Jack Sutherland facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth name | John Wilson Sutherland | |||||||||||||
| Born | 18 July 1927 Oamaru, New Zealand |
|||||||||||||
| Died | 8 October 2020 (aged 93) Oamaru, New Zealand |
|||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Joy Hill | |||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | |||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||
John Wilson Sutherland QSM (born July 18, 1927 – died October 8, 2020) was a talented sprinter from New Zealand. He won a bronze medal for his country at the 1950 British Empire Games. These games are now known as the Commonwealth Games.
About Jack Sutherland
His Early Life
Jack Sutherland was born in Oamaru, New Zealand, on July 18, 1927. He went to school at Waitaki Boys' High School. In the 1950s, Jack married Joy Hill. They had three children together.
Running Career
When he was a young man, Jack moved to Christchurch to improve his running skills. He joined the Christchurch Technical club. On February 26, 1949, he set a new record for Canterbury in the 440 yards race. He finished in a very fast time of 49.7 seconds at Lancaster Park. A couple of weeks later, at the national championships, he came in second place in the 440 yards final.
Jack Sutherland represented New Zealand at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland. He won a bronze medal in the 4 x 440 yards relay race. His teammates were Dave Batten, John Holland, and Derek Steward. He also competed in the individual 440 yards race, where he finished 6th overall.
Later Years and Community Work
In 1953, Jack moved back to Oamaru. He worked at the Farmers department store for many years. Later, in 1973, he opened his own clothing shop called Sutherland's Menswear.
Jack was very active in the Lions service club in North Otago. This club helps the community. In 1992, he received the Queen's Service Medal for his great community work. In 2019, he was honored by being added to the Waitaki Boys' High School sports hall of fame.
Jack Sutherland passed away in Oamaru on October 8, 2020, at the age of 93.
