James Hill (rower)
James Roy Hill (20 November 1930 – 8 May 2020) was a New Zealand rower.[2]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | James Roy Hill | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 20 November 1930 Hamilton, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 8 May 2020 (aged 89) Hamilton, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lb)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Rowing | |||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life
Hill was born in Hamilton, New Zealand, in 1930.[1] After leaving school he started out as a joiner for his father, before becoming a French polisher for a funeral directors, Hill would later drive the hearse as his funeral directing career unfolded.[3]
Rowing career
Hill took up rowing in 1947 at the Hamilton Rowing Club, where his father had been club captain and president, Hill himself was awarded life membership to the club in 2002.[3]
Hill was the only New Zealand representative at the inaugural World Rowing Championships held in September 1962. He was one of the five single scull finalists, but did not receive a medal.[4] At the November 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games he won the gold medal in the men's single sculls. Four years prior at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games he won the silver medal in the single sculls and also won the bronze medal as part of the double sculls.
At the 1956 Summer Olympics, Hill made the semi-finals of the single sculls. Competing at the 1960 Summer Olympics he placed fourth in the men's single sculls.[5]
Death
Hill died on 8 May 2020 at Eventhorpe Rest Home in Hamilton East.[6] Hill had been residing at the home for 10 years after suffering a stroke, he is survived by his wife Doreen, who also resides at the home, the couple had celebrated their 70 years of marriage earlier in the year.[3]
References
- Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "James Hill". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- "James Hill". OlyMADMen. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- "Ironic send-off for former Hamilton undertaker Jim Hill". Stuff.co.nz. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- "Finalisten stehen fest". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 18 (248). 9 September 1962. p. 4. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- "James Hill". New Zealand Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- "James Roy Hill". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
External links
- James Hill at FISA WorldRowing.com
- James Hill at the International Olympic Committee