Vernon Patrick Boot (22 October 1914 – 15 January 1947) was a New Zealand

middle-distance runner Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle-distance event. The 1 ...

who represented his country at the 1936 Summer Olympics and at the

1938 British Empire Games The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the event that evolved to become the Commonwealth Games. Held in Sydney, Australia from 5–12 February 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 yea ...

, winning gold and bronze medals at the latter.

Early life and family

Born in

Kaikōura Kaikōura () is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1, 180 km north of Christchurch. The town has an estimated permanent resident population of (as of ). The town is the governmen ...

on 22 October 1914, Boot was the son of Percy Vernon Boot and Estelle Marie Boot (formerly England, née Edge). He was educated at Ashburton High School and

Timaru Boys' High School Timaru Boys' High School (also known as TBHS), established in 1880, is a single sex state (public) secondary school located in the port city of Timaru, South Canterbury, New Zealand. TBHS caters for years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 19 years). At th ...

, and went on to study at Canterbury Agricultural College from 1934 to 1935, where he trained for a diploma in agriculture. In 1937, Boot joined the Department of Agriculture as an assistant fields instructor. On 23 March 1940, Boot married Lorna Hinepare Kessell at St Peter's Church,

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...

. Lorna Boot died from meningitis on 15 September 1943 while her husband was serving overseas during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

Athletics

As a schoolboy at Timaru Boys' High School, Boot ran the 880 yards in 2:00.0, and the 1 mile in 4:26.8. Boot competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

in the men's 800 metres, finishing last in his semi-final. Like his teammate, Cecil Matthews, he suffered tendon problems from running on the decks of the '' Wanganella'' en route to the games, and was below his best form. He withdrew from the fourth heat of the 1500 metres. At the

in Sydney, Boot won the gold medal in the men's 880 yards with a tremendous sprint 70 yards from the end. His time of 1:51.2 was an Empire Games and Australian record. In the 1 mile, he won the bronze medal, finishing six yards behind the winner, Jim Alford of Wales. Boot won five New Zealand national athletics titles: the 880 yards in 1936, 1938, 1939, and 1940; and the 1 mile in 1936.

Military service

In World War II, Boot trained as an officer at the Army Training School at Trentham. He went overseas with the

2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

not long after his marriage, and served in the Middle East and Italy. Rising to the rank of captain, Boot suffered from jaundice while serving in Italy in 1944, and in 1945, after his return to New Zealand he was accidentally badly scalded.

Death

Boot was an instructor in agriculture at Gisborne when he died on 15 January 1947 when under anaesthesia for dental treatment. He was buried at Taruheru Cemetery, Gisborne.

References

External links

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Photo of V. P. Boot running with a ''splendid style'' c1938
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boot, Pat 1914 births 1947 deaths People from Kaikōura People educated at Ashburton College People educated at Timaru Boys' High School Lincoln University (New Zealand) alumni New Zealand male middle-distance runners Olympic athletes of New Zealand Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1938 British Empire Games Commonwealth Games gold medallists for New Zealand Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for New Zealand Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics New Zealand military personnel of World War II Burials at Taruheru Cemetery New Zealand Army officers Sportspeople from Canterbury, New Zealand Medallists at the 1938 British Empire Games