Arthur Lydiard

This kea was banded as a fledgling in Arthur's Pass village during August 2019. He is named for the late Arthur Lydiard, coach of some of New Zealand’s greatest athletes and founder of the jogging movement. Lydiard was the coach behind NZ’s international middle and long distance running success in the 1960s including the likes of Sir Peter Snell, Sir Murray Halberg, Barry Magee, Bill Baillie, Jeff Julian, and many more. Lydiard’s methods were innovative and impressive, and were effective across a range of sports, not just athletics but rowing, cycling, and even horse racing. His philosophies still form the basis of endurance sport programmes today. He had an incredible ability to inspire and motivate, whether you were an Olympic champion or an absolute beginner, being credited with starting the mainstream jogging movement leading to marathons; fun runs becoming mainstream mass participation events. Arthur Lydiard the kea will never sit still, and will always be heard up in the hills, chattering away.

Sponsor

The Coughlan family