13 Facts About Frank Sharpley

Philip Francis Sharpley was a New Zealand track and field athlete who represented his country at the 1938 British Empire Games.

Frank Sharpley married Winifred Sheila Mary von Dadelszen, great-niece of Edward John von Dadelszen, at Havelock North on 30 December 1940.

Frank Sharpley married his second wife, Una May Addis, in 1950, and they had two children.

Frank Sharpley held the national records for the 120 yards hurdles and 220 yards hurdles, with times of 14.8 seconds and 24.4 seconds, respectively.

At the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, Frank Sharpley finished sixth in the final of the men's 120 yards hurdles.

Frank Sharpley became involved in athletics coaching and assisted Rona Tong with her hurdling skills in the lead-up to the 1938 British Empire Games.

Frank Sharpley coached the New Zealand athletics team at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, and later coached Mary Donaghy.

Frank Sharpley was the athletics coach for the New Zealand team at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston.

Frank Sharpley was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Anti-Tank Companies in August 1940.

Frank Sharpley was later a physical trainer at the Papakura Military Camp during compulsory military training in the 1950s.

Frank Sharpley became a schoolteacher, and he wrote and illustrated publications for Department of Education, including Running, jumping and throwing, and Athletics: a guide book for teachers, coaches and players, which was first published in 1960, and reissued in 1973 and 1978.

In retirement, Frank Sharpley worked with his wife, Una, a noted studio potter, and developed a home-made pug mill for mixing clay for pottery.

Frank Sharpley died on 6 September 1987, and his ashes were buried at Papakura Cemetery.