Dave Batten

Dave Batten
Personal information
Birth nameDavid Russell Batten
Born(1926-12-13)13 December 1926
Christchurch, New Zealand
Died11 September 2013(2013-09-11) (aged 86)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Spouses
Barbara Alice Jones
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1979)​
Joan Elizabeth Cornish
​
​
(m. 1980)​
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportTrack and field
Achievements and titles
National finals100 yards, 1st (1947)
220 yards, 1st (1948, 1949, 1950, 1951)
440 yards, 1st (1949, 1950)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  New Zealand
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 1950 Auckland 440 yards
Bronze medal – third place 1950 Auckland 4 x 440 yards relay

David Russell Batten (13 December 1926 – 11 September 2013) was a New Zealand sprinter who won two bronze medals at the 1950 British Empire Games.

Early life and family

Born in Christchurch on 13 December 1926, Batten was the son of Rawhiti Eric (Raj) Batten and Maudie Batten (née Burnett).[1] He was educated at Christchurch Boys' High School.[2] In 1954 he married Barbara Alice Jones in Christchurch; the couple went on to have two children but later divorced.[1][3] In 1980 he married Joan Elizabeth Le Cren (née Cornish).[1]

Athletics

Batten won national junior athletics titles over 100 yards and 220 yards in 1945. He then won seven senior national titles: the 100 yards in 1947; 220 yards in 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951; and the 440 yards in 1949 and 1950. He set a national junior record for 100 yards in 1945, and in 1950 he broke the New Zealand record over 220 yards.[4]

At the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, Batten won two bronze medals; one in the men's 440 yards, and one as part of the men's 440 yards relay alongside John Holland, Derek Steward and Jack Sutherland.[5] He also reached the semi-finals of the men's 220 yards.[4]

Death

Batten died in Christchurch on 11 September 2013.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Jones, Jenny Robin (2011). Catching Up with the Joneses. Feral. pp. 73–75. ISBN 978-0-473-20308-5.
  2. ^ Tutty, Kevin (17 May 2012). "School lists alumni who took part in Games". The Press. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Archway record". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b c McKinnon, Murray (23 September 2013). "Athletics NZ weekly round-up 23 Sept". Athletics New Zealand. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Dave Batten". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.