David Baldwin

Dave Baldwin, born in Auckland in 1921, was a stalwart of New Zealand bowls.

He competed at two Commonwealth Games, in 1974 and 1978, and one world championship, and during a long career won three national titles representing the Paritutu club in New Plymouth.

His great moment came at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games, when he teamed with Kerry Clark, Jack Somerville and Gordon Jolly to win the fours gold medal. The consistent New Zealanders thrived on the atmosphere at the Woolston Workingmen’s Club venue, and compiled a record of 10 wins and two losses to finish with 20 points.

They edged out Australia and Scotland for the medals, despite being beaten by Australia 33-11 early in the tournament. In the final round, New Zealand delivered when they needed to, scoring a thumping 33-9 win over defending champions Hong Kong, while Australia came unstuck against Papua New Guinea.

Baldwin was in the fours team at Edmonton in 1978, alongside Morgan Moffat, John Malcolm and Phil Skoglund. The New Zealanders went within a whisker of winning gold again, but in the end were pipped by Hong Kong and had to settle for silver. Hong Kong finished with 24 points and New Zealand 23. What cost them was a draw with Wales and defeat by Northern Ireland and Guernsey.

Baldwin narrowly missed a medal at the 1976 world champs. He was in a triples team with Somerville and Bob McDonald and they eventually had to settle for 4th. The same three, plus Vic Sellars, contested the fours event and finished 8th.

After attending New Plymouth Boys' High School, Baldwin was employed as a civic engineer by New Plymouth City Council and remained in the role for 43 years. In his early days he excelled in numerous sports, including cricket, tennis, table tennis and soccer, but in the end it was bowls that claimed him.

Baldwin died in 2012 at the age of 90, having played the sport he loved until well into his 80s.

In 2013, he was an inaugural inductee into the Bowls New Zealand Hall of Fame.