He was capped eight times for Scotland between 1881 and 1885.[6]
Other sports
He was named in The Athletic News of 6 July 1881. The newspaper decried his slump in the shot put remarking that last year [1880] he putted the 'cannonball' a distance of 39 feet 6 inches (12.04 m) while this year he only managed a distance of 37 feet 2 inches (11.33 m). Likewise his throwing the hammer attracted 87 feet 7 inches (26.70 m); coming in first was H.H. Johnstone in that event with 89 feet 6 inches (27.28 m).[7]
He was a Scottish champion in the 100 yards sprint, and in the quarter mile sprint. He won the 1883 S.A.A.A. Championships in Powderhall in those events; and also came second in the weight putt or shot put. John Smith, the Scotland football internationalist and Edinburgh District full back came in second to Peterkin in the 100 yards sprint.[8]
He was named in the East Committee of the Scottish Amateur Athletics Association in 1888, alongside A. G. G. Asher and Alec Cameron.[9]
Family
Peterkin was one of the ten children of Elizabeth Mitchell Barclay (1823–1901) and William Arthur Peterkin (1823–1906). He had seven sisters and two brothers.
His father was a clerk of the Board of Supervision when that was established after the Poor Law commission; and was a visiting officer of the Poor Houses in Scotland. His father was also connected with the Monks of St Giles, a literary and social body in Edinburgh.
