Gordon Mackay

Gordon Mackay won two Commonwealth Games wrestling bronze medals for New Zealand.

At the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Mackay competed in the welterweight division (74kg). He won his first bout, against Australian Wes O’Brien, by a fall, then beat Peter Amey of Engand on points. Next up he beat home town favourite F Buchanan on points to virtually assure himself of a medal.

Mackay lost in the fourth round to Canadian Alfred Wurr, the eventual silver medallist, and completed his schedule with another loss, to the famous Indian wrestler Mukhtiar Singh. This result left Mackay with the bronze medal.

He seemed to be a popular competitor with the Scottish crowd, but then again, with a name like Gordon Mackay, he was already halfway towards winning over the crowd!

Mackay was back competing in the welterweight division again at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games. It was a small field of just five fighters. The New Zealander began his campaign by losing on points to Indian Raghunath Pawar, the eventual gold medallist. He bounced back with a points win over Canadian Grant Laballee. 

He won the bronze medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in the men's 74 kg event. Mackay’s final bout, against Englishman Tony Shacklady, was a rather strange affair. With the two meeting to decide the silver and bronze medals, Shacklady finally forced Mackay to be content with a second successive Commonwealth Games bronze in the smallest scoring bout of the Games.

Mackay won national titles at 74kg in 1967k, 1969 and 1972 and won the prestigious H M Allan Cup for the most scientific wrestler at the national championships in 1967 and 1972.