Dick Tayler

Richard John Tayler MNZM (born 12 August 1948) is a former New Zealand runner who mostly competed in distances from 1500 m to 10,000 m.

Dick Tayler

MNZM

Tayler in 2014
Personal information
Birth name	Richard John Tayler
Born	(1948-08-12) 12 August 1948 (age 76) Timaru, New Zealand
Sport
Country	New Zealand
Sport	Athletics
Achievements and titles
National finals	1500 m champion (1970) 10,000 m champion (1974) Cross country champion (1973) 15 km road champion (1971)[1]
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  New Zealand Commonwealth Games 1974 Christchurch 10,000 m

Tayler was born in Timaru,^[2] and attended Timaru Boys' High, the same school as Jack Lovelock.^[3] He is best known for winning the 10,000 metres at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, in a time of 27:46.4, breaking the New Zealand record.

Tayler competed at the 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Games, as well as the 1972 Summer Olympics.

He finished 12th at the 1st IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Waregem, Belgium, 1973.

Arthritis cut short Tayler's running career.

In the 2014 New Year Honours, Tayler was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to athletics.^[4]

References

1. Hollings, Stephen (December 2016). "National champions 1887–2016" (PDF). Athletics New Zealand. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
2. New Zealand Olympic Committee. "Dick Tayler". Retrieved 29 January 2024.
3. "Dick Tayler says South Canterbury honour ranks with NZ Sportsman of Year award". 21 May 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
4. "New Year honours list 2014". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2018.

External links

• Richard Tayler at World Athletics
• Dick Tayler at the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
• Dick Tayler at Olympedia
• Richard John Tayler at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)

Awards
Preceded by Jack Foster	Lonsdale Cup of the New Zealand Olympic Committee 1974	Succeeded by John Walker