Sportsmen in the News

Southland Times, Issue 24597, 20 November 1941, Page 7

Sportsmen in the News

LECKIE FAMILY OF ATHLETES By ONLOOKER The death of Gunner Cameron F. Leckie in Egypt recently must have recalled to many sportsmen of the present and last generations great deeds in the field of sport by bearers of the name of Leckie. Not only in Otago and Southland, where the name was almost a household one, but throughout New Zealand the Leckies made a big contribution to the realm of sport. On the athletic and Rugby fields and in the boxing ring they won much fame and many honours. The “fighting Leckies” were legion, particularly to Dunedin boxing enthusiasts who have had the name before them, through the deeds of Matt, Archie and Johnnie Leckie for the last 40 years.

The Southland Leckies, a family reared in the Wyndham district, were a most versatile family of sportsmen. There were several brothers, all of whom excelled at some branch of sport. Not the least of them was the late “Cam” Leckie. He was probably best known in equestrian sports, his skilled horsemanship winning him many laurels in hunting and hurdling competitions in his home district. At boxing he competed with marked success as a middleweight in open competition at Southland tournaments. He was an attractive boxer, who proved his ability not only to win well, but to lose well.

He was above the average in his class, but although a provincial championship did not come his way he proved his ability by defeating L. Bolger, of Mataura, Southland middleweight champion in 1932. He retained his interest in the sport, so much so that he soon fitted himself to take part in the Forces tournament on board a transport during the voyage from England to Egypt last year. He competed as a cruiserweight and he won that division.

For many years Gunner Leckie was a tireless packman in the Wyndham Football Club’s senior team. His was a genial personality—he was ever enthusiastic and keen in his recreations, and general regret will be felt in the Wyndham district at his death. Lieutenant-Colonel Leckie Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas F. Leckie, of Makarewa, is the oldest of the Leckie brothers. He left New Zealand with the rank of Major and gamed promotion on the field. His association with all classes of amateur sport has extended over a period of more than 25 years, but in that period he always found time to develop his interest in defence matters—cadet training and the territorial system. He served in the last war (in Palestine from 1916 to 1919) and when he took up school teaching as a profession he was given a commission, first as captain then as major, in the Southland Regiment. At the Southland Boys’ High School he showed up in most sports, but it was

at boxing and on the running track that he displayed most promise. He won the 10 stone boxing championship and hurdle and distance races. After the last war he played football in the Northern District and gained a place in the Northern Sub-Union team in the years 1921-23. Later he took up refereeing, and in addition to gaining proficiency at that branch of Rugby, he was honoured by being elected president of the Southland Rugby Referees’ Association and later a member of the Southland Rugby Football Union. He refereed important interprovincial matches and for several years he was regarded as the leading senior referee in Southland. Like his brothers, Lieutenant-Colonel Leckie continued his interest in boxing and in turn he was coach, judge' and referee. He established the Makarewa Boxing Club.

“Jim” Leckie J. G. (“Jim”) Leckie was the outstanding athlete of the family. He excelled at boxing, athletics and football, and at the virtual end of a meritorious career on the sporting fields his services were rewarded by an honour which falls to lew amateur athletic champions—he was appointed captain of the New Zealand athletic team which took part in the Empire Games at Syd-

ney in 1938. His record of success included many championships in boxing and in the field section of athletics. Jim Leckie first gained prominence in the boxing ring in 1923; that year he won the Southland heavyweight boxing championship, and he was runnerup in both the South Island and New Zealand championships. The follow-

ing year he achieved the highest honour for an amateur boxer by winning the heavyweight championship of New Zealand, a feat he repeated in 1927. In addition he was New Zealand University champion; in 1928 he won both the Otago University and New Zealand University championships. His record was: 26 bouts, 21 wins, 5 losses.

In the athletic field Jim Leckie was Otago champion hammer thrower from 1924 to 1930 (inclusive) and New Zealand champion in 1929. He established a record for New Zealand with a throw of 151 ft 6in. He also held the Otago

University and New Zealand University hammer championships on several occasions, and he was discus and hammer champion of Otago and Southland. His best discus throw was one of 105 ft 6in. High jumping and shot putting also claimed his interest; he was twice runner-up for the Otago high jump championship with jumps of sft sin.

Leckie’s great height and reach made him a footballer above the average, but he did not make the study of that game which he made of athletics. At the same time he could always get a place in a senior team and in 1928 he won his

cap in the South Otago Sub-Union team.

A school teacher by profession, he still finds time to coach the young idea in the arts of athletics. At present he is stationed at Colac Bay.