Leonard Albert Cuff (28 March 1866 – 9 October 1954) was a sportsman and sports administrator from New Zealand. Born in Christchurch, Cuff was an all-round sportsman who excelled at both athletics and cricket, his most significant sporting association is as the 12th[1] (of 13) Founding Members of the International Olympic Committee, He was appointed to represent New Zealand and Australia from 1894 to 1905.[1] Cuff is credited with instigating the first athletics competitions between Australia and New Zealand, and inter-provincial competitions within New Zealand. He managed New Zealand's first tour of an international athletics team.[2] He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.[3]
 Drawing of Leonard Cuff in 1890 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonard Albert Cuff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 March 1866 Christchurch, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 9 October 1954 (aged 88) Launceston, Tasmania, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Charles Cuff (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1886/87–1895/96 | Canterbury | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1896/97 | Auckland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1903/04–1904/05 | Tasmania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 17 September 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biography
editCuff captained the first New Zealand national cricket team.[4] At the first-class level, he played for both Auckland and Canterbury and later for Tasmania. He also played rugby for Canterbury.
In athletics, Cuff won the New Zealand long jump title three times (1889, 1896 and 1897). In 1887, he was a founder and first Honorary Secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Cuff managed the five-man team (including himself) that went to England and France in 1892. In Paris, France he won a silver medal for hurdles at an International Athletics Meet.[5] He was also an amateur golfer, winning the Tasmanian Amateur championship in 1904.[6] Cuff died in Tasmania in 1954.[7]
The Leonard Cuff Medal was established in 2000 to award people for their contribution to olympism in New Zealand. John Davies was awarded the medal in 2003, but it has since been discontinued.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b Leonard Cuff at the New Zealand Olympic Committee Archived 10 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Michael Letters, Ian Jobling (1996). "Forgotten Links: Leonard Cuff and The Olympic Movement in Australasia, 1894-1905". pp. 91–110. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ https://www.nzhalloffame.co.nz/New-Zealand-Sports-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees/C/Leonard-Cuff [bare URL]
- ^ "Leonard Cuff (1866–1954)". New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
- ^ Heidenstrom, P. (1992) Athletes of the Century. Wellington: GP Publications
- ^ "History & Honour Roll – Men's Tasmanian Open and Women's Tasmanian Open" (PDF). Golf Australia. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Leonard Cuff". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
- ^ "Leonard A Cuff Medal". New Zealand Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2012.