Mystery Surrounds New Zealand's First Empire Games Medal
A mystery that has puzzled students of NZBA and BNZ History for over eight decades, became a little clearer, after a request for information was received from the Dargaville region earlier this year.
Kenneth Noel Patrick Moran is entitled to a special place in Boxing New Zealand history. Ken Moran became the first New Zealand boxer to be presented with an Empire later Commonwealth Games medal, receiving a bronze medallion, at the 1938 Empire Games held in Sydney during February 1938.
Born in 1919, Kenneth Moran served his country in combat when he answered the call to arms, to join the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force during World War II. He was taken as a prisoner of war in 1942. Kenneth passed on the 13th June 1946 in Dunedin and was laid to rest at the Hillsborough Cemetery in Auckland.
Ken Moran, won New Zealand’s first Empire Games boxing medal, at the Empire sporting competition held at the Rushcutters Bay Stadium in Sydney. Moran drew the bye in the first round of competition, that propelled him into the semi-finals against Ansdale Henricus (Ceylon), who would go on to claim the gold medal.
A New Zealand press report said “The New Zealand Featherweight champion, was a trifle unlucky to lose the decision against Henricus of Ceylon, for the New Zealander was more forceful and at the in-fighting had it all on his opponent, though the later was evasive. Henricus did not make use of his height and reach advantage and Moran kept busy. The Ceylon boxer boxed well and showed out in straight work in the last round”. The Ceylon boxer received a point’s decision.
From here there is genuine confusion in this writers view. Most divisions had a box-off for third place (and the bronze medal), with records showing Moran and Alfred Harpur from England, scheduled to meet to decide the bronze medal. However, the result is shown as Moran winning by way of a coin toss with no reason given for the unusual result.
BNZ Historian John Mitchell dug deep into the newspaper files of the day and found the following from the Sydney Morning Herald dated 10th February 1938. “COMPETITORS OVERWEIGHT, TWO TOSS COIN TO DECIDE THIRD PLACE - Under the impression that their boxing matches had finished, several competitors in the Empire Games Championships ceased training and adopted their normal manner of living........... which probably explains the coin toss to decided third place in the featherweight division?
Ken Moran’s way to the Sydney Empire Games ring was principally through competition at the New Zealand Boxing Association Championships held in 1935, 1936 and 1937.
There are few easy fights at the New Zealand Championships, with Ken Moran bowing out to New Zealand champions in Andrew Desmond Leydon and Gerry Marshall, at the 1935 and 1936 national titles.
Ken Moran, won the Featherweight title at the 1937 NZBA National Championships, which led to nomination and selection for the 1938 Empire Games held in Sydney, Australia.
His first opponent in Greymouth, was Lex Greaney from Otago who he had dispatched at the 1935 National Championships, with the Auckland representative earning a points decision.
Two further points victories, over William Clarke from the host province and Wanganui’s Tom Whatnauh, propelled Ken to the Featherweight title decider. The final turned out to be an anticlimax, with his opponent Brian McKay ruled out after sustaining an injury in his semifinal, with Moran having his hand raised in victory by way of walkover.
Ken Moran’s final Nationals appearance was in the Lightweight division in Gisborne in 1938. He opened his national’s campaign in defeating James Ramsay from Otago before leaving the competition, after being out-pointed Steven Morris from the Wairarapa.
The Dargaville resident finished his time in the ring with the unique distinction of four consecutive Auckland provincial titles. Ken won the Auckland Bantamweight crown in 1935, before winning back to back Featherweight titles in 1936 and 1937, then adding the Lightweight trophy in 1938. He finished with the remarkable record of 10 Auckland title bouts for ten straight victories.
Ken Moran – Major Tournaments
1958 Empire Games @Sydney (Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay) February 1938
Featherweight
Bronze Medal Boxoff Defeated Alfred Harper (England) Coin Toss/WO Bronze Medal
Semi-final Lost to Ansdale Henricus* (Ceylon) points
Quarterfinal Bye
New Zealand Championships
1938 Lightweight @ Gisborne
Q/Final lost to Steven Morris (Wairarapa) points
Preliminary defeated James Ramsay (Otago) points
1937 Featherweight @ Greymouth
Final defeated Brian McKay (Hamilton) walkover Champion
S/Final defeated Tom Whatnaugh (Wanganui) points
Q/Final defeated William Clarke (Greymouth) points
Preliminary defeated Lex Greaney (Otago) points
1936 Featherweight @ Wellington
Q/Final lost to Gerry Marshall* (Wellington) points
Preliminary bye
1935 Bantamweight @ Dunedin
Final lost to Andrew Desmond Leydon* (Oamaru) points
S/Final defeated Lex Greaney (Otago) points
Auckland Championships
1938 Lightweight
Final defeated Bert McKay – points Champion
S/Final defeated LG Donaldson - points
1937 Featherweight
Final defeated Bert McKay – points Champion
S/Final defeated Seaman PM Carter - points
1936 Featherweight
Final defeated Percy Kelly – points Champion
S/Final defeated H McLaughlin KO2
Q/Final defeated H Stock – TKO1
1935 Bantamweight
Final defeated KR Aitken – points Champion
S/Final defeated H Stock - points
Q/Final defeated T Hurren - points
*Champion
Article added: Sunday 17 November 2024