Athlete who ran first sub four-minute mile in Scotland

Born: June 17, 1932;

Died: February 23, 2017

DEREK Ibbotson, who has died aged 84, was an athlete who held the world record for a mile during a golden era of British middle distance running in the 1950s which saw athletes such as Roger Bannister, Chris Chataway and Brian Hewson grip the public’s imagination in a series of exciting record-breaking races.

At the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, Ibbotson won a bronze medal in the 5000m, behind the fabled Russian Vladimir Kuts and Gordon Pirie, before the following year stamping his name in athletics history by setting his mile record at London’s White City in a race dubbed The Miracle Mile.

About five weeks beforehand, competing in the Glasgow Police Sports at Ibrox, Ibbotson had run the first sub four-minute mile in Scotland, narrowly missing John Landy’s world record. Earlier that day he had become a father for the first time, to daughter Christine, and, typical of his swashbuckling persona, had promised to have a bash at the world record to celebrate. A popular, outgoing, fun loving character nicknamed The Four Minute Smiler, he was no one-dimensional athlete and in training and racing was totally committed and hugely competitive.

The Miracle Mile was an invitation race, part of the London versus New York contest in July 1957. A strong field included Ireland’s Ron Delany, the reigning Olympic 1500 m champion; Stanislav Jungwirth, the Czechoslovak world record holder over 1500 m; and a clutch of top British milers.

Around 40,000 absorbed spectators watched the drama unfold as Ibbotson surged past Jungwirth 300 yards out from the finish and kept up the pace to breast the tape in a new world record of 3m 57.2s with Delany, Jungwirth and Ken Wood also dipping under four minutes, the first time by four athletes in the one race.

Afterwards, Ibbotson celebrated by drinking champagne with the Marquess of Exeter who, as Lord Burleigh, had won gold in the 1928 Olympics over 400m hurdles. It is possible that he might have bettered that at Ibrox five weeks previously but conditions were unfavourable - it was over 80 degrees - and he covered the last 660 yards completely unchallenged, to record 3m 58.4s. He trained for his world record by adopting interval training, progressively reducing the rest period between repetitions, commenting later, “It was not easy reducing, most thought I was mad but results showed I was on the right lines.”

In 1956 as Britain’s fastest miler Ibbotson was disappointed not to be selected for the Olympic metric mile, suspecting favouritism, but instead ran well at 5,000m, winning bronze. In June he had broken the four-minute mile barrier for the first time in the Emsley Carr mile, equalling Roger Bannister’s record. Two days earlier he had won the three miles for Britain versus Czechoslovakia and only ran in the Emsley Carr for the promise of an extra ticket for the post meeting banquet.

Ibbotson was born in Berry Brow, Huddersfield to John, a coachbuilder, and Mabel. The Yorkshire Moors lay nearby and provided the perfect training ground. The boy's athletic promise was first noticed at King James Grammar School at Almondbury before he won the Yorkshire Junior mile title three years in succession, representing Longwood Harriers. Joining the RAF for national service in 1954 played a big part in his development, enabling him to train properly for the first time and affording opportunities for frequent competition.

He first came to national prominence in 1955, winning the inter counties three miles and finishing second to Chataway in the AAA’s championship. The next year he won his first AAA’s title at three miles beating Chataway. His purple patch came between June and August 1957 when he ran three sub four-minute miles including his world record and again won the AAA’s three miles, breaking Chataway’s British record.

Although never able to emulate these performances, he continued running internationally into the mid 1960s including the 1958 and 1962 Commonwealth Games. At the end of the 1957 season he took a break and by his own admission enjoyed his time off too much. On resuming training, injury problems surfaced and he was never able to recapture his 1957 form despite winning British indoor titles in 1962 and 65. He raced anywhere and everywhere including regular appearances in Scotland, at Hampden, Ibrox, and Cowal Games.

A qualified electrical engineer, he worked initially for the Coal Board but later was employed in sales, latterly as an agent for Puma the sportswear company. Turning later to squash, he became good enough to represent Yorkshire and win the county’s senior title. Huddersfield University awarded him an honorary degree and in 2008 he received an MBE for services to athletics.

He was married twice, initially to fellow athlete Madeleine Wooller, with whom he had three daughters, Christine, Nichola and Georgina. He then married Ann Parmenter with whom he had another daughter Joanna but Ann predeceased him.

His final years were shared with partner Lynette Beveridge. The recipient of numerous awards in his outstanding career, he will also be warmly remembered for his infectious sense of fun and have-a-go attitude.

JACK DAVIDSON