It is with sorrow that we mark the death of James Manclark, at the age of 86. As his death notice in The Times recorded, James was a Harrovian, Life Guard in the Household Cavalry, City of London man, farmer, Olympian, businessman, property developer and investor, all round sportsman and co-inventor of elephant polo.
James became a Member of the SMTC in 1965. He had first visited St Moritz on a family holiday to improve his lung health. A fine skier, he soon turned his attention to the Cresta. He was a natural rider, having three rides from Junction before progressing to Top. At the Inter Services drinks party in 1967 James first glimpsed Patricia across the room, who became his beloved wife of 59 years.
James made many lasting friendships through the Cresta, and fellow Members admired his restless appetite for adventure. Peter von Siemens supported his attempt to fly around the world in a hot-air balloon in 1999, while Jim Edwards joined him in founding elephant polo in Nepal.
Alongside a colourful career, including an Army posting to Aden, James had an enduring appetite for risk-taking sport. Having begun on the Cresta, he soon crossed the road to the bob track, going on to compete for Britain in bobsleigh for ten years.
The Times recorded his ice-sporting achievements, “In 1969 he and Edward Wood came 19th in the world two-man bobsleigh championships at Lake Placid, New York, the pair of them sweating off several pounds in the sauna to qualify. Two years later he fractured a cheekbone during trials for the European Championships in Cervinia, Italy, and was replaced by Prince Michael of Kent. He returned to the bobsleigh for the 1972 Winter Olympics at Sapporo in Japan but failed to qualify either because his brakeman dropped out or, according to some reports, because he was distracted by the masseuses in the bath houses.”
He later competed in the luge World Championships in Austria. Fellow Cresta Rider Nick Bonham became his Bob brakeman in 1973/4 and they represented GB in the World two and four man Championships. Nick also competed in James's team at the World Elephant Polo Championships in the late 70s in Nepal, also in that team featured fellow Cresta rider Kerry Hastings-Spital.
In the summer months James could be found catamaran racing, attending race meetings with his horse Mr Incredible, playing elephant polo, or beating anyone brave enough to challenge him at backgammon.
James died peacefully at home in Haddington, Scotland. We send our condolences to his wife Patricia and to all his family. He will be remembered by many Members as a man of boundless enthusiasm, courage and good company.
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