Harold Moody

In his early days as a shot putter and discus thrower, Harold Moody was coached by the legendary Austrian coach, Franz Stampfl. Moody attended King’s College Hospital and London University, and was in both their track and field teams. In 1939 he helped London win the Universities’ Athletic Union Championship. Whilst at King’s, he also played rugby and was a wing three-quarter. Further athletic representative honours followed, and he competed for the AAAs and for the the combined England & Wales team in the annual triangular match against Ireland and Scotland. Moody also represented Surrey, and in 1947 helped them win their first County Championship since 1939. In winning the shot he came within half-an-inch (1.27 cm) of a new championship record with a throw of 45-8 (13.92). Moody’s best performances in the AAA Championships were a third placing in the shot in 1946 and second in 1949.

Shortly before the 1948 Olympics, Moody won the shot at the British Games, but failed to qualify for the final at the Olympics. Two year later, Moody represented England at the British Empire Games in Auckland, where he was seventh in the discus but won the silver medal in the shot. He was the medical officer to the British party on board the liner Tamaroa, en route to Auckland. After the Empire Games, Moody decided to make New Zealand his new home, and he returned to the country in 1951, and the following year was the New Zealand national shot put champion. He died in his adopted homeland in 1986.

Personal Best: SP – 14.32 (1950).