New Zealand at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

New Zealand at the
1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
New Zealand at the; 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
CGF code	NZL
CGA	New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association
Website	www.olympic.org.nz
in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Competitors	56
Flag bearers	Opening: Max Carr ; Closing:
Medals; Ranked 5th	Gold7Silver7Bronze5Total19
British Empire and Commonwealth Games appearances
	1930 ; 1934 ; 1938 ; 1950 ; 1954 ; 1958 ; 1962 ; 1966 ; 1970 ; 1974 ; 1978 ; 1982 ; 1986 ; 1990 ; 1994 ; 1998 ; 2002 ; 2006 ; 2010 ; 2014 ; 2018 ; 2022 ; 2026 ; 2030 ;

Last updated September 25, 2025

New Zealand at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games was represented by a team of 56 competitors and nine officials. Selection of the team for the Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, was the responsibility of the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association. New Zealand's flagbearer at the opening ceremony was Max Carr. The New Zealand team finished fifth on the medal table, winning a total of 19 medals, seven of which were gold.

Medal tables

New Zealand was fifth in the medal table in 1954, with a total of 19 medals, including seven gold.

Medal	Name	Sport	Event
Gold	Don Jowett	Athletics	Men's 220 yards
Gold	Yvette Williams	Athletics	Women's discus throw
Gold	Yvette Williams	Athletics	Women's long jump
Gold	Yvette Williams	Athletics	Women's shot put
Gold	Don Rowlands	Rowing	Men's single sculls
Gold	Reg Douglas Bob Parker	Rowing	Men's coxless pair
Gold	Jack Doms	Swimming	Men's 220 yards breaststroke
Silver	Don Jowett	Athletics	Men's 440 yards
Silver	John Baird	Cycling	Men's road race
Silver	James Pirret	Lawn bowls	Men's singles
Silver	Kerry Ashby Murray Ashby Stanley Callagher (cox) Bruce Culpan Bill Tinnock	Rowing	Men's coxed four
Silver	Reg Douglas Bob Parker	Rowing	Men's double sculls
Silver	Lincoln Hurring	Swimming	Men's 110 yards backstroke
Silver	Jack Doms Lincoln Hurring Buddy Lucas	Swimming	Men's 3 x 110 yards medley relay
Bronze	Jack Stewart	Diving	Men's 3 m springboard
Bronze	Jean Stewart	Swimming	Women's 110 yards backstroke
Bronze	Tony George	Weightlifting	Men's light heavyweight
Bronze	Harold Cleghorn	Weightlifting	Men's heavyweight
Bronze	John Armitt	Wrestling	Men's featherweight

Medals by sport
Sport				Total
Athletics	4	1	0	5
Rowing	2	2	0	4
Swimming	1	2	1	4
Cycling	0	1	0	1
Lawn bowls	0	1	0	1
Weightlifting	0	0	2	2
Diving	0	0	1	1
Wrestling	0	0	1	1
Total	7	7	5	19

Medals by gender
Gender				Total
Male	4	7	4	15
Female	3	0	1	4
Total	7	7	5	19

Competitors

The following table lists the number of New Zealand competitors participating at the Games according to gender and sport.

Sport	Men	Women	Total
Athletics	11	3	14
Boxing	4	—	4
Cycling	5	—	5
Diving	1	1	2
Fencing	3	1	4
Lawn bowls	7	—	7
Rowing	8	—	8
Swimming	3	3	6
Weightlifting	3	—	3
Wrestling	2	—	2
Total	47	8	55

Athletics

Track

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
Athlete	Event	Result	Rank^[i]	Result	Rank^[ii]	Result	Rank
Bill Baillie	Men's 880 yards	1:52.3	2 Q	—		1:52.5	4
Bill Baillie	Men's 1 mile	4:11.4	1 Q	—		4:13.2	7
Jim Daly	Men's 1 mile	DNF		did not advance
Jim Daly	Men's 3 miles	—				14:41.0	14
Dave Fleming	Men's 440 yards	49.8	3	did not advance
Dave Fleming	Men's 440 yards hurdles	53.8	3 Q	—		53.9	4
Murray Halberg	Men's 1 mile	4:07.4 GR	1 Q	—		4:07.2	5
Ernie Haskell	Men's 3 miles	—				14:07.0	9
Ernie Haskell	Men's 6 miles	—				31:41.0	11
Don Jowett	Men's 220 yards	21.8	1 Q	21.9	1 Q	21.5
Don Jowett	Men's 440 yards	48.4	1 Q	48.9	2 Q	47.4
Lawrence King	Men's 3 miles	—				14:03.4	8
Lawrence King	Men's 6 miles	—				31:01.9	9
Noelene Swinton	Women's 100 yards	11.5	8	—		did not advance
Yvette Williams	Women's 80 m hurdles	11.3	2 Q	—		11.5	6

↑ Ranks given are within the heat
↑ Ranks given are within the semifinal

Field

Athlete	Event	Qualifying		Final
Athlete	Event	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
June Blackburn	Women's long jump	—		16 ft 0+1⁄2 in (4.89 m)	13
Max Carr	Men's hammer throw	152 ft 7 in (46.51 m)	8 Q	157 ft 0 in (47.85 m)	8
Murray Jeffries	Men's high jump	—		6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	9
Merv Richards	Men's pole vault	—		13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)	5
Noelene Swinton	Women's high jump	—		5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)	=5
Peter Wells	Men's high jump	—		6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	4
Yvette Williams	Women's discus throw	—		147 ft 8 in (45.01 m)
	Women's long jump	—		19 ft 11+1⁄2 in (6.08 m)GR
	Women's shot put	—		45 ft 9+1⁄2 in (13.96 m)GR

Boxing

Athlete	Event	Quarter Final	Semi Final	Final / BM	Rank
Athlete	Event	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Eddie Stockley	Bantamweight	Bye	Smillie (SCO) L	Did not advance	4
Alan Scaife	Light welterweight	—	Harris (SRH) L	Did not advance	4
Mike Hannah	Welterweight	Gargano (ENG) L	did not advance
Maurice Tuck	Light middleweight	Bye	Wells (ENG) L	Did not advance	4

Cycling

Road

Men's road race

Athlete	Time	Rank
John Baird
Les Lock		unplaced
Lance Payne		unplaced
Neil Ritchie		unplaced

Track

Men's 1000 m sprint

Athlete	Round 1	Repechage	Round 2	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final / BM
Athlete	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Colin Dickinson	Ploog (AUS) Millman (CAN) 2	Harrison (ENG) Mallick (PAK) W 12.3	Brotherton (ENG) W 12.4	Cox (AUS) L, L	did not advance
Les Lock	Shardelow (SAF) L	Davies (CAN) Farooqi (PAK) 2	Ploog (AUS) L	did not advance

Men's 1 km time trial

Athlete	Time	Rank
Colin Dickinson	1:13.2	6
Les Lock	1:16.1	16
Neil Ritchie	1:15.3	12

Men's 4000 m individual pursuit

Athlete	Qualification		Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final / BM	Rank
Athlete	Time	Rank	Opponent Result	Opponent Result	Opponent Result	Rank
Neil Ritchie	5:21.4	6	Brotherton (ENG) L	did not advance

Men's 10 miles scratch race

Athlete	Time	Rank
Colin Dickinson		unplaced
Les Lock		5
Neil Ritchie		unplaced

Diving

Athlete	Event	Points	Rank
Jeanette Laws	Women's 3 m springboard	104.26	5
Jeanette Laws	Women's 10 m platform	61.34	4
Jack Stewart	Men's 3 m springboard	144.98

Fencing

Men

Individual epee

Athlete	Elimination pool								Final pool								Rank
Athlete	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Rank
Austen Gittos	Lund (AUS)	Schwende (CAN)	Reynolds (WAL)	Asselin (CAN)	Jay (ENG)	Barber (SAF)	—	2	did not advance
Brian Hampton	Brooke (CAN)	Paul (ENG)	Harding-Smith (AUS)	Stafford (NZL)	Fethers (AUS)	Malherbe (SAF)	de Beaumont (ENG)	3	did not advance
Walter Stafford	Brooke (CAN)	Paul (ENG)	Harding-Smith (AUS)	Hampton (NZL)	Fethers (AUS)	Malherbe (SAF)	de Beaumont (ENG)	5	Lund (AUS)	Paul (ENG)	Schwende (CAN)	Reynolds (WAL)	Brooke (CAN)	Harding-Smith (AUS)	Asselin (CAN)	1	8

Individual foil

Athlete	Elimination pool								Final pool								Rank
Athlete	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Rank
Austen Gittos	Howard (CAN) W	Barber (SAF) W	Cooperman (ENG) L	Paul (ENG) W	Fethers (AUS) W	Hampton (NZL) W	—	5	Reynolds (WAL) L	Lund (AUS) W	Fethers (AUS) L	Jay (ENG) L	Cooperman (ENG) L	Robins (CAN) W	Paul (ENG) L	2	7
Brian Hampton	Barber (SAF) L	Fethers (AUS) L	Howard (CAN) L	Cooperman (ENG) L	Paul (ENG) L	Gittos (NZL) L	—	0	did not advance
Walter Stafford	Jay (ENG) L	Giguère (CAN) L	Steel (AUS) L	Reynolds (WAL) L	Malherbe (SAF) L	Lund (AUS) L	Robins (CAN) L	0	did not advance

Individual sabre

Athlete	Elimination pool								Final pool								Rank
Athlete	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Rank
Austen Gittos	Lund (AUS) L	Krasa (CAN) L	Amberg (ENG) L	Brooke (CAN) L	Hampton (NZL) W	Reynolds (WAL) L	Malherbe (SAF) L	1	did not advance
Brian Hampton	Malherbe (SAF) L	Lund (AUS) L	Krasa (CAN) L	Amberg (ENG) L	Gittos (NZL) L	Brooke (CAN) L	Reynolds (WAL) L	0	did not advance
Walter Stafford	Schwende (CAN) L	Fethers (AUS) L	Harding-Smith (AUS) W	Cooperman (ENG) L	Barber (SAF) L	Beatley (ENG) L	—	1	did not advance

Team epee

Athlete	Round robin				Rank
Athlete	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Rank
Austen Gittos Brian Hampton Walter Stafford	England L 2 – 7	Australia L 0 – 9	Canada L 1 – 8	0	4

Team foil

Athlete	Round robin				Rank
Athlete	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Rank
Austen Gittos Brian Hampton Walter Stafford	Australia L 2 – 7	Canada L 3 – 6	England L 4 – 5	0	4

Team sabre

Athlete	Round robin				Rank
Athlete	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Rank
Austen Gittos Brian Hampton Walter Stafford	England L 0 – 9	Australia L 3 – 6	Canada L 2 – 7	0	4

Women

Individual foil

Athlete	Round robin							Rank
Athlete	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Wins	Rank
Joyce Francis	Glen-Haig (ENG) L	Sheen (ENG)	Harding (AUS)	Gilbert (CAN)	Kimber (AUS)	Hale (CAN)	1	6

Lawn bowls

Athlete	Event	Round robin													Rank
Athlete	Event	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	W	D	L	PD	Rank
James Pirret	Men's singles	Thomas (WAL) W 21 – 19	da Luz (HKG) W 21 – 19	Bosisto (AUS) L 20 – 21	Laing (SCO) W 21 – 7	Hodges (SRH) L 17 – 21	Fairbairn (NRH) L 14 – 21	Lee (ENG) W 21 – 8	Linford (CAN) W 21 – 8	Saunders (SAF) W 21 – 8	6	0	3	+45
Eliphalet Ravenwood Andrew Snaddon	Men's pairs	Northern Ireland L 12 – 29	Hong Kong W 29 – 14	Australia L 16 – 21	Scotland L 20 – 21	Southern Rhodesia L 28 – 17	Northern Rhodesia W 21 – 18	England W 21 – 20	Canada L 13 – 27	South Africa W 25 – 22	4	0	5	−23	8
William Freeth Arthur Webster Arthur Connew Pete Skoglund	Men's fours	Wales L 18 – 24	Hong Kong L 20 – 26	Australia W 30 – 14	Scotland L 14 – 26	Southern Rhodesia L 11 – 26	Northern Rhodesia W 26 – 20	England D 20 – 20	Canada W 29 – 18	South Africa L 14 – 26	3	1	5	−18	6

Rowing

Athlete	Event	Heat		Final
Athlete	Event	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Don Rowlands	Men's single sculls	8:52.1	1 Q	8:28.2
Bob Parker Reg Douglas	Men's double sculls	—		8:05.2
Bob Parker Reg Douglas	Men's coxless pair	—		8:23.9
Bruce Culpan Kerry Ashby Bill Tinnock Murray Ashby Stanley Callagher (cox)	Men's coxed four	8:13.9	2 Q	8:04.0

Swimming

Athlete	Event	Heat		Final
Athlete	Event	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Jack Doms	Men's 220 yards breaststroke	2:54.1	2 Q	2:52.6
Winifred Griffin	Women's 110 yards freestyle	1:12.2	12	did not advance
Winifred Griffin	Women's 440 yards freestyle	5:39.8	9	did not progress
Lincoln Hurring	Men's 110 yards backstroke	1:07.6	2 Q	1:06.9
Buddy Lucas	Men's 440 yards freestyle	4:58.3	9	did not advance
Buddy Lucas	Men's 1650 yards freestyle	20:17.3	7	did not progress
Marrion Roe	Women's 110 yards freestyle	1:08.7	5	1:08.9	4
Marrion Roe	Women's 440 yards freestyle	5:34.7	8	did not progress
Jean Stewart	Women's 110 yards backstroke	1:16.9	2 Q	1:17.5
Lincoln Hurring Jack Doms Buddy Lucas	Men's 3 x 110 yards medley relay	—		3:26.6

Weightlifting

Athlete	Event	Press	Snatch	Jerk	Total	Rank
Tony George	Light heavyweight	250 lb (113.4 kg)	230 lb (104.3 kg)	300 lb (136.1 kg)	780 lb (353.8 kg)
Trevor Clark	Middle heavyweight	250 lb (113.4 kg)	240 lb (108.9 kg)	300 lb (136.1 kg)	790 lb (358.3 kg)	5
Harold Cleghorn	Heavyweight	305 lb (138.3 kg)	275 lb (124.7 kg)	350 lb (158.8 kg)	930 lb (421.8 kg)

Wrestling

Athlete	Event	Elimination rounds			Rank
Athlete	Event	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Ken Ruby	Bantamweight	Epton (NRH) L	Amin (PAK) L	Eliminated
John Armitt	Featherweight	Bernard (CAN) W	Geldenhuys (SAF) L	Hall (ENG) L

Officials

Team manager – Alex Ross ^[1]

References

↑ "Empire Games team". The Press . Vol. 90, no. 27352. 18 May 1954. p. 14. Retrieved 6 September 2022.

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[1] Ranks given are within the heat

[2] Ranks given are within the semifinal

[3] "Empire Games team". The Press . Vol. 90, no. 27352. 18 May 1954. p. 14. Retrieved 6 September 2022.

[i]

[ii]

[1]

v t e 1954 New Zealand British Empire and Commonwealth Games team
Athletics	Bill Baillie June Blackburn Max Carr Jim Daly Dave Fleming Murray Halberg Ernie Haskell Murray Jeffries Don Jowett Lawrence King Merv Richards Noelene Swinton Peter Wells Yvette Williams
Boxing	Mike Hannah Alan Scaife Eddie Stockley Maurice Tuck
Cycling	John Baird Colin Dickinson Les Lock Lance Payne Neil Ritchie
Diving	Jeanette Laws Jack Stewart
Fencing	Joyce Francis Austen Gittos Brian Hampton Walter Stafford
Lawn bowls	Arthur Connew William Freeth James Pirret Eliphalet Ravenwood Pete Skoglund Andrew Snaddon Arthur Webster
Rowing	Kerry Ashby Murray Ashby Stanley Callagher Bruce Culpan Reg Douglas Bob Parker Don Rowlands Bill Tinnock
Swimming	Jack Doms Winifred Griffin Lincoln Hurring Buddy Lucas Marrion Roe Jean Stewart
Weightlifting	Trevor Clark Harold Cleghorn Tony George
Wrestling	John Armitt Ken Ruby
Team manager: Alex Ross

New Zealand at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

Contents

Medal tables

Competitors

Athletics

Track

Field

Boxing

Cycling

Road

Track

Diving

Fencing

Men

Women

Lawn bowls

Rowing

Swimming

Weightlifting

Wrestling

Officials

See also

References

External links

v t e New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games
1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 2030
New Zealand hosted the Games in 1950, 1974, and 1990.