Betty Forbes

Elizabeth Madge Taylor (née Forbes; 27 December 1916 – 29 August 2002) was a New Zealand track and field athlete who competed at the 1938 British Empire Games, where she won the bronze medal in the women's high jump.

Betty Taylor
Personal information
Birth nameElizabeth Madge Forbes
Born(1916-12-27)27 December 1916
Died29 August 2002(2002-08-29) (aged 85)
Spouse(s)George Taylor
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportAthletics
Achievements and titles
National finalsHigh jump champion (1939, 1940, 1941)
Medal record
Women's Athletics
Representing  New Zealand
British Empire Games
1938 SydneyHigh Jump

Early life and family

Born on 27 December 1916, Forbes was the daughter of Alexander Forbes and Elizabeth Herries Forbes (née McKenzie).[1] She was educated at Waitaki Girls' High School in Oamaru.[2]

Athletics

Forbes came to national attention in 1933, when her application for the New Zealand women's high jump record, with a jump of 4 ft 8 3⁄4 in (1.44 m) was declined as the certificates were not received in time by the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletics Association (NZAAA).[3] However, the following year, she recorded a height of 4 ft 9 1⁄2 in (1.46 m) at Dunedin on 3 February 1934 that was duly recognised as a national record.[4]

In February 1936, Forbes bettered her New Zealand record at the Otago track and field championships with a jump of 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m),[5] but once again the NZAAA refused to ratify it as the application for the record was out of time.[6] She went on to increase the record to 4 ft 11 1⁄2 in (1.51 m), and then broke the five-foot barrier with a leap of 5 ft 3⁄16 in (1.53 m) at Dunedin in November 1937.[7]

At the national trials in December 1937 for the New Zealand team to compete at the 1938 British Empire Games, Forbes increased her national mark by 1⁄16 in (0.2 cm), recording a height of 5 ft 1⁄4 in (1.53 m),[8] and she was subsequently confirmed in the team for the games in Sydney.[9] At those games, Forbes won the bronze medal in the women's high jump, with a height of 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m), 1 inch (2.5 cm) behind the gold medal winner, Dorothy Odam from England.[10]

Forbes went on to win the New Zealand national high jump title in 1939, 1940 and 1941.[11]

Later life and death

Forbes married George Taylor. She died on 29 August 2002.[12]

References
  1. "Birth search: registration number 1917/13641". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  2. "Profiles of former students". Waitaki Girls' High School. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  3. "Amateur athletics". Evening Post. 6 June 1933. p. 12. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  4. "Athletic records". Evening Post. 8 May 1934. p. 5. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  5. "Otago championships: Dominion record beaten". New Zealand Herald. 10 February 1936. p. 12. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  6. "New records". Evening Post. 18 March 1936. p. 14. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  7. "Ladies' high jump record". New Zealand Herald. 22 November 1937. p. 14. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  8. "N.Z. Empiad tirals". Auckland Star. 13 December 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  9. "Athletes chosen". New Zealand Herald. 16 December 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  10. "Further records". New Zealand Herald. 14 February 1938. p. 11. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  11. Hollings, Stephen (December 2016). "National champions 1887–2016" (PDF). Athletics New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  12. "Death search: registration number 2002/20558". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
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