New Zealand at the 1978 Commonwealth Games

New Zealand at the 1978 Commonwealth Games was represented by a team of 102 competitors and 32 officials. Selection of the team for the Games in Edmonton, Canada, was the responsibility of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association. New Zealand's flagbearer at the opening ceremony was cyclist Neil Lyster. The New Zealand team finished fifth on the medal table, winning a total of 20 medals, five of which were gold.

New Zealand at the
1978 Commonwealth Games
CGF codeNZL
CGANew Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association
Websitewww.olympic.org.nz
in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Competitors102
Flag bearerNeil Lyster
Officials32
Medals
Ranked 5th
Gold
5
Silver
6
Bronze
9
Total
20
Commonwealth Games appearances (overview)

New Zealand has competed in every games, starting with the British Empire Games in 1930 at Hamilton, Ontario.

Nigeria boycotted the 1978 Games in protest at New Zealand's sporting contacts with apartheid-era South Africa.

Medal tables

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New Zealand was fifth on the medal table in 1978, with a total of 20 medals, including five gold.

Medal Name Sport Event
  Gold Mike Richards Cycling Men's individual pursuit
  Gold John Woolley Shooting Open skeet
  Gold Gary Hurring Swimming Men's 200 m backstroke
  Gold Rebecca Perrott Swimming Women's 200 m freestyle
  Gold Precious McKenzie Weightlifting Men's bantamweight
  Silver Mike O'Rourke Athletics Men's javelin throw
  Silver Heather Thomson Athletics Women's 3000 m
  Silver Kevin Blackwell
Anthony Cuff
Neil Lyster
Jack Swart
Cycling Men's team pursuit
  Silver David Baldwin
John Malcolm
Morgan Moffat
Phil Skoglund
Lawn bowls Men's fours
  Silver Penny McCarthy Swimming Women's 100 m butterfly
  Silver Rebecca Perrott Swimming Women's 200 m individual medley
  Bronze George Stankovich Boxing Men's heavyweight
  Bronze Bryan Purser
Richard Purser
Badminton Men's doubles
  Bronze Garry Bell Cycling Men's road race
  Bronze Lynette Brake
Rowena Davis
Kirsty Durward
Deborah Hurst
Gymnastics Women's team
  Bronze Rebecca Perrott Swimming Women's 400 m freestyle
  Bronze Rebecca Perrott Swimming Women's 800 m freestyle
  Bronze Brian Marsden Weightlifting Men's middle heavyweight
  Bronze Phillip Sue Weightlifting Men's lightweight
  Bronze Murray Avery Wrestling Men's heavyweight
Medals by sport
Sport       Total
Swimming 2 2 2 6
Cycling 1 1 1 3
Weightlifting 1 0 2 3
Shooting 1 0 0 1
Athletics 0 2 0 2
Lawn bowls 0 1 0 1
Boxing 0 0 1 1
Badminton 0 0 1 1
Gymnastics 0 0 1 1
Wrestling 0 0 1 1
Total 5 6 9 20
Medals by gender
Gender       Total
Male 3 3 6 12
Female 1 3 3 7
Mixed / open 1 0 0 1
Total 5 6 9 20

Competitors

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The following table lists the number of New Zealand competitors participating at the Games according to gender and sport.

Sport Men Women Total
Athletics 19 9 28
Badminton 4 3 7
Boxing 6 6
Cycling 12 12
Diving 1 1 2
Gymnastics 4 4 8
Lawn bowls 7 7
Shooting 10 0 10
Swimming 5 4 9
Weightlifting 6 6
Wrestling 7 7
Total 81 21 102

Athletics

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Track and road

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Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank[i] Result Rank[ii] Result Rank[iii] Result Rank
Paul Ballinger Men's marathon 2:17:46 6
Wendy Brown Women's 100 m 11.84 4 did not advance
Women's 200 m 23.77 3 Q 23.64 5 did not advance
Rod Dixon Men's 1500 m 3:39.03 3 Q 3:41.34 8
Men's 5000 m 14:08.02 2 Q 13:43.69 8
Graeme French Men's 100 m 10.94 4 Q 10.98 8 did not advance
Howard Healey Men's 3000 m steeplechase 8:48.4 4 Q 8:43.75 5
Penny Hunt Women's 200 m 24.25 4 did not advance
Women's 400 m 54.53 4 Q 54.26 7 did not advance
Terry Manners Men's marathon 2:23:00 13
Phillip Mills Men's 110 m hurdles 14.32 4 q 14.09 6
Men's 400 m hurdles 53.78 5 q 50.92 4 Q 52.01 8
Dennis Norris Men's 800 m 1:51.5 3 Q 1:50.77 5 did not advance
Men's 1500 m 3:45.96 8 did not advance
Mike Parker Men's 30 km walk DNF
Ross Pownall Men's 110 m hurdles 14.36 3 Q 14.18 7
Dick Quax Men's 5000 m DNS did not advance
Men's 10,000 m 29:58.00 9
Euan Robertson Men's 3000 m steeplechase 8:53.1 3 Q 8:41.32 4
Kim Robertson Women's 100 m 11.67 2 Q 11.63 5 did not advance
Women's 200 m 23.38 3 Q 23.59 6 did not advance
Kevin Ryan Men's marathon 2:17:16 4
Graham Seatter Men's 30 km walk 2:31:49 7
Bevan Smith Men's 200 m 21.62 4 Q 21.60 6 did not advance
Men's 400 m 48.02 4 Q 46.77 4 q 48.25 8 did not advance
Heather Thomson Women's 3000 m 9:20.69  
Alan Thurlow Men's 5000 m 14:27.19 8 q DNF
Men's 10,000 m 30:05.24 10
Gail Wooten Women's 100 m hurdles 14.14 4 q 13.77 5
Alison Wright Women's 800 m 2:07.7 2 Q 2:06.71 6 did not advance
Women's 1500 m 4:17.03 2 Q 4:12.93 6
Bevan Smith
Graeme French
Phillip Mills
Ross Pownall
Men's 4 × 100 m relay 41.40 5 did not advance
Gail Wooten
Kim Robertson
Penny Hunt
Wendy Brown
Women's 4 × 100 m relay 45.06 4
  1. ^ Ranks given are within the heat
  2. ^ Ranks given are within the quarterfinal
  3. ^ Ranks given are within the semifinal

Field

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Athlete Event Qualifying Final
Result Rank Result Rank
Noeline Hodgins Women's long jump Q 5.86 m 11
Mike O'Rourke Men's javelin throw 83.18 m  
Robin Tait Men's discus throw 55.22 m 4
Phil Wood Men's triple jump Q 16.05 m 6

Combined

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Men's decathlon
Athlete 100 m Long jump Shot put High jump 400 m 110 m hurdles Discus throw Pole vault Javelin throw 1500 m Overall points Rank
Robert Sadler 11.42
6.87 m
12.28 m
1.95 m
51.87
15.93
36.66 m
4.40 m
42.10 m
4:20.1
7117 pts 7
Women's pentathlon
Athlete 100 m hurdles Shot put High jump Long jump 200 m Overall points Rank
Barbara Beable




3989 pts 7
Karen Page




4099 pts 5

Badminton

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Singles

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Athlete Event Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinal Semifinal Final / BM Rank
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Alison Branfield Women's singles   Cain (IOM)
W 11–0 11–0
  Irwin (AUS)
W 11–8 11–5
  Bridge (ENG)
L 3–11 3–11
did not advance
Mary Livingston Women's singles Bye   Blake (WAL)
W 11–6 11–3
  Beckett (ENG)
L 7–11 6–11
did not advance
Ross Livingston Men's singles Bye   Maini (KEN)
W 15–7 15–2
  Jolly (ENG)
W 18–16 15–11
  Leong (MAL)
L 7–15 2–15
did not advance
Bryan Purser Men's singles   Lim (WAL)
W 15–7 15–9
  Ganguli (IND)
L 8–15 15–6 12–15
did not advance
Richard Purser Men's singles   Cooper (AUS)
W 18–13 15–7
  Evans (NIR)
W 15–3 15–1
  Priestman (CAN)
W 15–13 15–4
  Padukone (IND)
L 1–15 8–15
did not advance
Allison Sinton Women's singles Bye   Swaby (AUS)
L 5–11 8–11
did not advance
Steve Wilson Men's singles   Mwangi (KEN)
W 15–1 15–7
  Modi (IND)
L 6–15 7–15
did not advance

Doubles

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Athlete Event Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinal Semifinal Final / BM Rank
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Ross Livingston
Steve Wilson
Men's doubles   Padukone / Pawar (IND)
L 9–15 5–15
did not advance
Bryan Purser
Richard Purser
Men's doubles Bye   Czich / McKee (CAN)
W 15–12 15–5
  Selvaraj / Abu Bakar (MAL)
W 15–9 15–8
  Stevens / Tredgett (ENG)
L 5–15 8–15
  Jolly / Talbot (ENG)
W 15–10 11–15 15–1
 
Alison Branfield
Mary Livingston
Women's doubles   Johnstone / Hamilton (SCO)
L 6–15 11–15
did not advance
Alison Branfield
Richard Purser
Mixed doubles Bye   Hamilton / Travers (SCO)
W 15–10 15–5
  Singh / Pawar (IND)
W 15–12 15–4
  Clarkson / Carter (CAN)
W 15–7 15–12
  Perry / Tredgett (ENG)
L 5–15 2–15
  Sutton / Talbot (ENG)
L 9–15 9–15
4
Mary Livingston
Ross Livingston
Mixed doubles Bye   Falardeau / Priestman (CAN)
W 15–18 15–7 15–7
  Perry / Tredgett (ENG)
L 9–15 0–15
did not advance
Allison Sinton
Bryan Purser
Mixed doubles Bye   Brimble / Lim (WAL)
W 15–7 15–10
  Flockhart / Gilliland (SCO)
L 4–15 1–15
did not advance

Teams

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Athlete Event Group stage Semifinal Final / BM Rank
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Alison Branfield
Ross Livingston
Mary Livingston
Bryan Purser
Richard Purser
Allison Sinton
Steve Wilson
Mixed team   India
L 2–3
  Australia
W 3–2
  Wales
W 5–0
  England
L 5–0
  Canada
L 2–3
  Malaysia
L 1–4
4

Boxing

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Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinal Semifinal Final Rank
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Gaulua Folasi Light welterweight   Cameron (JAM)
W
  Mwangi (KEN)
L
did not advance
David Jackson Welterweight Bye   Feal (WAL)
L
did not advance
Ronald Jackson Light middleweight Bye   Samu (SAM)
L
did not advance
Perry Rackley Middleweight   Parkes (ENG)
L
did not advance
Dean Rackley Light heavyweight   Smith (ENG)
L
did not advance
George Stankovich Heavyweight   Kabegi (KEN)
W
  Awome (ENG)
L
Did not advance  

Cycling

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Road

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Men's road race
Athlete Time Rank
Garry Bell 4:22:35.06  
Stephen Cox 4:23:47.91 18
Vern Hanaray 4:23:48.61 20
Blair Stockwell 4:35:08.10 30

Track

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Men's 1000 m sprint
Athlete Round 1 First-round
repechages
Round 2 Second-round
repechages
Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM Rank
Heat Final
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Mike Fabish   Turtur (AUS)
  Benjamin (SKN)
3
  Pile (BAR)
W 12.08
  Swinnerton (ENG)
  Boyle (AUS)
W 11.76
Bye   Tucker (AUS)
L, L
did not advance 7
Eric McKenzie   Weller (JAM)
  Singh (IND)
2
  Watkins (CAN)
W 12.40
  Gadd (ENG)
  Tudor (WAL)
3
  Le Grys (ENG)
  Gardiner (TTO)
W 12.05
  Rawlins (TTO)
L
did not advance
Kevin McComb   Singleton (CAN)
  Shearer (NIR)
2
  Greenidge (BAR)
W WO
  Weller (JAM)
  Le Grys (ENG)
3
  Singh (IND)
  Boyle (AUS)
3
did not advance
Men's tandem 2000 m sprint
Athletes Qualification Semifinals Final / BM Rank
Time Rank Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Mike Fabish
Eric McKenzie
10.37 1 Q   Gadd / Le Grys (ENG)
L (conceded after fall)
  Boyle / Goodall (AUS)
L WO
4
Men's 1 km time trial
Athlete Time Rank
Anthony Cuff 1:08.85 8
Mike Fabish 1:08.75 7
Mike Richards 1:08.99 9
Men's 4000 m pursuit
Athlete Event Qualification Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM Rank
Time Rank Opponent
Result
Opponent
Result
Opponent
Result
Mike Richards Individual pursuit 5:01.61 5 Q   Sutton (AUS)
W 4:50.50
  Hayman (CAN)
W OVL
  Campbell (AUS)
W 4:49.74
 
Jack Swart Individual pursuit 5:02.88 6 Q   Doyle (ENG)
L
Did not advance
Kevin Blackwell
Anthony Cuff
Neil Lyster
Jack Swart
Team pursuit 4:35.30 2 Q   England
W 4:36.70
  Australia
L
 
Men's 10 miles scratch race
Athlete Time Rank
Anthony Cuff 20:06.45 6
Neil Lyster 20:06.70 10
Mike Richards 20:08.40 18

Diving

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Athlete Event Points Rank
Ann Fargher Women's 3 m springboard 341.16 7
Graeme Shaw Men's 3 m springboard 404.94 10

Gymnastics

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Athlete Event Apparatus Total Rank
F PH R V PB HB
Neil Davies Individual all-around 8.55 8.40 7.95 9.00 8.75 8.50 51.15 13
Gregory Robertson Individual all-around 8.45 8.15 7.75 8.95 8.95 7.20 49.45 14
Terry Sale Individual all-around 9.00 8.60 8.90 9.20 8.90 8.85 53.45 6
Richard Wilkins Individual all-around 8.05 8.35 7.70 7.25 8.35 8.00 47.70 16
Neil Davies
Gregory Robertson
Terry Sale
Richard Wilkins
Team all-around 154.00 4

Women

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Athlete Event Apparatus Total Rank
V UB BB F
Lynette Brake Individual all-around                     32.950 17
Rowena Davis Individual all-around 9.30 9.10 8.80 8.70 35.900 9
Kirsty Durward Individual all-around 9.55 8.60 8.30 9.15 35.600 10
Deborah Hurst Individual all-around 9.10 9.15 8.85 8.85 35.950 8
Lynette Brake
Rowena Davis
Kirsty Durward
Deborah Hurst
Team all-around 106.350  

Lawn bowls

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Athlete Event Round robin Rank
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Kerry Clark Men's singles   Gosden
 (KEN)
W 21–5
  Turner
 (MAW)
W 21–13
  Woodhard
 (GUE)
W 21–11
  Snell
 (AUS)
L 18–21
  Bryant
 (ENG)
L 12–21
  Evans
 (WAL)
L 14–21
  Green
 (SWZ)
W 21–4
  Madden
 (PNG)
L 20–21
  Tolova’a
 (SAM)
W 21–13
  Espie
 (NIR)
W 21–15
  Harakh
 (FIJ)
W 21–6
  McGill
 (SCO)
W 21–18
  McKernan
 (JER)
W 21–11
  Matheson
 (CAN)
L 18–21
  Souza
 (HKG)
W 21–4
4
Ivan Kostanich
Bob McDonald
Men's pairs   Canada
L 12–28
  Hong Kong
L 16–23
Bye   Samoa
W 27–12
  England
D 19–19
  Australia
L 17–19
  Fiji
W 21–14
  Northern Ireland
W 23–22
  Wales
W 21–20
  Swaziland
W 35–12
  Papua New Guinea
W 22–13
  Kenya
W 24–15
  Scotland
L 18–27
  Malawi
W 31–15
Bye 6
David Baldwin
John Malcolm
Morgan Moffat
Phil Skoglund
Men's fours   Australia
W 17–15
  Northern Ireland
L 16–25
Bye   Scotland
W 23–22
  England
W 19–18
  Fiji
W 21–13
  Guernsey
L 23–25
  Papua New Guinea
W 33–17
  Kenya
W 27–11
  Canada
W 26–16
  Samoa
W 32–8
  Hong Kong
W 23–16
  Wales
D 19–19
  Zambia
W 29–14
  Swaziland
W 25–14
 

Shooting

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Pistol

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Athlete Event Points Rank
Bruce McMillan Open rapid-fire pistol 573 7
Barry O'Neale Open rapid-fire pistol 557 13
Barrie Wickins Open free pistol 532 9

Rifle

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Athlete Event Points Rank
Ian Ballinger Open small-bore rifle 1185 7
Maurie Gordon Open full-bore rifle 384 6
John Hastie Open full-bore rifle 376 19
Brian Lacey Open small-bore rifle 1178 15

Shotgun

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Athlete Event Points Rank
Brian Cumings Open trap 155 16
Bruce Lassen Open trap 177 5
John Woolley Open skeet 193  

Swimming

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Athlete Event Heat Final
Result Rank Result Rank
Ian Bullock Men's 100 m backstroke 1:00.26 9 did not advance
Men's 200 m backstroke 2:08.81 6 Q 2:09.24 8
Andrea Hawcridge Women's 100 m backstroke 1:06.86 10 did not advance
Women's 200 m individual medley 2:24.09 8 Q 2:27.07 8
Gary Hurring Men's 200 m backstroke 2:08.42 4 Q 2:04.37 GR  
Melanie Jones Women's 100 m backstroke 1:06.61 9 did not advance
Women's 200 m backstroke 2:20.35 6 Q 2:21.20 7
Penny McCarthy Women's 100 m butterfly 1:03.53 5 Q 1:02.27  
Women's 200 m butterfly 2:17.65 9 did not advance
Brett Naylor Men's 100 m freestyle 53.94 19 did not advance
Men's 200 m freestyle 1:58.36 12 did not advance
Men's 400 m freestyle 4:03.22 5 Q 4:03.59 6
Rebecca Perrott Women's 200 m freestyle 2:04.66 2 Q 2:00.63 CR  
Women's 400 m freestyle 4:16.12 2 Q 4:16.70  
Women's 800 m freestyle 9:03.34 4 Q 8:44.87  
Women's 200 m individual medley 2:20.23 2 Q 2:18.70  
Paul Rowe Men's 100 m freestyle 53.63 14 did not advance
Men's 100 m butterfly 57.22 6 Q 56.61 4
Barry Salisbury Men's 100 m freestyle 53.89 =17 did not advance
Men's 200 m freestyle 2:00.54 15 did not advance
Barry Salisbury
Brett Naylor
Ian Bullock
Paul Rowe
Men's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:35.53 5
Barry Salisbury
Ian Bullock
Brett Naylor
Paul Rowe
Men's 4 × 200 m freestyle relay 7:52.00 5
Andrea Hawcridge
Melanie Jones
Penny McCarthy
Rebecca Perrott
Women's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay DQ 6

Weightlifting

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Athlete Event Snatch Clean and jerk Total Rank
Precious McKenzie Bantamweight 97.5 kg 122.5 kg 220.0 kg  
George Newton Featherweight NVL DNF
Phillip Sue Lightweight 115.0 kg 147.5 kg 262.5 kg  
Tony Ebert Middleweight NVL DNF
Brian Marsden Middle heavyweight 137.5 kg 175.0 kg 312.5 kg  
Rory Barrett Heavyweight 150.0 kg 182.5 kg 332.5 kg 4

Wrestling

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Athlete Event Elimination rounds Final round Rank
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Barry Oldridge Bantamweight   Singh (IND)
L 4–0
  Dzeladini (AUS)
W 0.5–3.5
  Barry (CAN)
L 4–0
Eliminated   Gill (ENG)
L 4–0
4
Raymond Katting Featherweight   Barry (AUS)
W 0–4
  Beiler (CAN)
L 4–0
  Singh (IND)
L 4–0
Eliminated 4
Ken Reinsfield Lightweight Bye   Walker (JAM)
L 4–0
  Kumar (IND)
L 4–0
Eliminated 5
Stephen Robinson Welterweight   Singh (IND)
L 3.5–0.5
  Zilberman (CAN)
L 4–0
Eliminated 5
Robert Hoffman Middleweight   Koenig (AUS)
L 4–0
  Weir (NIR)
L 4–0
Eliminated 6
Nigel Sargent Light heavyweight   Danier (CAN)
L 4–0

L
Eliminated 4
Murray Avery Heavyweight Bye   Wishart (CAN)
L 3–1
  Peache (ENG)
W 0–4
  Singh (IND)
L 4–0
Eliminated  

Officials

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  • Team manager – Jack Prestney[1]
  • Assistant team manager – Tay Wilson[2]
  • Women's manager – Marion Jackman[3]
  • Team doctor – Noel Roydhouse[1]
  • Physiotherapists – Peter Stokes, Mark Oram[4]
  • Attache – G. R. Thompson
  • Athletics
  • Badminton section manager – Paul Skelt[3]
  • Bowls section manager – Gordon Jolly[3]
  • Boxing
  • Cycling
  • Gymnastics
    • Section manager – P. Chan[3]
    • Coach (men) – M. C. Charteris[3]
    • Coach (women) – A. J. Holt[3]
  • Shooting
    • Section manager – A. A. Brown[3]
    • Assistant section manager (full-bore) – Ben Hoban[3][5]
    • Coach (rapid-fire pistol) – D. H. Stringer[3]
    • Coach (free pistol) – J. A. Gordon[3]
  • Swimming and diving
    • Section manager – I. N. Chadwick[3]
    • Chief coach – R. J. McIntyre[3]
    • Coach (diving) – M. H. Campbell[3]
  • Weightlifting section manager – Bruce Cameron[3]
  • Wrestling
    • Section manager – K. J. Humphrey[3]
    • Coach – C. L. Palmer[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Prestney Games team manager". The Press. 15 December 1977. p. 31. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Olympic team manager". The Press. 22 November 1979. p. 36. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Officials". The Press. 2 May 1978. p. 32. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Games medical team 'unbelievable'". The Press. 3 May 1978. p. 34. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  5. ^ Dew, Rod (15 July 1978). "Beekeeper with a full-bore sting". The Press. p. 12. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
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