BELGRAVE HARRIERS

Sadly this was George's last competitive performance for a while and The Belgravian reported:

 

"Members will be sorry to hear that Dunckley has been ordered 12 months rest by his medical adviser. We thought that we had an Olympic Champion in him ... We must hope that the enforced rest will not have any ill effect on him but that he will return to the track stronger in health and strength."

 

George was at low ebb and perhaps even thought that his athletic days were over, as by mid-1927 the General Hon. Secretary F.G. Thompson reported to Committee that a letter of resignation had been received from George. The Committee decided to, "Leave it on the table for the present."

 

Out of competitive action for over two years, George’s success of 1926 was fondly remembered in the Club’s magazine:

 

"… we want a sound 50 secs. 'quarter' man … Dunkley (sic), a top-notcher, is kept off the track by illness." And … "The quarter was a 'hot-un.' Shades of Dunckley! How they ran!"

 

The Committee's faith in George and not accepting that resignation paid dividends. On May 15th, 1929, back at Battersea, the scene was set for a return to action in and Inter-Club Relay Meeting. On the last stage of a 4 x 300 yards race a glimpse of his form of three years earlier was revealed as he strode through his stint and carried the Belgrave colours to a win. In June at Finsbury Park he again caught the eye in a medley relay, this time running a 220 yards but he caused hearts to flutter in the 'Doris Shield' match where his team had built a 50 yard lead and he ambled his last, furlong, leg, knowing that he did not have to put himself out to ensure the win. To be fair, he also had a quarter-mile on the agenda for that afternoon – which he duly won in 52 seconds; but was anyone prepared for what followed at the Amateur Athletic Association’s Championships at Stamford Bridge?

 

We can probably do no better than reproduce the report of the day:

 

"This year's A.A.A. Meeting was chiefly notable from the Belgrave point of view for the splendid come-back of George Dunckley. After two months' training following upon two years' rest from the track, he qualified for the 440yds. final. It is to be hoped that next year he will have found a little more running— and then Belgrave will boast of a A.A.A. champion.

 

"In his heat George was content to stride in with V. N. Harrison, of Achilles A.C., in 52 secs. In the second round we saw the old Dunckley—left at the start—forced to the outside of the track on the back straight—and then the superb finish in which he passed G.T. Bird, Finchley H.; J .W. Toms, S.L.H., the Kent Champion; and J. Dacombe, of Surrey A.C. The time was 51 2/5 secs.

 

"In the final on Saturday, George drew the inside position but, as usual, was well behind on the first bend and was forced to run on the outside all the way without a chance to get through. So came the finish, with Hanlon, 1st; Barsi, the Hungarian record-holder, 2nd; Neame, 3rd. The time, 49 2/5 secs, has only been beaten twice since the War."

 

With form like this it was hoped that George would be selected for international duty in the forthcoming match v. Germany; but the Club Championships were due up first and after a two year absence George again took charge of the 440 yards event and took home the J.G. Sawyer Memorial Cup. What a success story after two years of inactivity; George was indeed invited to don an England vest and to set foot on the Stamford Bridge oval on August 24th in two races against the Germans.

 

"…He was timed to run his stage in the 4 x 440yds. Race (with a flying start) in 48 3/10 secs. In the Medley Relay he ran last for England and was about 10 yds. behind Stortz, the German who was fifth at the Amsterdam Olympiad, when he took over. George cut down this lead and was only beaten by 3 yds. — a wonderful effort … and one which deservedly gained the large crowd’s applause.

 

"The British record for 440yds. Is 48 2/5 secs., and was made by W. Halswelle at Glasgow in 1908. If our man can reproduce his form again next season it should be within his powers to improve upon these figure."

 

Proud of his achievements, George managed to keep hold of the baton used by his team that day and brought it home to his family.

 

The season was not done yet for a week later on Club representative duty he helped retain the Horsham Chamber of Trade Cup for a 4 x 440yds. Relay and on September 7th ran an outstanding 21 9/10 secs at Wycombe to win a scratch 220 yards race.

 

In 1930 George turned out to contribute another sterling last leg for the Club in a 4 x 440 yards race at Ravensbourne and he was known to have won the Metropolitan Police 440 yards championship, but there George Dunckley's athletic career seems to have come to a conclusion.

 

In August 1931 the Committee took steps to delete a number of members who had not been heard of for some time. The list has not survived but the minutes of the meeting noted that for the time being this would not apply to certain, notable, members and George's name was among these.