Hugh Morrison

Hugh "Jock" Morrison (8 June 1919 – 3 September 1979) was a weightlifer from Scotland who competed at the 1950 British Empire Games. After settling in New Zealand, he became a leading weightlifting coach, mentoring lifters including Tony Ebert and Graham May, and coached the New Zealand weightlifting team at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. He was regarded as the "father of weightlifting" in Canterbury.

Early life and family Morrison was born in Glengarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, on 8 June 1919, the son of Hugh Morrison, a steelworker, and Mary Morrison (née Johnstone). Trained as a stonemason, he served overseas for five years in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War II. Competing in the light-heavyweight division, he finished fifth, behind gold medallist Jim Varaleau from Canada.

After settling in Christchurch, New Zealand, Morrison worked as a stonemason and bricklayer, and maintained his involvement in weightlifting. He was instrumental in growing the sport of weightlifting in Christchurch, both as a coach and an administrator. He was a founding member of the Canterbury Weightlifting Association, and the driving force behind its growth, leading its move to new headquarters and ensuring that it had the best possible equipment. He became known as the "father of weightlifting" in Canterbury.

Morrison began holding coaching clinics, and his coaching style, described as "dynamic", attracted new participants to the sport, most notably Graham May and Tony Ebert, who both went on to win gold medals representing New Zealand at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games, held in Christchurch. At those games, his protégé, Tony Ebert, won a silver medal. His funeral service was conducted by Don Oliver, who eulogised Morrison, saying that he was "a dedicated Christian who put his pupils' welfare always before his own and was the greatest lifting coach New Zealand had had". Morrison's obituary in The Press newspaper remarked on his "tenacity of spirit and indomitable will".

Following Morrison's death, the New Zealand Weightlifting Association instituted a memorial trophy in his name, competed for by junior weightlifters.