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Eric Johnson - West Coast,Canterbury and Otago athletics champion.1930s-40s. - ALBUM -
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DescriptionPhoto 1:Chasing Cecil Matthews, double Empire (Commonwealth) Games gold medallist. 1938 Canterbury Championships, Lancaster Park.
Photo 2:The 1931 champion Otago Cross Country Team. Eric was 3rd in the NZ Champs that year.
Photo 3:The year Eric ran second to Cecil Matthews. He won the Canterbury title the following year (1939). A quick time for those days.
Photo 4:After winning the 3 mile at White City with his friend and former teammate Jack Lovelock.
Photo 5:Programme.
Photo 6: NZ Cross Country Championship at Ellerslie.
ERIC JOHNSON: CANTERBURY, OTAGO AND WEST COAST ATHLETICS CHAMPION
My grandfather, Eric Johnson (formerly of Rutherglen Road, Paroa, West Coast) was a well-known West Coast horse breeder back in the 1960’s through to the 1980’s and had some very good gallopers (Kowhai King, Kowhai Princess, Gotta Go and Kowhai Glen). What many people who knew him may not realise is that he was also one of New Zealand's top distance runners from the late 1920’s to early 1940's and a foundation member of the Greymouth Athletic Club.
The amazing fact about his accomplishments is that he did little mileage in training, had no coach and due to the remoteness of where he lived, could not compete that often. Reading through his training diary, he would run no more than a few miles cross country in a session, mainly in the bush or over rough paddocks, throwing in a handful of 220 yard stride-outs for speed work. He would basically just enter a couple of build-up races before a major event (if he could get to them) to condition himself to race fitness. He was as hard as nails and superbly fit from hard manual labor as a bushman and logging contractor, working all day with an axe and cross-cut saw. He was known to be relentless and not afraid to push any athlete, irrespective of their reputation.
Born in Wyndham, Eric first competed for Otago. In 1927 at the young age of 17 he burst on to the athletic scene by winning the Otago three mile championship. He then competed in his first New Zealand three mile championship, performing poorly, finishing second last, beating home only one runner, teammate, friend and future Olympic 1500 gold medalist, Jack Lovelock.
In 1929 at the age of 19, representing Otago, he finished 3rd in the New Zealand Cross Country Championships at Hutt Park in Wellington. The winner that year was Randolph Rose. Otago won the team race.
Two years later in 1931 at the age of 21, he again finished 3rd in the New Zealand Cross Country Championships at Ellerslie in Auckland. The winner that year was 1930 Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games) six mile gold medalist, Bill Savidan. Otago again won the team race.
Eric had a short break from running and moved to Marsden on the West Coast, where he worked as a bushman and logging contractor. He put on his running shoes again in 1932 and (with little training) competed for Otago in an inter-provincial meeting with Canterbury, becoming the first athlete to break 15 minutes for the three mile on Otago soil (Oamaru).
It was 6 years later in 1938 that Eric competed again, He had a couple of warm-up club races in Greymouth and then went ‘over the hill’ to the Canterbury Championships at Lancaster Park. He placed second to Cecil Matthews in the three mile. Cecil had won the three mile and six mile gold medals that year at the Empire Games in Sydney. Both runners had opened up a large gap on the field by the two mile mark, before Matthews pulled away to win. When discussing his Empire Games performances, Cecil Matthews was reported to have said that he had received tougher opposition from a bloke from the isolated West Coast in New Zealand.
The following season, in 1939, representing the recently formed Greymouth Athletic Club. Eric became the first Greymouth athlete to win a Canterbury Championship title when he won the three mile event. A fellow Greymouth clubmate, Stan McDonnell also finished runner-up in the 880 yards.
That same year, Eric again competed for the New Zealand Championship three mile title (in Napier). Again, the title eluded him, as Bill Pullar (Wellington) managed to hold him off down the finishing straight, winning by 5 yards. Pullar was a six-time NZ national champion over 440 yards hurdles, one mile, three mile and cross country. He finished 6th in the one mile final at the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney.
After a four year hiatus from top level running, Eric's proudest running achievements came during the war years in England where he was stationed with the NZ Army. For the first time in his career, he had access to good tracks and regular competition.
As a ‘veteran’ at the age of 32 In June 1943, Eric won the two mile at the AAA British Games at White City in London (venue of the 1908 Olympics) in front of 17,000 spectators. His time of 9:34, was 20 seconds slower than the New Zealand record (held by Cecil Matthews). I have the engraved clock he was awarded as a trophy.
In August 1943, again at White City in front of 40,000 people he won the Allied British Games three mile in 14:43, defeating two former British champions in the process (Holden and Draper). Holden later went on to win the marathon at the 1950 Empire Games in Auckland.
Eric became a crowd favourite in England, The Truth (London newspaper) stated; “One of the features of the meeting was Johnson’s win in the three mile. It’s popularity as second only to Sydney Wooderson’s record mile win. Only once before has such enthusiasm been witnessed for an Empire runner at White City. That was when Lovelock ran away from the other competitors in the three mile shortly after winning the 1500 metres in Berlin.”
Former world mile record holder, Sydney Wooderson won the mile at the same meetings Eric won the two mile and three mile. I could not find an archival movie clip of Eric’s win at the 1943 British Games, but here is a link to Wooderson’s win at the same meeting; https://youtu.be/G_lTPZhVIDw
Amongst Eric’s memorabilia is the White City programme autographed by Sydney Wooderson.
Eric retired from all running at the end of the War on his return to New Zealand.
Eric’s son, Bill Johnson (my uncle), also ran for the Greymouth club during the 1950's and held the club lap four record for the Takahe to Akaroa Road Relay, until emerging international, Eddie Gray came along and broke it. Bill also had great competition from clubmate George McKenzie (1967 Boston marathon winner Dave McKenzie's older brother). George eventually moved to Nelson and coached international cross country representative John Dixon, who in turn coached his younger brother, Olympic bronze medalist, Rod Dixon.
Grandad passed away in 1987 in his 76th year, 3 weeks after his first great-grandchild was born (my daughter Michaela). Along with my cousin Derek Johnson, I am proud to have ‘carried the torch’ as a 3rd generation Greymouth club member.
Date of Photo1930`s - 40`sMap[1] ContributorBarry Helem
Photo 2:The 1931 champion Otago Cross Country Team. Eric was 3rd in the NZ Champs that year.
Photo 3:The year Eric ran second to Cecil Matthews. He won the Canterbury title the following year (1939). A quick time for those days.
Photo 4:After winning the 3 mile at White City with his friend and former teammate Jack Lovelock.
Photo 5:Programme.
Photo 6: NZ Cross Country Championship at Ellerslie.
ERIC JOHNSON: CANTERBURY, OTAGO AND WEST COAST ATHLETICS CHAMPION
My grandfather, Eric Johnson (formerly of Rutherglen Road, Paroa, West Coast) was a well-known West Coast horse breeder back in the 1960’s through to the 1980’s and had some very good gallopers (Kowhai King, Kowhai Princess, Gotta Go and Kowhai Glen). What many people who knew him may not realise is that he was also one of New Zealand's top distance runners from the late 1920’s to early 1940's and a foundation member of the Greymouth Athletic Club.
The amazing fact about his accomplishments is that he did little mileage in training, had no coach and due to the remoteness of where he lived, could not compete that often. Reading through his training diary, he would run no more than a few miles cross country in a session, mainly in the bush or over rough paddocks, throwing in a handful of 220 yard stride-outs for speed work. He would basically just enter a couple of build-up races before a major event (if he could get to them) to condition himself to race fitness. He was as hard as nails and superbly fit from hard manual labor as a bushman and logging contractor, working all day with an axe and cross-cut saw. He was known to be relentless and not afraid to push any athlete, irrespective of their reputation.
Born in Wyndham, Eric first competed for Otago. In 1927 at the young age of 17 he burst on to the athletic scene by winning the Otago three mile championship. He then competed in his first New Zealand three mile championship, performing poorly, finishing second last, beating home only one runner, teammate, friend and future Olympic 1500 gold medalist, Jack Lovelock.
In 1929 at the age of 19, representing Otago, he finished 3rd in the New Zealand Cross Country Championships at Hutt Park in Wellington. The winner that year was Randolph Rose. Otago won the team race.
Two years later in 1931 at the age of 21, he again finished 3rd in the New Zealand Cross Country Championships at Ellerslie in Auckland. The winner that year was 1930 Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games) six mile gold medalist, Bill Savidan. Otago again won the team race.
Eric had a short break from running and moved to Marsden on the West Coast, where he worked as a bushman and logging contractor. He put on his running shoes again in 1932 and (with little training) competed for Otago in an inter-provincial meeting with Canterbury, becoming the first athlete to break 15 minutes for the three mile on Otago soil (Oamaru).
It was 6 years later in 1938 that Eric competed again, He had a couple of warm-up club races in Greymouth and then went ‘over the hill’ to the Canterbury Championships at Lancaster Park. He placed second to Cecil Matthews in the three mile. Cecil had won the three mile and six mile gold medals that year at the Empire Games in Sydney. Both runners had opened up a large gap on the field by the two mile mark, before Matthews pulled away to win. When discussing his Empire Games performances, Cecil Matthews was reported to have said that he had received tougher opposition from a bloke from the isolated West Coast in New Zealand.
The following season, in 1939, representing the recently formed Greymouth Athletic Club. Eric became the first Greymouth athlete to win a Canterbury Championship title when he won the three mile event. A fellow Greymouth clubmate, Stan McDonnell also finished runner-up in the 880 yards.
That same year, Eric again competed for the New Zealand Championship three mile title (in Napier). Again, the title eluded him, as Bill Pullar (Wellington) managed to hold him off down the finishing straight, winning by 5 yards. Pullar was a six-time NZ national champion over 440 yards hurdles, one mile, three mile and cross country. He finished 6th in the one mile final at the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney.
After a four year hiatus from top level running, Eric's proudest running achievements came during the war years in England where he was stationed with the NZ Army. For the first time in his career, he had access to good tracks and regular competition.
As a ‘veteran’ at the age of 32 In June 1943, Eric won the two mile at the AAA British Games at White City in London (venue of the 1908 Olympics) in front of 17,000 spectators. His time of 9:34, was 20 seconds slower than the New Zealand record (held by Cecil Matthews). I have the engraved clock he was awarded as a trophy.
In August 1943, again at White City in front of 40,000 people he won the Allied British Games three mile in 14:43, defeating two former British champions in the process (Holden and Draper). Holden later went on to win the marathon at the 1950 Empire Games in Auckland.
Eric became a crowd favourite in England, The Truth (London newspaper) stated; “One of the features of the meeting was Johnson’s win in the three mile. It’s popularity as second only to Sydney Wooderson’s record mile win. Only once before has such enthusiasm been witnessed for an Empire runner at White City. That was when Lovelock ran away from the other competitors in the three mile shortly after winning the 1500 metres in Berlin.”
Former world mile record holder, Sydney Wooderson won the mile at the same meetings Eric won the two mile and three mile. I could not find an archival movie clip of Eric’s win at the 1943 British Games, but here is a link to Wooderson’s win at the same meeting; https://youtu.be/G_lTPZhVIDw
Amongst Eric’s memorabilia is the White City programme autographed by Sydney Wooderson.
Eric retired from all running at the end of the War on his return to New Zealand.
Eric’s son, Bill Johnson (my uncle), also ran for the Greymouth club during the 1950's and held the club lap four record for the Takahe to Akaroa Road Relay, until emerging international, Eddie Gray came along and broke it. Bill also had great competition from clubmate George McKenzie (1967 Boston marathon winner Dave McKenzie's older brother). George eventually moved to Nelson and coached international cross country representative John Dixon, who in turn coached his younger brother, Olympic bronze medalist, Rod Dixon.
Grandad passed away in 1987 in his 76th year, 3 weeks after his first great-grandchild was born (my daughter Michaela). Along with my cousin Derek Johnson, I am proud to have ‘carried the torch’ as a 3rd generation Greymouth club member.
Date of Photo1930`s - 40`sMap[1] ContributorBarry Helem
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Location (city or town)GreymouthPersonEric JohnsonOrganisation (eg business)AthleticsEventEric Johnson - West Coast, Canterbury, and Otago athletics champion.1930`s - 40`s.
From Facebook
Date Created21st December 2020CommentsBrian Molloy
Some very good horses wore the Johnson colours black with a gold maltese cross and purple armbands as I remember. Or it might have been a purple maltese cross and gold armbands. Kowhai Glen was a very very good horse from the breed and his full brother Gotta Go who Eric Johnson bred but didn't race himself was another smart animal. Both trained by Tom Lalor at Omoto. I think Kowhai Glen died of a twisted bowel. Kowhai King and Kowhai Gold were others but not as good as the first two.
Shona Ratana
Brilliant
Heather Newby
what an amazing man!!
Mark Boon
Josh Komen no altitude Chambers here cob
Susan Barlow
So lovely, seeing & reading info about old Coasters & their achievements/exploits. I hope people keep on doing this; there are stories & memories that many of us would really love to hear.
Barry Russ
The old man said he didn't run any faster than the day he cut into nest of Bush bees up the Punikaikai .Wasnt fast enough though, they stung the shit out of him until he jumped into the creek.
Barry Helem
Barry Russ ...and then there is the famous story of the chainsaw that wouldn't stop....
Barry Russ
Barry Helem And Kowhai King was a brilliant colt who was just beaten by Daryls Joy on debut.He was mishandled by over excited handlers and broke down.At 7 years old he defeated South Islands best sprinters by 7 lengths .
Ed Dando
Very cool running is one of the most hardest sports to do
Pamela Jones
Sounds like he was a real character!
David Honey
Barry Helem I remember him growing up in Paroa, fit as and good natured, always kind to us terror kids. Barry, How are you, it has been a few years since we grew up and went through school together.
Roger Howell
Knew Eric's son Jack very well. RIP Jack.
Kevin Bell
Good memory Mr Molloy.
Brian Molloy
Kevin Bell the seventies were great times in the racing industry Kevin. Colourful characters colourful horses and lots of interesting stories. Balmerino Show Gate Grey Way Uncle Remus. Rex Cochrane Ted Winsloe Colin Jillings even Ray Harris bringing a million horses to the Coast. Three division races at Reefton where if they ran wide on the bend out of the straight they almost ended up in the jockeys room. Great days
Some very good horses wore the Johnson colours black with a gold maltese cross and purple armbands as I remember. Or it might have been a purple maltese cross and gold armbands. Kowhai Glen was a very very good horse from the breed and his full brother Gotta Go who Eric Johnson bred but didn't race himself was another smart animal. Both trained by Tom Lalor at Omoto. I think Kowhai Glen died of a twisted bowel. Kowhai King and Kowhai Gold were others but not as good as the first two.
Shona Ratana
Brilliant
Heather Newby
what an amazing man!!
Mark Boon
Josh Komen no altitude Chambers here cob
Susan Barlow
So lovely, seeing & reading info about old Coasters & their achievements/exploits. I hope people keep on doing this; there are stories & memories that many of us would really love to hear.
Barry Russ
The old man said he didn't run any faster than the day he cut into nest of Bush bees up the Punikaikai .Wasnt fast enough though, they stung the shit out of him until he jumped into the creek.
Barry Helem
Barry Russ ...and then there is the famous story of the chainsaw that wouldn't stop....
Barry Russ
Barry Helem And Kowhai King was a brilliant colt who was just beaten by Daryls Joy on debut.He was mishandled by over excited handlers and broke down.At 7 years old he defeated South Islands best sprinters by 7 lengths .
Ed Dando
Very cool running is one of the most hardest sports to do
Pamela Jones
Sounds like he was a real character!
David Honey
Barry Helem I remember him growing up in Paroa, fit as and good natured, always kind to us terror kids. Barry, How are you, it has been a few years since we grew up and went through school together.
Roger Howell
Knew Eric's son Jack very well. RIP Jack.
Kevin Bell
Good memory Mr Molloy.
Brian Molloy
Kevin Bell the seventies were great times in the racing industry Kevin. Colourful characters colourful horses and lots of interesting stories. Balmerino Show Gate Grey Way Uncle Remus. Rex Cochrane Ted Winsloe Colin Jillings even Ray Harris bringing a million horses to the Coast. Three division races at Reefton where if they ran wide on the bend out of the straight they almost ended up in the jockeys room. Great days
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West Coast New Zealand History (7th Jun 2022). Eric Johnson - West Coast,Canterbury and Otago athletics champion.1930s-40s. - ALBUM -. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 14:08, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/28794