throes of establishing a track that will cost in excess of $2 million. The proposed track will replace the Gordon Park oval, which is giving way to a new Grief Point School. Let's take a look back in time to when runners trained on homemade tracks (cleared by the users) and how we fared in provincial track meets.
Starting in 1912 (two years after mill construction began), a track and field club was formed and the two leading athletes for the next four years were Gus Schuler and Al Hansen, both outstanding all-round athletes.
Early tracks were primitive and coaching was inexperienced but club enthusiasts pressed on. In the early 1920's, Ernie Hamerton won all flat races up to the quarter-mile, and clocked 10.2 seconds in the 100-yard entry.
The sport began to flourish in 1930, when the Riverside Oval was completed as a first class cinder track, to replace the dirt and grass tracks previously used. Interest soared and in 1931 the Dominion Day committee offered a grand prize of a free trip to the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. The race was open province-wide but it was a Powell River man (Jack Maguire) who edged out Leo Kero, of Vancouver, by one point, 20-19, to win the coveted trip.
Stars of the 1930-40 decade were Warren Gayton, Curly Woodward, Jack Matheson, Archie McPhee, Roy Ittke and John Haddock. Powell River's reputation in track and field was widespread and in 1935 the BC championships were held here. Our athletes did well. Vince Forbes won the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds flat and took second place in the 220 yards.
Bob Redhead, one of the province's best half-milers, took second place to Victoria's Bill Dale. Jack Macguire won the mile event. Highlight of the games was the relay team of Vince Forbes, Martin Naylor, Bob Redhead, and Alan Poole. They not only won their event but set a new Canadian record!
In 1936, Martin Naylor represented BC in the Olympic trials held in Montreal. He came fourth against the country's strongest competitors.
Women weren't to be denied their spot in the sun when Marion Borden won the title of Best Woman Athlete in BC. In 1938, she was co-holder of the native Canadian record for the 100-yard dash, with a time of 11 seconds, and held the record for the 75-yard dash, with a time of 8.5 seconds. She was a certainty for the 1940 Olympics but they were cancelled due to the start of the Second World War.
Other outstanding women athletes at the time were Kathleen Taylor, Flora Gribble, Sylvia Casey, Marguerite Haig, Joyce Ingram, Margaret and Joan Reed, Josie Haigh, Rita Powell, Kay Edwards, and Ursula Archer.
Many young developing trackmen, such as Harry Donkersley, Pete Vanichuk, Harry Hunter, Stan Richards, Bobby Johnstone, Gino Bortolussi and Walter Elly had their careers ended when they enlisted in the armed forces. But even the war couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of Powell River runners. Gino Bortolussi became the best Canadian Army sprinter for two years in a row. He excelled in the 100- and 200-yard dashes, winning for his regiment, the 5th Division. The Powell Riverite ran in the Aldershot meets against the best runners in the British Empire.
After the war, track and field's popularity soared. Mary Upton, a young high school athlete, exceeded the five-foot mark in the high jump and was classed among the best four high jumpers in the province.
Powell River has a reputation for fielding top-notch teams and our athletes have won many provincial and national awards. A new track and playing field will hopefully bring with it the same drive to win that has carried us for so many years. Perhaps, in this present location debate, we should pay more attention to the accomplishments of our young athletes and less on endless debates.
Photos courtesy Powell River Historical Museum
