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Harry Wilson (hurdler)

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Harry Wilson
Wilson in 1919
Personal information
Birth nameHarry Ernest Wilson
Born(1896-05-28)28 May 1896
Wellington, New Zealand
Died11 August 1979(1979-08-11) (aged 83)[1]
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Weight76 kg (168 lb)[2]
Spouse
Sybil Elizabeth Hippsley
​
​
(m. 1920)​
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)110, 400 m hurdles, 200 m
Achievements and titles
National finals100 yds champion (1922)
220 yds champion (1922)
120 yds hurdles champion (1920, 1921, 1923)
440 yds hurdles champion (1915, 1920, 1921, 1923)
Personal best(s)110 mH – 14.8 (1921)
400 mH – 62.5 (1915)
200 m – 22.3 (1921)[3]

Harry Ernest Wilson (28 May 1896 – 11 August 1979) was a New Zealand hurdler who competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp and at the 1919 Inter-Allied Games in Paris. In 1920 he finished fourth in the 110 metre hurdles competition. He was the Olympic flag bearer for New Zealand in 1920.

Early life and family

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Wilson was born in Wellington on 28 May 1896,[4] the son of Thomas and Ann Maria Wilson. He was educated at Berhampore School, and then at Wellington College between 1911 and 1912.[5][6] On 20 September 1920 he married Sybil Elizabeth Hippsley at Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, England,[7] and the couple went on to have four children.[2]

Military service

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After the outbreak of World War I, Wilson travelled to England as a civilian and worked on munitions.[5] Between 1917 and 1919, he served with the New Zealand Field Artillery (NZFA) and, after the Armistice, in the Pay Corps in London.[2][5] During World War II he was a second lieutenant in the New Zealand Territorial Force.[2]

Athletics

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In all, Wilson won nine New Zealand national athletics titles between 1915 and 1923: the 100 yards and 220 yards titles in 1922; the 120 yards hurdles in 1920, 1921 and 1923; and the 440 yards hurdles in 1915, 1920, 1921 and 1923.[8]

While serving with the NZFA in France, Wilson competed at a meet at the base in Étaples, winning the 100 yards, 220 yards, 120 yards hurdles, long jump, high jump, and cricket ball throw.[5] In 1919 he was a member of the New Zealand team that competed in the Inter-Allied Games in Paris, and finished third in the 120 yards hurdles behind the Americans Robert Simpson and Fred Kelly.[5] Later in 1919, Wilson won the 120 yards hurdles at the British Army championship meeting at Aldershot, and went on to win the British national championship over the same distance at Stamford Bridge, London.[5][9]

After winning the 120 yards hurdles at the 1920 Australasian athletics championship, Wilson was one of four members of the New Zealand team at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, and was the team's flagbearer.[5][10] Competing in the 110 m hurdles, Wilson finished fourth in the final,[11] 0.5 m behind the bronze medal winner.[12]

Wilson broke his leg while competing at the Australasian championship meeting at Hobart in 1924.[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ Harry Wilson at Olympedia
  2. ^ a b c d e "Wilson, Harry Ernest – WWI 37204 – Army". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Track and field statistics: Harry Wilson". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  4. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Harry Wilson". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Harry Wilson". NZ Truth. 2 February 1924. p. 9. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  6. ^ Neely, Paddianne (November 2012). "The archives" (PDF). The Lampstand (22). Wellington College Old Boys' Association: 10. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Women in print". Evening Post. 28 September 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  8. ^ Hollings, Stephen (December 2016). "National champions 1887–2016" (PDF). Athletics New Zealand. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  9. ^ "British athletics championships 1919–1939". gbrathletics.com. Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Olympic Games: farewell to competitors". Taranaki Herald. 3 June 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Harry Wilson". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Athletics at the 1920 Antwerpen Summer Games: men's 110 metres hurdles final". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Athletic notes". Otago Daily Times. 14 February 1924. p. 4. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  14. ^ "Amateur athletics: Australasian championships". The World. 8 February 1924. p. 7. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
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