1974 European Championships 4x400m relay

[@andersoncohen1276]

The black british runner who ran the first leg, Glendon Howard Cohen is my dad.

[@gakaface]

I remember he was a regular member of the British 4 x 400m relay team. You should be very proud of him!

[@Fatima502]

It was such a privilege to see athletes like him and Ainsley Bennett on the British team in the 70s. He was worth a 1000 David Jenkins.

[@franklee4289]

Glen's running style and gait was always recognisable. Didn't he marry Eleanor Thomas, the sprinter? Memories!

[@franklee4289]

Ainsley was a great servant to British athletics during a dry period.

[@yaxifromeast1989]

I like The way he swag his head

[@Zndwls]

This still remains the best 4x400m relay performance in the major international championships for Finland's men. Thanks for uploading it!

[@waynehentley4332]

Blood doping!!!!!

[@PaulVinonaama]

@@waynehentley4332 Yawn. Jenkins from UK is a known doper, and probably many others doped, too. No evidence for the Finns, however.

[@waynehentley4332]

@@PaulVinonaama Overnight, massive improvement. That's all the proof that's needed. I remember Mona Lisa and Riitta from the 70s.

[@markshorter76]

@@waynehentley4332 Overnight? Far from it: The Finnish team was 6th in Munich 1972 with a much better time than this (3.01.12, still the NR). Kukkoaho's (the anchor) and the 4x400m relay team's performances improved gradually from 1969 to 1972. Yes, there was blood doping knowledge in Finland and it was a factor behind the achievements of its athletes, very likely including many of those who never admitted. But two things are typically missing in Anglo-American commentary: 1) Finland certainly was not the only Western European country that had scientific doping programs - later studies have e.g. uncovered an extensive West German (not East German!) state doping program in athletics that was in operation in the 1970s and 1980s. As for David Jenkins, the GB anchor here, he "later confessed to using performance enhancing anabolic steroids" - meaning that he robbed two European Championships medals from Kukkoaho, who was 4th in both 1971 and 1974 (if we look at things from the Finnish perspective!). 2) There was what has been described as "religious" enthusiasm for running and athletics in Finland from late 1960s onwards: A new generation of coaches, also from abroad, and dedicated runners who were willing to train hard and challenge each other to better achievements. Knowing how hard the athletes trained and how talented the best were, it is mildly irritating (knowing that ignorance is stubborn and prejudice dies hard) to read simplistic comments like yours that reduces all this to cheating - with the implication that there must be something fishy going on if athletes from smaller countries are successful. Know-how in terms of training, talent and hard work were not limited to major Western countries in the 1970s, even if doping played a part in all of them.

[@waynehentley4332]

@@markshorter76You can be as irritated as you want, I stand by my statement. Both Mona Lisa and Riita were overnight sensations. They were able to train harder because of the doping. Where are the great Finnish athletes of today? You do have great javelin throwers though!

[@jannetguarte3656]

Great Karl Honz! fastest anchor: 44,1.

[@jeffreyharris3887]

Karl Honz was a helluva runner ,he came from miles back

[@kurman4749]

David Jenkins was absolutely sensational, as indeed were Glen Cohen, Bill Hartley and Alan Pascoe

[@bfc3057]

Were the others self-confessed drug users and imprisoned steroid smugglers?

[@djelalniyazi4090]

when i was a kid i used to watch these

[@geekpie100]

Fantastic race. Bill Hartley had a good leg.

[@stevefurness3157]

One of the craziest 3 minutes of running I have ever seen!

[@RickyAuk22]

Yes, we lost the USSR & Swedish runners to falls within about 50 metres

[@mrgobrien]

Re david jenkins (last leg for britain here) - i saw him win silver in this event at the 72 olympics, but didn't realise it was only every 4 years - i'd have to wait for the next time. so i waited. until 1976, the olympics started, but it was all swimming, i was told that the athletics was the next week - i'd have to wait. so i waited. the athletics started the next week, but it wasn't the relay, i was told that the relay was at the end of the athletics - i'd have to wait. so i waited. the relay race came on, but they only ran 1 corner or 1 straight, not the whole lap each - i was told that was the 4 x 100 metre relay, the 4 x 400 metre relay was at the end of that - i'd have to wait. so i waited. the 4 x 400 metre race came on, but the heats not the final, and jenkins would run last for britain again - i'd have to wait. so i waited. but before jenkins actually got the baton, alan pascoe dropped it (or rather it was knocked out of his hand). so after all that waiting - and then it turned out that jenkins had been taking drugs around 1976 anyway. somehow i didn't know about this race - it would've saved me 2 years and much frustration.

[@redrum4100]

Pretty much sums up my experience too.

[@bfc3057]

And before

[@mc1703]

outstanding anchor!

[@timrobinson100]

LOVE WATCHING THIS RACE [ MAGIC DAYS THEN WITH COLEMAN

[@ChristovMr]

What strikes me is how the style of running has changed - They're all running scared, as opposed to today's athletes who tend to relax mid-race and pace themselves, run their own race and save some for the finish! Great race!

[@johnpaulrichardmuller2560]

Honz 44,1 ! Great performance.

[@robbiebennett5062]

Honz famously 'blew up' in the 4 x400m at his home Olympics in Munich 1972 having a huge lead on the last leg only to be passed and West Germany finishing outside the medals.

[@youngsteph1]

It made me laugh in the third leg when 200 metres out Coleman said the Finn is dying, when at the end of the leg, he stormed right in the lead.

[@PaulVinonaama]

Taskinen ran great also in the 800m home stretch, snatching bronze.

[@rlawther8059]

The coach must have said wait until Coleman says something and then run like hell

[@timrobinson100]

jenkins best ever run to hold off the great honz

[@paulgraham6316]

Big Bill Hartley was an absolute beast. Never an outstanding quarter-miler, I always thought with his power and strength he should have taken up the decathlon.

[@simolamsa8716]

Stig Lönnqvist-Ossi Karttunen-Markku Taskinen-Markku Kukkoaho. Upeaa katseltavaa..

[@susannakristiina3514]

Jokaisen mainitsemistasi erottaa omalla juoksutyylillään, mm Taskisen pellavapään heiluminen, Kukkoahon junamainen meno 👏👏👏💪

[@eandogaming1743]

Stig o mun ukki

[@m.v420]

BLOOD DUMPING FOR THE FINN.....

[@111Matu]

Thanks for posting - great to see this. Would anyone have footage of the 4x400 from the Munich 1972 Olympics?

[@davidjenkins-jq2ne]

Jenkins ran 44.0 on the Anchor leg for the UK in Munich, backed up by Martin Reynolds - Lead off first lap. Alan Pascoe 2nd lap. David Hemery - Olympic 400m Hurdler, World Record Holder in Mexcio City, on Third Leg. Jenkins Anchor leg. Kenya won Gold.

[@sanderslongdrive]

Great memories of four great British runners. I recall first seeing Alan Pascoe competing with me (in a different event to me) in the English Schools' Champs. in 1967 at Peterborough. He won the senior 110 yards hurdles for the second year in succession. But I'm unsure as to how he managed it bearing in mind his birthday of 11/10/'47? (Unless the internet stated birthday date is incorrect). The other runner who I particularly remember was David Jenkins - famous for going off far too fast and blowing up time after time after time. But on that day he didn't and indeed he ran absolutely magnificently! It was a great European Champs. that year, but I was saddened by my pal Tony Simmons failing to snatch a gold medal on the line in the 10,000 metres. He bust a gut trying! Happy days, and how time flies by.

[@trickygoose2]

Until about 15 to 20 years ago, the Senior age group in the English Schools' was open to those still at school (or 6th form or FE colleges) as long as they were under 20 at the end of August that year. It has since changed to an under 19 age group. Of course, many students then and now would only have 2 years of eligibility because they had left school for higher education or work but some did a 3rd year to get better grades or because they had started A-levels a year late or whatever. I believe that there are still some championships bests at the English Schools' still standing that were set by athletes in their 3rd year.

[@paulgraham6316]

I recall Pascoe being the dominant force in British 110m hurdles until Wales' Berwyn Price kept beating him. As a result he stepped up to the 400m hurdles and started winning golds in European and Commonwealth. Great move by the man.

[@PeterPan-ho7pg]

Awsome man

[@aragorn1959]

David Jenkins !! What a talent he was ! What he could have achieved ! I recall Honz, Werner and Fonz Briedenbach As his rivals on the euro circuit in the 70s

[@robbiebennett5062]

True but I was devastated to discover that he was a drug cheat.

[@redrum4100]

Ditto @@robbiebennett5062

[@nickbamber268]

Honz ran 44.7 flat in 1973.

[@olliorkoneva1689]

Jumaliste, Karttunen, vanha sotaratsu! Ja Kukkoaho, hävisi paremmilleen mutta teki kaiken minkä pystyi! Oli upeaa nähdä tuo kaikki.

[@petrijuvonen4627]

Lisäksi Salin ja Lönnqvist.

[@artolehtio8284]

Vieläköhän Karttusella on tallessa vanha kilpailupaita

[@PaulVinonaama]

@@petrijuvonen4627 Taskinen, ei Salin.

[@mankiperukangas7785]

Oli kyllä Tainionkosken Sfinksin elämänsä juoksu.

[@seanofafrica]

I'm fairly certain that, while yes you are right, he did start taking steroids in 1975, it was during the winter of 75 that he began. A moot point perhaps, but he was ranked number one in the world in 1975 (mostly due to being the only non-American to win the US Open 400m title, and breaking 45) and so, for any kids reading this, we should draw attention to the fact that he went downhill AFTER taking steroids. Also, there's some other commentary of this race that, in my opinion, is even better.

[@ewaf88]

David's brother, Roger was also a good athlete and I used to run with him in the Barclay's 4 * 100m relay in the midweek Inter Bank league

[@MARSIPAANIKAKKU-wj6oy]

NICE TO WATCH IT.. TASKINEN AND KARTTUNEN ARE MY IDOLS ALSO KUKKOAHO

[@MARSIPAANIKAKKU-wj6oy]

NICE TO WATCH IT

[@michaelgeoghegan8850]

To Anderson u must well proud to see ur dad setting up his team 4 european Gold 😉 n it was mentioned that it was his best run up until that particular relay. What was ur Dad's PB's for 100m, 200m, and 400m for a finish? Id love to know as im an English born former sprinter myself who won many Irish national titles way thru out the 90s and even moved back to Portsmouth for a while n ran 4 Portsmouth AC, Rubbing shoulders with Roger Black, Kriss Akabusi, Todd Bennett n all the great 400m guys from down that way. I think I topped the Portsmouth rankings in 1994 in a couple of races i done while there against Paul Saunders, Lee Fairclough n Todd Bennett in the Hampshire Co Champs. But haven't England always been right up there when it comes to putting a 4x 400m relay team together. I hope u get to read this message n tell dad how proud i was of his run here 😉. Never forget 1991 world champs wen we beat the Americans at what they considered their event, ha ha not that day tho. John Regis ran 43.7sec for his leg that day n he doesn't or didn't sud i say do the 400m!! Nice post BTW thanks

[@pammacgregor8857]

Is that the race Michael that had Chris running the anchor leg instead of " pretty boy Black " as Chris affectionately called him ,they changed the running order I think the night before the race knowing if they managed to keep up with the Americans that at least would give Chris a chance on the anchor leg ,this is my favourite race of all time ,there is also a brilliant 4 part interview on u Tube with the lads ,the faces on the Americans when they lost the race is one to remember , pure "what the hell happened there " 😀

[@222mozart]

the 4x400 ever thrills

[@stephenrichardson9540]

Jenkins spent a year at grangemouth high school although he was well travelled dad in the bp i think

[@MANGOSITRUUNAKPZTAF]

nice to watch this

[@PaulVinonaama]

Suomen ankkuri (Kukkoaho?) aloitti ehkä hiukan turhan lujaa, silti käsittämättömän hyvä suoritus koko kvartetilta, jos nykyisiin vertaa!

[@markshorter76]

Näin on, hieno suoritus koko jengiltä, "hitaammatkin" juoksijat (Lönnqvist ja Taskinen) pistelevät kierroksen 46 sek. tuntumaan. Tämä huomioiden Münchenin 1972 kvartetin (Taskisen tilalla Salin) yli kaksi sekuntia parempi SE-aika oli vielä käsittämättömämpi.

[@darrenbinns1827]

Jenks finest moment i thought, especially edging out the German Honz.

[@youngsteph1]

Before the drugs finished him. Ironically, he was better before he took them.

[@OMENARAHKA-pt7zl]

nice to wathc it.. kukkoaho is my idol

[@gakaface]

It's very interesting watching this for the first time and a very exciting race. Unfortunately tainted by the subsequent knowledge that Jenkins went on to be Britain's worst ever drugs villain. Not only did he use steroids during his athletic career, he was actually convicted of drug trafficking and spent nearly a year in prison. His subsequent business success can never make up for the damage he did to the reputation of British athletics.

[@archiewoosung5062]

I knew he was convicted for drug smuggling, but hadn't heard about the steroid use...do you have a source?

[@skinnytinny9023]

Archie Woosung Interviewed by The Wall Street Journal 27th March 2000.

[@stoolpigeon4285]

Jenkins- Britains worst ever drugs villain? What, our very own Pablo Escobar?

[@redrum4100]

Jenkins is his own source, he freely admitted it (as opposed to being caught).

[@redrum4100]

Note that Jenkins was not taking drugs as this point, nor indeed when he was ranked number one in the world in 1975. It's ironic that his best years came before drug use (1976 onwards) and that actually they did him no favours whatsoever.

[@elephantbarbiegirl]

Great race!

[@thomasmckenzie4584]

It almost looked like roller derby with the runners dropping like flies.

[@Roybhoy888]

What a finish after 2 bad changeovers..

[@MARMELADIKAKKUAFYTA]

my idols honz. kukkoaho and arzanov

[@timrobinson100]

love watching this race for david jenkins leg early on great viewing

[@mrgobrien]

jenkins ran last for britain

[@OMENASOSE-zm2yl]

kukkoaho. honz and arzhanov are my idols

[@XxsnIperN00bxX]

A tarnished victory for GB, given the anchor runner's later admission of long-term steroid use.

[@ysgol3]

I reckon Lillian Board's spirit helped David over the line.

[@APBCTechnique]

Jenkins a good runner but steroids ruined him and reputation

[@capt.lovestarii2752]

He might still have been clean in '74. Certainly by the late 70s there were several British athletes on the juice.

[@johnstirling6597]

Pre drug Jenkins?

[@athlete5399]

hi there, I'm afraid I dont have the 800m from the same champs. Sorry :-(

[@fitzieo1]

Do you have the 800m for men from the same championships.

[@РусланУрумханов]

СССР ЖИВ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BrittanyLBarbour]

David Jenkins is the man!

[@SITRUUNAUTZFY]

mun idoli on kukkoaho

[@JC-sc1rk]

I loved watching Jenkins ...until the drugs thing

[@sporttivertti2561]

Hylättiinkö Suomi?

[@joonaseloranta8770]

Ei. Wiki on väärässä.

[@markshorter76]

Ranska teki protestin, väitti että Kukkoaho töni niiden ankkuria. Se ei mennyt läpi, mutta jostain syystä ulkomailla joihinkin tuloslistoihin jäi virheenä kummittelemaan Ranska pronssijoukkueena.

[@archie6945]

Lots of empty seats; France & Finland in the medal hunt!

[@MARMELADIKAKKU-df1td]

KUKKOAHO ON MUN IDOLI SAMOIN KARTTUNEN

[@mc1703]

now i read he's a dope fiend... nothing like a cheat to ruin a good relay!

[@timrobinson100]

must admit honz too , like jenkins awesome

[@kiwiangel26571]

david jenkins is my cousin.

[@kmruhgrdsvrojh]

my condolences

[@trickygoose2]

@@kmruhgrdsvrojh Apparently he is now considered a legitimate businessman rather than the kingpin of the US west coast steroid market.

[@jgrantsf]

Too bad the Soviets and Swedes fell/trip. It would have been even more entertaining with them in the race .

[@bfc3057]

Jenkin's, showing all the benefits of the anabolic steroids he later was imprisoned for selling - on his special sauce here. There's people commenting here how great he ran here - Jenkins was a convicted steroid seller and also user.

[@roystonhesketh3987]

Sadly jenkins.....

[@sodestined1198]

Ahhhh the UK is in EUROPE. LOL

[@johnjones9689]

Not any more!

[@siypic]

@@johnjones9689 That would be the EU..... (Which is like a big supermarket)

[@trickygoose2]

@@johnjones9689 Brexit didn't drag us across to the other side of the Atlantic, however much a few of its supporters seemed to want that.

[@paulwilliams8389]

@@johnjones9689 We are. Just because we're not in the EU (until we go back begging to rejoin anyway) doesn't mean we have left the continent.

[@smilodontiger5675]

The steroids kept Jenkins going for the final few metres.