1934 British Empire Games
Encyclopedia
The 1934 British Empire Games were the second of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games
. They were held at the White City Stadium
in London
, England from 4–11 August 1934, apart from the cycling at Fallowfield Stadium
, Manchester
, and the swimming, which took place at the Empire Pool in Wembley
. Seventeen national teams took part, including the Irish Free State
(the only Games in which they participated, although at the 1930 Games
a team representing the whole of Ireland competed).
The 1934 Games had originally been awarded to Johannesburg
, South Africa, but were changed to London because of concerns (particularly from Canada) about the way South Africa would treat black and Asian athletes.
Six sports were featured in the Games: athletics, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, swimming and diving, and wrestling. A highlight of the 1934 Games was the inclusion of events for women in athletics, with careful consideration given not to include events that were considered 'too exhaustive'. The running events were restricted to the short sprints and a shortened 4 x 220 yard relay instead of the 4 x 440 yard relay as per the men's program. Nevertheless this was a breakthrough for women in sport that would one day lead to full recognition and programming for women's athletics on the international stage.
Teams participating for the first time in bold.
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
. They were held at the White City Stadium
White City Stadium
White City Stadium was built in White City, London, for the 1908 Summer Olympics, often seen as the precursor to the modern seater stadium and noted for hosting the finish of the first modern distance marathon. It also hosted speedway and a match at the 1966 World Cup, before the stadium was...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England from 4–11 August 1934, apart from the cycling at Fallowfield Stadium
Fallowfield Stadium
Fallowfield Stadium was an athletics stadium and velodrome in Fallowfield, Manchester, England. It opened in May 1892 as the home of Manchester Athletics Club after it was forced to move from its home next to Old Trafford Cricket Ground...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and the swimming, which took place at the Empire Pool in Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
. Seventeen national teams took part, including the Irish Free State
Ireland at the Commonwealth Games
In the first British Empire Games in 1930, the forerunner of the Commonwealth Games, held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a team representing all of Ireland competed...
(the only Games in which they participated, although at the 1930 Games
1930 British Empire Games
The 1930 British Empire Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, in the province of Ontario in Canada from August 16–23, 1930....
a team representing the whole of Ireland competed).
The 1934 Games had originally been awarded to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa, but were changed to London because of concerns (particularly from Canada) about the way South Africa would treat black and Asian athletes.
Six sports were featured in the Games: athletics, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, swimming and diving, and wrestling. A highlight of the 1934 Games was the inclusion of events for women in athletics, with careful consideration given not to include events that were considered 'too exhaustive'. The running events were restricted to the short sprints and a shortened 4 x 220 yard relay instead of the 4 x 440 yard relay as per the men's program. Nevertheless this was a breakthrough for women in sport that would one day lead to full recognition and programming for women's athletics on the international stage.
Participating teams
Medals by Country
| 1 |  Kingdom of England |
29 | 20 | 24 | 73 |
| 2 |  Canada |
17 | 25 | 9 | 51 |
| 3 |  Australia |
8 | 4 | 2 | 14 |
| 4 |  South Africa |
7 | 10 | 5 | 22 |
| 5 |  Kingdom of Scotland |
5 | 4 | 17 | 26 |
| 6 |  New Zealand |
1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 |  British Guiana |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 |  Wales |
0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 9 |  Northern Ireland |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 |  Jamaica |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 |  Southern Rhodesia |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 |  India |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 68 | 68 | 68 | 204 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boxing
| Flyweight | |||
| Bantamweight | |||
| Featherweight | Charles Catterall Charles Catterall Charles Catterall was a South African boxer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.In 1936 he won the silver medal in the featherweight class after losing the final against Oscar Casanovas.... (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
William Fulton (RHO Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia... ) |
|
| Lightweight | |||
| Welterweight | Dick Barton Dick Barton (boxer) Richard "Dick" Walter Barton was a South African boxer who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.He was born in Germiston and died in Johannesburg.... (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
||
| Middleweight | |||
| Light heavyweight | Robey Leibbrandt Robey Leibbrandt -Synopsis:Sidney Robey Leibbrandt was a South African Boer of German and Irish descent who was an Olympic boxer and later an Abwehr member and fifth columnist for Nazi Germany.-1934:... (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
||
| Heavyweight | Jan van Rensburg (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
Track
| Time Trial | |1:16.4 | |1:18.0 | Ted Clayton (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
1:18.4 |
| Sprint 1000 yd | | | | | Ted Clayton (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
|
| 10 mile Scratch | |24:26.2 | Ted Clayton (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
| |
Men's events
| 3 m springboard | |117.12 | |110.50 | |106.57 |
| 10 m platform | |83.83 | |83.63 | |70.64 |
Women's events
| 3 m springboard | |62.27 | |60.49 | |57.00 |
| 10 m platform | |30.74 | |27.64 | |27.36 |
Lawn Bowls
All events were for men only.| Singles | Andrew Harvey (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
||
| Pairs | |||
| Fours | Kingdom of England Fred Biggin Ernie Gudgeon Percy Thomlinson Robert Slater |
Northern Ireland Percy Watson Charlie Clawson George Watson Cecil Curran |
Kingdom of Scotland William Lowe Charles Tait James Morrison James Brown |
Men's events
| 100 yd freestyle | |55.0 | |55.6 | |56.2 | |||
| 440 yd freestyle | |5:03.0 | |5:07.8 | |5:14.8 | |||
| 1500 yd freestyle | |18:25.4 | |18:28.4 | |18:33.2 | |||
| 100 yd backstroke | |01:05.2 | |1:05.6 | |1:06.6 | |||
| 200 yd breaststroke | |2:41.4 | |2:42.4 | |2:42.8 | |||
| 4×200 yd freestyle relay |
Canada George Larson George Larson George Larson was a Canadian freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.He was born in Hamilton, Ontario.... George Burleigh Robert Hooper Robert Hooper (swimmer) Robert Percy Hooper is a Canadian freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.In 1936 he was a member of the Canadian team which finished seventh in the 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay event... Bob Pirie Bob Pirie Robert Charles "Bob" Pirie was a champion Canadian swimmer from Toronto.-Background:Pirie was unanimously selected as the Lou Marsh Trophy winner for 1939, recognizing Canada's top athlete. That year, in Hawaii, he broke the 220 yards world record long held by Johnny Weissmuller and finished third... |
8:40.6 | Kingdom of England Mostyn Ffrench-Williams Mostyn Ffrench-Williams Mostyn Yanto Ffrench-Williams was an English freestyle and backstroke swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.He was born in London.... Norman Wainwright Norman Wainwright Norman Wainwright was an English freestyle and backstroke swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics, in the 1936 Summer Olympics, and in the 1948 Summer Olympics.... Reginald Sutton Reginald Sutton Reginald James Cushing Sutton was an English freestyle swimmer and water polo player who competed for Great Britain in the 1928 Summer Olympics, in the 1932 Summer Olympics, and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.... Bob Leivers Bob Leivers Robert "Bob" Thomas Hanford Leivers was an English freestyle swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.... |
8:52.8 | Kingdom of Scotland George Anderson Henry Cunningham Merilees Chassels William Burns |
9:23.4 |
| 3×110 yd medley relay |
Canada Ben Gazell George Burleigh Albert Puddy |
3:11.2 | Kingdom of Scotland Merilees Chassels Norman Hamilton Willie Francis Willie Francis (swimmer) William "Willie" Francis was a Scottish backstroke swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1928 Summer Olympics and in the 1932 Summer Olympics.He was born in Dunfermline.... |
3:15.2 | Kingdom of England Alan Summers John Besford John Besford John "Jack" Charles Preston Besford OBE was a British backstroke swimmer.He was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester and died in Spain.Besford was European 100 m backstroke champion in 1934... Mostyn Ffrench-Williams Mostyn Ffrench-Williams Mostyn Yanto Ffrench-Williams was an English freestyle and backstroke swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.He was born in London.... |
3:16.0 |
Women's events
| 100 yd freestyle | |1:03.0 | |1:03.6 | |1:05.8 | |||
| 440 yd freestyle | |5:45.6 | Jenny Maakal Jenny Maakal Jenny Genoveva Maakal was a South African freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.She was born in Pretoria.... (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
5:53.0 | |5:54.4 | ||
| 100 yd backstroke | |1:13.8 | |1:15.0 | |1:18.2 | |||
| 200 yd breaststroke | |2:50.2 | |2:55.4 | |2:58.6 | |||
| 4×110 yd freestyle relay |
Canada Phyllis Dewar Phyllis Dewar Phyllis Dewar was a Canadian freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.She was born in Moose Jaw and died in Toronto.... Florence Humble Margaret Hutton Irene Pirie Irene Pirie Irene Pirie was a champion Canadian freestyle swimmer.She was a sister of Bob Pirie, the wife of Frederick Milton, and the mother of Hamilton Milton.... |
4:21.8 | South Africa Jenny Maakal Jenny Maakal Jenny Genoveva Maakal was a South African freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.She was born in Pretoria.... Enid Hayward Kathleen Russell Kathleen Russell Kathleen Russell is a South African freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.In 1928 she was a member of the South African relay team which won the bronze medal in the 4×100 m freestyle relay event... Molly Ryde |
4:34.0 | Kingdom of England Edna Hughes Edna Hughes Edna Tildesley Hughes was an English swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics.She was born in Walsall and died in Ceredigion.... Beatrice Wolstenholme Beatrice Wolstenholme Beatrice "Trix" Wolstenholme was an English freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1934 British Empire Games.She was born in Withington, Manchester and was the younger sister of Cecelia Wolstenholme.... Olive Bartle Margery Hinton Margery Hinton Margery Hinton was an English breaststroke and freestyle swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1928 Summer Olympics, in the 1932 Summer Olympics, and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.... |
4:34.4 |
| 3×110 yd medley relay |
Canada Margaret Hutton Phyllis Haslam Phyllis Dewar Phyllis Dewar Phyllis Dewar was a Canadian freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.She was born in Moose Jaw and died in Toronto.... |
3:42.0 | Kingdom of England Phyllis Harding Phyllis Harding Phyllis May Harding was an English backstroke and freestyle swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1924 Summer Olympics, 1928 Summer Olympics, 1932 Summer Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics.... Vera Kingston Vera Kingston Vera Kingston-Robinson was an English swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1936 Summer Olympics.In 1936 she was eliminated in the first round of the 200 metre breaststroke event.... Edna Hughes Edna Hughes Edna Tildesley Hughes was an English swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics.She was born in Walsall and died in Ceredigion.... |
3:43.0 | Kingdom of Scotland Jean McDowell Jean McDowell Jean H. McDowell was a Scottish freestyle swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1928 Summer Olympics.In 1928 she finished fourth the 100 metre freestyle event.... Margot Hamilton Margaret McCullum |
3:50.0 |
Wrestling
All events were for men only.| Bantamweight | |||
| Featherweight | |||
| Lightweight | |||
| Welterweight | |||
| Middleweight | |||
| Light heavyweight | Mick Cubbin (SAF South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) |
||
| Heavyweight |
External links
- Commonwealth Games Official Site
- 1934 British Empire Games at the official Guernsey site
- 1934 British Empire Games - Australian Commonwealth Games official website