New Zealand at the 1924 Summer Olympics

New Zealand competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The team consisted of four competitors: an athlete (Arthur Porritt), a boxer (Charlie Purdy), and two swimmers (Clarrie Heard and Gwitha Shand). Porritt was also the team's manager, and he won the nation's first medal in athletics.

New Zealand at the
1924 Summer Olympics
IOC codeNZL
NOCOlympic Council of New Zealand
Websitewww.olympic.org.nz
in Paris
Competitors4 in 3 sports
Flag bearerArthur Porritt (athlete)
Medals
Ranked 23rd
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Total
1
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
 Australasia (1908–1912)

Medallists edit

Medal Name Sport Event Date
  Bronze Arthur Porritt Athletics Men's 100 m 7 July

Delegation edit

The New Zealand Olympic Council decided on the New Zealand representatives at their meeting in Wellington on 11 March 1924 that subject to funding becoming available, fourteen competitors for four disciplines would be put sent to Paris.[1] But in the end, only four competitors were sent.[2]

A New Zealand rowing eight was to be sent, i.e. eight rowers and one cox. The rowers were Clarrie Healey,[3] W. Ryland, H. Sharpe, and W. Coombes (all from Wanganui), C. J. Adams, R. G. Croudis,[4] E. T. Hegglun, and W. Pinkham (all from Blenheim), and W. Sergison (Christchurch).[1] The biggest challenge at the time was a lack of funds and ultimately, the necessary money could not be raised and no rowers were sent.[5][6] Darcy Hadfield was a dominant single sculler at the time but he had become professional in 1922 and was thus no longer eligible to compete at the Olympics.[7][8]

Randolph Rose was the Australasian champion over 3 miles and was one of the Olympic nominees,[1][9] but he was operated for appendicitis in March 1924 and could not go to Paris.[10] The other athletics competitors, Arthur Porritt, was at the time studying in England as a Rhodes scholar at Magdalen College in Oxford. In June 1924, Porritt was appointed captain and manager of the team.[11] The secretary for the team in New Zealand was Philip Rundle, who would be Chef de Mission in 1932.[12]

Another New Zealander, Ernest "Buz" Sutherland from Palmerston North, competed for South Africa finishing fifth in the decathlon.[13][14]

The New Zealanders did not travel as a team to Paris. Porritt made his way from Oxford to France. Purdy left Auckland on 19 April by the Ulimaroa for Sydney, where he joined the Australian boxing team.[15] The boxers left Sydney on the Ormonde on 30 April.[16] Shand left Auckland on the Niagara on 13 May.[17]

Results and competitors by event edit

Athletics edit

A single athlete represented New Zealand in 1924. It was the nation's second appearance in the sport as well as the Games, though New Zealanders had previously competed in 1908 and 1912 in the Australasia combined team. Porritt won the nation's first medal in the sport with a bronze in the 100 metres. The 100 metres competition was held on 6 and 7 July, and the 200 metres competition was held on 8 and 9 July.[18][19]

Ranks given are within the heat.

Athlete Event Heats Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Arthur Porritt 100 m Unknown 2 Q 10.9 2 Q 11.1 2 Q 10.8  
200 m 22.4 1 Q 22.0 1 Q 22.6 6 did not advance

Boxing edit

A single boxer represented New Zealand at the 1924 Games. It was the nation's debut in the sport. Purdy lost his only bout on 16 July.[20]

Boxer Weight class Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / Bronze match
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank
Charlie Purdy Lightweight   Tholey (FRA)
L
did not advance 17

Swimming edit

In the women's 400 metre freestyle, Shand won her heat on 13 July,[21] and she qualified in the semi-final the following day by coming third.[22] She did not compete in the final on 15 July, though.[23]

In the men's 200 metre breaststroke, Heard came third in his heat on 15 July. As only the first two would automatically advance to the semi-final, and Heard didn't have the fastest third-placed time across the five heats, he was eliminated.[24]

In the women's 100 metre freestyle, Shand came second in her heat on 19 July, and she thus advanced to the semi-final.[25] The following day, she came third in her semi-final, but Great Britain's Vera Tanner came third in the other semi-final with a faster time, hence Shand was eliminated.[26]

Ranks given are within the heat.

Men
Swimmer Event Heats Semifinals Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Clarrie Heard 200 m breaststroke 3:09.0 3 did not advance
Women
Swimmer Event Heats Semifinals Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Gwitha Shand 100 m freestyle 1:21.0 2 Q 1:22.4 3 did not advance
400 m freestyle 6:23.6 1 Q 6:24.4 3 q DNF

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Olympic Games". Hawera & Normanby Star. Vol. XLIV. 11 March 1924. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "New Zealand at the 1924 Paris Summer Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Clarrie Healey". Whanganui District Council. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Rowing". The Marlborough Express. Vol. LIIII, no. 31. 6 February 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  5. ^ "The Olympic Games". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LXI, no. 18638. 20 February 1924. p. 11. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  6. ^ "The Olympic Games". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LXI, no. 18599. 5 January 1924. p. 12. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Athletics and Athletes". New Zealand Truth. No. 897. 3 February 1923. p. 7. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  8. ^ McMillan, N. A. C. "Hadfield, Darcy Clarence". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Athletic Championships". Otago Daily Times. No. 19122. 17 March 1924. p. 5. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Trek to Kenya". Manawatu Times. Vol. XLVIII, no. 3602. 7 April 1924. p. 4. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  11. ^ "The Olympic Games". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LXI, no. 18737. 17 June 1924. p. 6. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Olympic Games". Auckland Star. Vol. LV, no. 142. 17 June 1924. p. 7. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  13. ^ Heidenstrom, P. (1992). Athletes of the Century. Wellington: GP Publications. ISBN 1-86956-044-2.
  14. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ernest Sutherland". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Purdy Leaves For Olympic Games". The Evening Post. Vol. CVII, no. 94. 21 April 1924. p. 10. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Rousing send-off". Auckland Star. Vol. LV, no. 110. 10 May 1924. p. 4. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Champion Lady Swimmer". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LXI, no. 18708. 14 May 1924. p. 10. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  18. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Athletics at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Men's 100 metres". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  19. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Athletics at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Men's 200 metres". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  20. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Boxing at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Men's Lightweight Round One". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  21. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Swimming at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Women's 400 metres Freestyle Round One". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  22. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Swimming at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Women's 400 metres Freestyle Semi-Finals". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  23. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Swimming at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Women's 400 metres Freestyle Finals". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2017.[dead link]
  24. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Swimming at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Men's 200 metres Breaststroke Round One". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  25. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Swimming at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Women's 100 metres Freestyle Round One". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  26. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Swimming at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Women's 100 metres Freestyle Semi-Finals". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.