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Memories of Dave Mc Kenzie by Paul Mulvaney.
My Story
DescriptionAs teenagers my older brother John & I had the privilege to run with ‘’the Runanga Twins’’ Dave McKenzie and fellow international Eddie Gray the Greymouth Athletic & Harrier Club.
January 19th, 1967 for Greymouth with the Strongman mine disaster had an effect on everyone. Dave’s family had lost a loved one; his brother Hector (Mac) McKenzie and club mate friend Harry Van Looy. His father worked in the mine when on that fateful day was in another section. Ivan Agnew was a pallbearer.
An older brother George McKenzie was involved in printers ink in what became a McKenzie and cousins Watson dynasty. George was a Greymouth half-mile and mile champion who moved with his newspaper job to Nelson and coached John Dixon whose training methods helped his brother Rod become on Olympic bronze medallist and New York marathon champion.
Despite some upheaval and being in a strictly amateur era we realised a commitment to pay for fares in pounds, shillings and pence.
15,014 miles from Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand to Boston, Massachusetts would be a long haul.
The local Greymouth Lions Club sold raffles around all the hotels. The close-knit community & Greymouth Club led a drive to raise funds. More Raffles, pig in the barrow etc. There was no Mad Butcher nor social media; we had the generosity of the rural folk & the Grey Star. My first employer NZR-New Zealand Government Railways Dept rallied around on pay day and held a working bee.
Mist and drizzle had cancelled his flight from Greymouth to Nelson so he had to take a taxi. The four and a half drive was followed by flights up to Auckland, Tahiti, LA & finally to Boston.
By nature Dave is introverted and laconic with reticent reclusion for interview who preferred to let his training and his feet do the talking.
He wasn’t coached officially yet had the wisdom to be pragmatic and holistic to his coaching philosophy. He would read the original book by Arthur Lydiard ‘’Run To The Top’’ and listen to others like Trevor Sweeney.
I contacted Dave & Eddie recently to discuss their experiences & clarify a few matters like the later historic marathon mentioned below from December, 1967 in Japan.
That Self-coaching & belief worked for Dave so as the nostalgic tribute programme with Mark Crysell and Ivan Agnew was to unfold, that was all that mattered to earn this significant achievement.
However, it also helped to lift the spirit of the Coast people after the Strongman disaster.
Similar to athletes from the Arthur Lydiard stable Peter Snell & Murray Halberg in middle distance to marathoner Barry Magee wearing the all black singlet right down to an athlete who dnf (did not finish) the Greymouth club uniform is important; mandatory at representative level & the singlet he displayed was always worn with pride- The big bold letter G sewn on the front was suggested being for Greece or some thought Germany-never!.
I’m aware of a number of club athletes including Dave (displayed) & Bill O’Connor (completed all 37 London marathons) in London who still have their singlet's intact.
The most auspicious wearing of the ‘G’ singlet was doubtless in 1967 in Boston, when as afore mentioned the media commentators appeared confused, resplendent in green singlet he spread-eagled a class field.
By 1974/75 the single ‘G’ on Club singlet's was replaced by the word Greymouth.
The shoes!-Kiwi ingenuity alright-a leather upper with Jandal soles glued to his shoes. For years they were displayed in the old Revington's pub (hotel closed now) to view in a framed simple glass case.
The marathon foot race was named after the Battle of Marathon from which a messenger ran to Athens in Greece in 490BC to announce that the Greeks had defeated the Persian Army invaders. It was the catalyst in 1896 for the first international Olympics called ‘’Games of 1 Olympiad’’ hosted in Athens, Greece. A draw card was the marathon event.
Boston is the world’s oldest marathon always held on their Patriots Day. Dave had never travelled overseas and was the first New Zealander to run there. Just seven years earlier in 1960 Barry Magee had the honour of being our first New Zealander to win an overseas marathon in Fukuoka.
This edition was held on Monday April 19th. Interestingly also to line up was Kathrine Switzer who became the first woman to run and finish the Boston Marathon as a ‘’numbered entry’’.
The day was in single-digit temperatures, cold, wet, 30km winds & sleet conditions. Despite being ranked sixth and the recent dominance of the Japanese didn’t faze him. He was mentally and physically ready. A succinct point the entire field were amateurs unlike since the 1980’s where prize money, appearance is offered and a bonus structure to winners.
A bowl or can of Dinty Moore beef stew was available to finishers. Dave told me ‘’suitable on a cold day’’.
What a thrill to reminisce and listen to him on television describe the sequences of the pace he ran.
He won in a race record time of 2.15.45.
In contrast to his departure he arrived in Auckland in a more orderly fashion to share a champagne toast with the newly appointed (April, 1967) US Ambassador John Henning. It was his first major undertaking in sports.
Once he arrived home the locals appeared in throngs at the Greymouth railway station. About a thousand plus citizens greeted him with Mayor Barry Dallas to a Civic reception at the Greymouth Borough Council Chambers.
In a photo taken of him the words underneath read ‘’I was very pleased to win in the Greymouth colours-it was a great thrill winning for the Coast’’.
In 1966 he qualified to win the prestigious Lonsdale Cup in 1967, presented by the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games Association to the most outstanding individual performance registered by any Commonwealth or Olympic athlete during the Games year.
In 1983 Dave won the Canterbury Veterans half marathon then Eddie had a string of successes. His race record of 1.06.18 stood from 1985-2010 when Phil Costley ran 1.06.01.
In 1984 Dave McKenzie joined Kathrine Switzer and Roger Robinson to speak well in the Ashley hotel in Greymouth
In the centenary year in 1996 Dave was named among the group of champions. The BAA-Boston Athletic Association set up a Boston Marathon Memorial engraved in the pavement in Copley Square.
There’s a map of the course, the last lines of Tennyson’s Ulysses and a spiral with the engraved names of all winners.
(1967 Dave McKenzie), (1970 John Campbell Masters), (1976 Jack Foster Masters), (1981 Allison Roe), (1984 Lorraine Moller Masters Women & 1992 Masters Women), (1984 Roger Robinson Masters),
(1993 Bernie Portenski Women's Masters) and (1999 Judith Hine Veterans Women).
On March 18th 1967 we recollect Dave’s clubmate Eddie Gray represent New Zealand to the 54th World Cross Country in Barry, Wales. The team won the Silver Medal.
Eddie won the Scotland Cross Country title as a guest. In 1971 he was 3rd in the World Cross Country held in San Sebastian, Spain.
Later in the same year on 3/12/1967 Dave ran in the Fukuoka Marathon where the defending champion was our Mike Ryan who was invited to return.
The winner Derek Clayton of Australia won in then world record time of 2.9.36.4 to break the 2.10.00 barrier. Dave ran brilliantly in 2.12.25.8 for third place with Mike Ryan in 9th place.
That put him among illustrious company of being No 5 in history, only 1 second in arrears of the great Ethiopian Abebe Bikila.
Earlier above you read of self-coaching & coaches which wouldn’t be complete without mention of Dave McKenzie coaching national middle-distance athlete Josh Komen to success in age group and senior grades competitions. Recently with Greymouth Athletics club new Life member Hugh Barrow we perused the various records books that included the Mahar Cup which spans the Seddon Shield Districts.
Despite the test of time the names of Eddie Gray, J Dixon, R Dixon & Josh Komen are listed as is H Barrow in Field events.
This year the BAA invited VIP’S which included Dave and his wife Adele for six days. Among the areas they were honoured were;
Thursday, April 13th an Introductory Press Conference, where Dave, Bobbi, Kathrine Switzer and Bennett Beach (who was setting out to run his 50th consecutive Boston marathon)
The Boston ‘’261’’ (Kathrine Switzer) Fearless Club from Greater Boston hosted Dave & Adele as honoured guests to two events held in conjunction that included meeting Nick Willis who had won the street Mile.
Dave gave a vivid account of his race and was photographed with Nick Willis.
On Saturday, April 15th Roberta ‘’Bobbi’’ Gibb & Dave held/cut! the break tape for the BAA 5km race at Boston Common.
On Sunday, April 16th they were panelists for the Boston Marathon Seminar held at the John B Hynes Veterans Memorial Centre.
On Marathon Monday, April 17th they served as Co Grand Marshalls of the race & were introduced at both the start of the race, and the finish, and were referenced in the Worldwide telecast.
it was an honorary designation for them to ride in the pace car ahead of the marathon runners. That meant that they waved to everyone and yelled encouragements. Lots of fun as it contributed to the feeling of celebration. They became hoarse after yelling Yay Framingham, Yay Natick, Yay Volunteers. Yay first responders for 26.2 miles=42.195 kms.
You may ask why Framingham or Natick? They’re among the towns in Massachusetts and the runners pass through on their way to Boston.
To close with what a Boston sports writer wrote as an accolade-‘’The greatest pacer to come from Down Under since Cardigan Bay’’. He was comparing the first million dollar winner of harness racing to David Closs McKenzie.
Perhaps he knew of another passion of Dave’s being horse racing.
Map[1]
January 19th, 1967 for Greymouth with the Strongman mine disaster had an effect on everyone. Dave’s family had lost a loved one; his brother Hector (Mac) McKenzie and club mate friend Harry Van Looy. His father worked in the mine when on that fateful day was in another section. Ivan Agnew was a pallbearer.
An older brother George McKenzie was involved in printers ink in what became a McKenzie and cousins Watson dynasty. George was a Greymouth half-mile and mile champion who moved with his newspaper job to Nelson and coached John Dixon whose training methods helped his brother Rod become on Olympic bronze medallist and New York marathon champion.
Despite some upheaval and being in a strictly amateur era we realised a commitment to pay for fares in pounds, shillings and pence.
15,014 miles from Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand to Boston, Massachusetts would be a long haul.
The local Greymouth Lions Club sold raffles around all the hotels. The close-knit community & Greymouth Club led a drive to raise funds. More Raffles, pig in the barrow etc. There was no Mad Butcher nor social media; we had the generosity of the rural folk & the Grey Star. My first employer NZR-New Zealand Government Railways Dept rallied around on pay day and held a working bee.
Mist and drizzle had cancelled his flight from Greymouth to Nelson so he had to take a taxi. The four and a half drive was followed by flights up to Auckland, Tahiti, LA & finally to Boston.
By nature Dave is introverted and laconic with reticent reclusion for interview who preferred to let his training and his feet do the talking.
He wasn’t coached officially yet had the wisdom to be pragmatic and holistic to his coaching philosophy. He would read the original book by Arthur Lydiard ‘’Run To The Top’’ and listen to others like Trevor Sweeney.
I contacted Dave & Eddie recently to discuss their experiences & clarify a few matters like the later historic marathon mentioned below from December, 1967 in Japan.
That Self-coaching & belief worked for Dave so as the nostalgic tribute programme with Mark Crysell and Ivan Agnew was to unfold, that was all that mattered to earn this significant achievement.
However, it also helped to lift the spirit of the Coast people after the Strongman disaster.
Similar to athletes from the Arthur Lydiard stable Peter Snell & Murray Halberg in middle distance to marathoner Barry Magee wearing the all black singlet right down to an athlete who dnf (did not finish) the Greymouth club uniform is important; mandatory at representative level & the singlet he displayed was always worn with pride- The big bold letter G sewn on the front was suggested being for Greece or some thought Germany-never!.
I’m aware of a number of club athletes including Dave (displayed) & Bill O’Connor (completed all 37 London marathons) in London who still have their singlet's intact.
The most auspicious wearing of the ‘G’ singlet was doubtless in 1967 in Boston, when as afore mentioned the media commentators appeared confused, resplendent in green singlet he spread-eagled a class field.
By 1974/75 the single ‘G’ on Club singlet's was replaced by the word Greymouth.
The shoes!-Kiwi ingenuity alright-a leather upper with Jandal soles glued to his shoes. For years they were displayed in the old Revington's pub (hotel closed now) to view in a framed simple glass case.
The marathon foot race was named after the Battle of Marathon from which a messenger ran to Athens in Greece in 490BC to announce that the Greeks had defeated the Persian Army invaders. It was the catalyst in 1896 for the first international Olympics called ‘’Games of 1 Olympiad’’ hosted in Athens, Greece. A draw card was the marathon event.
Boston is the world’s oldest marathon always held on their Patriots Day. Dave had never travelled overseas and was the first New Zealander to run there. Just seven years earlier in 1960 Barry Magee had the honour of being our first New Zealander to win an overseas marathon in Fukuoka.
This edition was held on Monday April 19th. Interestingly also to line up was Kathrine Switzer who became the first woman to run and finish the Boston Marathon as a ‘’numbered entry’’.
The day was in single-digit temperatures, cold, wet, 30km winds & sleet conditions. Despite being ranked sixth and the recent dominance of the Japanese didn’t faze him. He was mentally and physically ready. A succinct point the entire field were amateurs unlike since the 1980’s where prize money, appearance is offered and a bonus structure to winners.
A bowl or can of Dinty Moore beef stew was available to finishers. Dave told me ‘’suitable on a cold day’’.
What a thrill to reminisce and listen to him on television describe the sequences of the pace he ran.
He won in a race record time of 2.15.45.
In contrast to his departure he arrived in Auckland in a more orderly fashion to share a champagne toast with the newly appointed (April, 1967) US Ambassador John Henning. It was his first major undertaking in sports.
Once he arrived home the locals appeared in throngs at the Greymouth railway station. About a thousand plus citizens greeted him with Mayor Barry Dallas to a Civic reception at the Greymouth Borough Council Chambers.
In a photo taken of him the words underneath read ‘’I was very pleased to win in the Greymouth colours-it was a great thrill winning for the Coast’’.
In 1966 he qualified to win the prestigious Lonsdale Cup in 1967, presented by the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games Association to the most outstanding individual performance registered by any Commonwealth or Olympic athlete during the Games year.
In 1983 Dave won the Canterbury Veterans half marathon then Eddie had a string of successes. His race record of 1.06.18 stood from 1985-2010 when Phil Costley ran 1.06.01.
In 1984 Dave McKenzie joined Kathrine Switzer and Roger Robinson to speak well in the Ashley hotel in Greymouth
In the centenary year in 1996 Dave was named among the group of champions. The BAA-Boston Athletic Association set up a Boston Marathon Memorial engraved in the pavement in Copley Square.
There’s a map of the course, the last lines of Tennyson’s Ulysses and a spiral with the engraved names of all winners.
(1967 Dave McKenzie), (1970 John Campbell Masters), (1976 Jack Foster Masters), (1981 Allison Roe), (1984 Lorraine Moller Masters Women & 1992 Masters Women), (1984 Roger Robinson Masters),
(1993 Bernie Portenski Women's Masters) and (1999 Judith Hine Veterans Women).
On March 18th 1967 we recollect Dave’s clubmate Eddie Gray represent New Zealand to the 54th World Cross Country in Barry, Wales. The team won the Silver Medal.
Eddie won the Scotland Cross Country title as a guest. In 1971 he was 3rd in the World Cross Country held in San Sebastian, Spain.
Later in the same year on 3/12/1967 Dave ran in the Fukuoka Marathon where the defending champion was our Mike Ryan who was invited to return.
The winner Derek Clayton of Australia won in then world record time of 2.9.36.4 to break the 2.10.00 barrier. Dave ran brilliantly in 2.12.25.8 for third place with Mike Ryan in 9th place.
That put him among illustrious company of being No 5 in history, only 1 second in arrears of the great Ethiopian Abebe Bikila.
Earlier above you read of self-coaching & coaches which wouldn’t be complete without mention of Dave McKenzie coaching national middle-distance athlete Josh Komen to success in age group and senior grades competitions. Recently with Greymouth Athletics club new Life member Hugh Barrow we perused the various records books that included the Mahar Cup which spans the Seddon Shield Districts.
Despite the test of time the names of Eddie Gray, J Dixon, R Dixon & Josh Komen are listed as is H Barrow in Field events.
This year the BAA invited VIP’S which included Dave and his wife Adele for six days. Among the areas they were honoured were;
Thursday, April 13th an Introductory Press Conference, where Dave, Bobbi, Kathrine Switzer and Bennett Beach (who was setting out to run his 50th consecutive Boston marathon)
The Boston ‘’261’’ (Kathrine Switzer) Fearless Club from Greater Boston hosted Dave & Adele as honoured guests to two events held in conjunction that included meeting Nick Willis who had won the street Mile.
Dave gave a vivid account of his race and was photographed with Nick Willis.
On Saturday, April 15th Roberta ‘’Bobbi’’ Gibb & Dave held/cut! the break tape for the BAA 5km race at Boston Common.
On Sunday, April 16th they were panelists for the Boston Marathon Seminar held at the John B Hynes Veterans Memorial Centre.
On Marathon Monday, April 17th they served as Co Grand Marshalls of the race & were introduced at both the start of the race, and the finish, and were referenced in the Worldwide telecast.
it was an honorary designation for them to ride in the pace car ahead of the marathon runners. That meant that they waved to everyone and yelled encouragements. Lots of fun as it contributed to the feeling of celebration. They became hoarse after yelling Yay Framingham, Yay Natick, Yay Volunteers. Yay first responders for 26.2 miles=42.195 kms.
You may ask why Framingham or Natick? They’re among the towns in Massachusetts and the runners pass through on their way to Boston.
To close with what a Boston sports writer wrote as an accolade-‘’The greatest pacer to come from Down Under since Cardigan Bay’’. He was comparing the first million dollar winner of harness racing to David Closs McKenzie.
Perhaps he knew of another passion of Dave’s being horse racing.
Map[1]
West Coast New Zealand History (6th Jun 2017). Memories of Dave Mc Kenzie by Paul Mulvaney.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 10th Apr 2026 04:55, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/20399