European Championships 1958 Stockholm - Eldon in 2nd place on last lap-
Finished 4th after leading all the way fot 24 laps but did set a British record for the distance of 29:2.8.
Extracts and details from Life on the Run:
Early years growing up in Royal Borough of Windsor. Choir Boy and Scout, attacked by bombs in Salisbury.The 1947 floods in Windsor and the 1948 Olympics. The start of running, Berkshire Championships and All England Schools. First exchange between Windsor and Goslar (Germany) in 1952and first ‘international’ race. Police Cadet, Military Policeman and Police Constable which gave the newspapers plenty of captions and cartoons ‘Flying Cop’ etc. Best World times ever at 3 miles and 6 miles as a junior. Early international races on the track, International Cross Country champion and British records at 5 and 6 miles and 10,000 metres. Ranked in top three in the world in 1959 at 5000 metres and came 2nd in race against the top 12. Escape from Moscow in 1960. Working nights and running international races the next day. Fitting training, racing, family and working into a daily routine. No big pay days, 75p a day when abroad for a race and £10 if appearing on TV. Top prize value (not cash) £7.7s or £10 in Scotland .
Later life, the forming of the National Jogging Association and first Fun Runs. The start up of the Reading Half Marathon and other races. Introduction of wheelchair athletes to road racing.
Working for Disabled Sport and Sports Aid Foundation.
Life with Diabetes and Heart disease .
'On June 28th 1958 I ran in the AAA 6 miles championship at the Kinnaird meeting at Chiswick. I knew I was going well and in that race I proved it as I broke Ken NORRIS's British record for the distance and on the way broke the 5 mile record as well. My new record for the 6 miles was 28:05 and the 5 mile record was 23:20 After the race Harold ABRAHAMS, the former Olympic champion sprinter later famed by the film Chariots of Fire, wrote to me and explained that if only I could run more even lap times the world record could be mine. Harold continued taking an interest in me for the rest of my running career. I had a good win and a British record but it was a wasted opportunity as I know I could have got much closer to KUTS world figures which were only 20 seconds faster. Perhaps the most flattering comments of my running career came after this race. The man who coached Roger Bannister to that first 4 minute mile Franz Stampfl could not believe I had to get back to Reading to work a 10pm to 6am night shift. He was quoted as saying “A policeman? I can’t think of a worse job for a world class athlete. This Eldon must be fantastic to combine the two. He really ought to get another job . Slow striding on the policeman’s beat is bad for him.” He then suggested that six months training like Zatopek or Kuts and the world record could be mine.'