Vale Bob Talay 1942 to 2013 Prepared by Margaret Beardslee with David Tarbotton and Ron Bendall. Tuesday, 18 June 2013 One of NSW’s leading distance runners of the ‘60s and ‘70s, Robert (Bob) Talay died in Tumut NSW on 31 May, aged 70. Bob was the eldest child of Hilda Buckley Talay and Francis Henry Talay. He was born in Sydney on July 19, 1942 and is survived by son Louis, sister Nicole and brother Leon. Talay grew up in Edgecliff in the Eastern Suburbs and became well known through his school and work life. His first job was selling newspapers on the streets and trams. Later he played cricket for Edgecliff and everyone called him "Tal". Junior school was at Double Bay Public School where he played rugby league, then onto Randwick Boys High School where he ran in the athletics team and played cricket. He left school in fifth year after gaining his leaving certificate. Post school Bob completed an apprenticeship in refrigeration and electrics. In sport Talay received many awards and trophies particularly in athletics and Australian rules. As a senior athlete, he started emerging in the mid-60s in winter events. At the 1965 NSW Novice Cross Country Championship, Talay, competing for Eastern Suburbs placed third. Two weeks later in the NSW Cross Country Championship he assisted his club to the team championships title. The team included Olympian Dave Power. Over the next five years he regularly appeared in the national rankings for the 3000m steeplechase and 10,000m. He competed in the national steeplechase championship in 1968 and later that year clocked his personal best time of 9:20.3. Over 10,000m he clocked a best of 30:47.7 in 1967. He compiled a tremendous winter running record in the ‘70s when aged in his 30s. In 1971 he placed fourth in the NSW marathon (2:35.15), assisting Eastern Suburbs to silver in the teams event. At the NSW Cross Country Championships at Macquarie University he missed a medal by three seconds, clocking 34:22 with Bruce Adams taking the bronze medal in 34:19 in a race won by Olympian John Farrington. Talay had the consolation of beating Commonwealth Games steeplechase champion Tony Manning and World Cross Country Championship representative Rob McDonald. He was selected in the NSW team for the Australian Cross Country Championship to be held a month later at the same venue. At the nationals Talay ran four seconds faster and placed a magnificent fifth, just 13 seconds behind bronze medallist South Australian Olympian Dave Fitzsimons. On home soil NSW were unbeatable in the teams championships with Talay claiming a national gold medal as NSW scored 12 points, well ahead of South Australia (32 points) and Victoria (50 points). The next season, 1972, Talay was very competitive, placing in every State championship and winning his first State title, the NSW (long course) Cross Country Championship over 20km at Gosford. He beat Canberra’s Dave McInnes in 63:29. He also placed third in the State 10km Cross Country Championships, second in the State Marathon and third in the 25km Road Championship. There was no National Cross Country Championship that year as they were only held every second year. In 1975, Talay, aged 32, was selected alongside distance great Chris Wardlaw, Dave Chettle and Rob McDonald in the Australian team for the IAAF World Cross Country Championshipsin Rabat, Morocco. Back in Australia and running for St George, Talay showed a strong liking for road races. He was fifth in the state marathon (2:35.13), eighth in the 15km road championships and clocked a quick 67:08 half marathon in the Sutherland open in April. In 1976 he won his second individual NSW title, taking the marathon championship in 2:29.03. In 1977, aged 35, Talay compiled one of his finest ever seasons. Athletics NSW introduced a new award, the Distance Runner of the Year and Talay made it his goal to win the title. In April he placed fifth in the Sutherland half marathon (71:27), the next month he was fifth in the 25km road champs, then in June second in the state marathon in a tremendous 2:27.52.6. In July he was fourth in the 15km event, then fifth in the 12km race. He had helped St George to wins in the marathon and two cross country teams events. In August he contested the City to Surf (11th, 43.28) and his last major national race, the Australian Marathon championship in Tasmania. Talay placed 12th in a personal best of 2:26.08 and combined with his NSW team mates for the silver medal. Talay’s tremendous all round year earned him the inaugural Distance Runner of the Year award. He scored 62 points, beating Steve Poulton (58.5p), Dennis Nee (40.5), Dave McInnes (34p), John Stanley (28p) and Brian Morgan (24p). It was the last season we would see Talay regularly on the Athletics NSW winter circuit. However his marathon career was not completely over as he placed an excellent third in the 1981 Sydney marathon, clocking 2:25.40 on the short course. In the ‘70s he bought a milk run and later a convenience corner store. He would often hunt down friends and fellow athletes at the crack of dawn and ask them to help with the milk run as he was running behind schedule. He had an endearing reputation for running late. Many of his fellow athletes will remember him charging to various start lines just as the gun was about to go (or shortly thereafter). Talay’s hobby and passion was undoubtedly running. It came naturally to him and he inspired many others along the way. After winding down his competitive running career in 1978 he opened a sports shoe shop a few stores away from his corner store to service the growing market of fun runners with shoes and accessories. He and Margaret Ricardo (Beardslee) began a very successful partnership with Talay’s Runners’ Shop. At its peak there were three stores in Randwick, Ultimo and Parramatta and franchises in Hobart and the Gold Coast. The stores quickly became the place to buy spikes and joggers. At Randwick. Bob would nearly always serve you, except when he was on a run. It was a regular place for people to meet and go for a run. Many top level runners were happy to promote the store by wearing the shop logo on sponsored uniforms. News of Talay’s death on facebook brought many recollections of his career and particularly his running shop. “Icon who will be missed,” Jackie Fairweather, Commonwealth Games marathon medallist. “Bought my first pair of spikes there- Andrew served us- as a kid I was soo excited! Very sad to hear... Rip,” Gabrielle Harrison, former NSW cross country runner and NSW Sports Minister. “I got my spikes there too including my first pair, great bloke,” Kylie Hanigan, Atlanta Olympic sprinter. “Talays was a real runners shop. Walk into the smell of runners’ sweat combined with the clutter of shoes, running trophies and fun runner magazines. A recording of City 2 Surf was always on the TV in the background. It was an institution. RIP Bob,” Jason Maxwell, a leading Hunter distance runner in the 80s and 90s. “I remember Mum buying my first wet weather gear from Bob at Hensley Athletics Field all those years ago......RIP,” Donna Hiscox, former NSW distance runner. “He used to sell his gear at E S Marks as well during interclub meets back in the early 80's. I visited his shop over those years many times. Lovely man full of advice and always cheery. RIP Mr.Talay,” Greg Mannix, former NSW all round athlete. “Bought my first ever pair of New Balance in 1986 from Mr Talay not knowing whether they were even a brand of running shoes. Champ among champs,” James Fitzgerald, leading NSW distance coach. “Sad news. Bought a lot of stuff there when I was running and coaching in the area. He was a top bloke.” Paul Stenhouse, coach and administrator. “Sorry to hear about Bobby. A true legend of running. A lovely man. Always had time for a chat no matter how busy he was.” Michael Donnelly, former NSW champion. “I met Bob once or twice and can still picture him at the start line of numerous City to Surfs. Loved his running. RIP Bob,” Pat Carroll, 2:09 Queensland marathoner. “I used to drive from Wollongong to Talays to buy my spikes,” Noreen Parrish, Wollongong, athlete, coach and administrator. “Sad to hear about Bob. Bought many items over the years and a great supporter of track and field,” Alf Lakin, distance runner and athletics sponsor. “Bob was truly a great guy sad to hear. RIP,” Ian Ison, former NSW hammer thrower. “Got my first spikes at the Runners’ Shop in 1988 or 89,” Phil Brennan, Sydney University distance runner and sports journalist. “RIP Bob. I ran with Bob during my St George days. I used to buy all my running gear from his shop. A great ambassador for the sport,” Matthew Todd former NSW distance runner. “RIP Bob. When i was a teenager in Sydney he helped me with shoes. Used to drive the van to State races and always had a kind and wise word for us young blokes. Hope he is in a better place and he will be missed,” David Lightfoot, former leading NSW distance runner. “I always remember Bob as a great runner in the 1970s, always in the mix at the front.