Richard Endean

Aucklander Richard Endean, born in 1948, specialised in the 400m race. He was a contemporary of two fine New Zealand 400m runners, Phil Kear and Bevan Smith.

Endean, a product of Auckland Grammar, represented New Zealand in two events at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games, the 400m and the 4 x 400m relay.

In the 400m, he was 5th in his heat in a time of 47.9s and did not advance further in the event. In a warm-up meeting on the eve of the Commonwealth Games he’d run 46.99s, which was his personal best over the distance.

Kear, Endean, Trevor Cochrane and Smith finished 5th in the final of the 4 x 400m relay in 3min 08.1s.

Endean came from a particularly distinguished sailing family and in his post-athletics days, became an important figure in the world of New Zealand yachting. He was a competitive sailor himself, the owner of Ariel. In 1991-92, he was Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, a role his brother Bill filled a decade later.

One of Endean’s significant pieces of work was in helping to establish the squadron’s youth programme, which proved very influential in producing talented young sailors.

Richard Endean, who part-owned a printing business for many years, lives in Whangaparoa.

His son David and nephew Guy have both been involved in the America’s Cup. Guy sailed for Team New Zealand and David was appointed Chief Operations Officer for INEOS Britannia.