Murray Watkinson

Murray Paul Watkinson (11 June 1939 – 19 January 2004) was a New Zealand rower. He competed at the 1964 and 1972 Summer Olympics in the single sculls and placed fifth and tenth, respectively. He won a European bronze medal in this event in 1971.[1][2]

Murray Watkinson

Watkinson in 1964
Personal information
Born	11 June 1939 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	19 January 2004(2004-01-19) (aged 64)
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	84 kg (185 lb)
Sport
Sport	Rowing
Club	West End Rowing Club
Medal record Representing  New Zealand World Rowing Championships 1970 St. Catharines Eight European Rowing Championships 1971 Copenhagen Single sculls British Empire and Commonwealth Games 1962 Perth Double sculls

Watkinson was born in 1939.[1] He started training at the West End Rowing Club in 1953 when he was 13 years old.[3] He won his first major title, a silver medal in the double sculls, at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, partnering with his brother Peter. At the 1964 European Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, he came fourth in the single sculls.[4] Two months later at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, he came fifth.[5] Watkinson competed as one of the favourites in single sculls at the 1967 European Rowing Championships in Vichy, France,[6] but did not reach the final.[7]

Watkinson's health declined during his later years. He was one of the few New Zealanders to have received a heart-liver transplant. He died in 2004, survived by wife Joy, sons Paul and Michael, and three grandchildren.[3]

References

1. "Murray Watkinson". International Rowing Federation. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
2. Heckert, Karlheinz. "Rudern – Europameisterschaften (Herren – Einer)" (in German). Sport Komplett. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
3. Falconer, Phoebe (23 January 2004). "Obituary: Murray Watkinson". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
4. "Bergau/Gorny Europameister im Zweier m. St. in Amsterdam". Neues Deutschland (in German). 19 (219). 10 August 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
5. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Murray Watkinson". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
6. "Ruder-EM In Vichy eröffnet". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 23 (247). 8 September 1967. p. 11. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
7. "Rudertriumph der DDR". Neues Deutschland (in German). 22 (250). 11 September 1967. p. 5. Retrieved 7 February 2018.