Back in 1974 as a 13-year-old I was with my Parents who had a connection with a small block of land in Kakanui near Kaukapakapa, north of Auckland.
Unlike the millionaire’s row or footballer’s county like Cheshire here in the UK this was bush and hills and not what it is now.
We were camping out in the old primary school as my Father and Uncle Ron (Aunty Pam’s Husband) who they shared the property with were cutting down bush for a fire break. We would take food up the hill and have that for lunch (Cheese sandwiches which is still my staple). I can’t remember if us kids did too much work but I remember it being fun and sometimes a bit boring as we got to the end of the day, ( I am not talking on behalf of my two younger sisters in this case).
At the same time the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch New Zealand were taking part and that was when I/we were glued to the TV and saw Dick Taylor, Mary Peters, Filbert Bayi and a host of other legends winning their respective events. It was also the time I first came across the name Mike Bull who won the Decathlon and got second in the Pole-vault.
I always like the idea of the all-round Athlete/Sports person and later in life admired the bigger players like the forwards Gary Seer, Stuart McKinney and John Eales lining up big long penalty kicks in Rugby and nailing them especially last-minute ones that won the game.
So, Mike Bull, this rather unknown to me at the time won this event on the same track that I got 3rd in the National Schools High Jump and then a year later I won the same age group (under 16).
My first time at QE 2nd Park in Christchurch when in a day dream for a minute or two, used to think this is where John Walker got 2nd to Filbert Bayi who broke the world record for the 1500 meters record months before, Where Dick Taylor kicked and burnt off David Black, Brendon Foster and David Bedford to win the 10,000 meters etc. and Mike Bull won the decathlon etc. etc.
His name used to pop up occasionally over the years and now over 45 years later I have the privilege of hosting Mike at the British Sports Book Awards on Monday 20th September.
His Book which the manuscript was lost for 20 years had been found by his daughter and correlated. The book was published 2 months ago and what a man! So prolific with his achievements. I did not know that he went way back to 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston where he got Silver medal in the Pole vault, Gold in the Pole vault in 1970 in Edinburgh and had competed in Mexico 1968 and the 1972 Olympic games in Munich (West Germany).
Titled ‘An Olympians Story’, it is an honest but personable account of times good and bad through thick and thin, no excuses. A story of someone who though an elite athlete like others, who are prepared to commit, aspired and achieved so much that it looks like it became habitual!
During his time in his book, he got an Athletics scholarship to the States, trained with the best athletes in the world, did a Doctorate in Philosophy, University lecturer, Fitness coach for the Irish and Ulster rugby teams, got an OBE for his contribution to Sport and Charity where he co-founded the Sparks Children’s Charity (NI), a successful Business man with his Gymnasium complex and more which you will have to read about in his book.
Through all this he is as the great legend. Former Arsenal and Northern Irish Football Captain Terry Neill termed ‘he is one of the boys’ (from Bangor Northern Ireland) referring to the never lost his roots aspect of his personality.
Post Book he has recently been interviewed by the BBC about his aspirations to compete in the World Masters games at the age of then 76 years of age! In the pole-vault! The video which went viral following the interview reached 8 million + views
A reflection that people think that this is positive, proactive attitude and spirit that it is never too late and while you can, still keep doing it!
Get the book it is a good read, sad on occasions as not too many people go through life being happy all the time. As the author Lewis said ‘Life’s a tradeoff’ and if you do, you have not lived life but what makes success sweeter is the hard times you have endured whilst getting up, brushing off the sand and then having dockers turn up on the Belfast wharfs with mattresses so you can practice your pole vault and land in reasonable safety!
Mike Bull
An Olympians Story
By
Doctor (Phil) Mike Bull OBE.