Peter Dignan (rower)
Encyclopedia
Peter Dignan is a former New Zealand
rower. His father later entered the diplomatic corps
, and as a result, Dignan spent a lot of time outside of his parents' native New Zealand
. He subsequently relocated to Auckland
, New Zealand
, where he attended and boarded at King's College
, becoming a house prefect
.
Dignan, a competent rower, represented New Zealand
in the 1976 Montreal
Olympic Games
, and won a bronze
medal for his row in the Men's Eight along with Tony Hurt
, Alex McLean
, Ivan Sutherland
, Trevor Coker
, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl
and Dave Rodger
and Simon Dickie
(cox). He subsequently participated in surf boat tests internationally, racing for New Zealand, including a 'rebel' tour to South Africa. He retired undefeated. Dignan also played rugby
. Dignan's son Matthew is also a representative rower, and is in the Australian Under-19 coxed four.
Dignan is now a modern history teacher in Sydney
, Australia
at Sydney Grammar School. He is also a senior coach at the Sydney Grammar School boatshed, and currently coaches the School Second Eight. In previous years he has had much success with younger crews, coaching three different Year 10 Second Eights to victory at Head of the River, including the 2004 and the 2008 Year 10 Second Eights.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rower. His father later entered the diplomatic corps
Diplomatic corps
The diplomatic corps or corps diplomatique is the collective body of foreign diplomats accredited to a particular country or body.The diplomatic corps may, in certain contexts, refer to the collection of accredited heads of mission who represent their countries in another state or country...
, and as a result, Dignan spent a lot of time outside of his parents' native New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He subsequently relocated to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where he attended and boarded at King's College
King's College, Auckland
King's College is an independent secondary school in New Zealand. It was originally a boys-only school but now also admits girls in the sixth and seventh forms . The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of...
, becoming a house prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
.
Dignan, a competent rower, represented New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the 1976 Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, and won a bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
medal for his row in the Men's Eight along with Tony Hurt
Tony Hurt
Tony Hurt is a former New Zealand rower who won 2 Olympic medals. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich he teamed with Dick Joyce, Wybo Veldman, John Hunter, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl, Trevor Coker and Gary Robertson and Simon Dickie to win the Gold medal in the eights...
, Alex McLean
Alex McLean
Alec McLean is a former New Zealand rower who won an Olympic Bronze medal. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal he crewed the eight along with Tony Hurt, Ivan Sutherland, Trevor Coker, Peter Dignan, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl and Dave Rodger and Simon Dickie .Member of New Zealand rowing eight...
, Ivan Sutherland
Ivan Sutherland (rower)
Ivan Carl Sutherland MNZM is a former New Zealand rower who won an Olympic Bronze medal. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal he crewed the eight along Tony Hurt, Alex McLean, Trevor Coker, Peter Dignan, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl and Dave Rodger and Simon Dickie...
, Trevor Coker
Trevor Coker
Trevor Ian Coker was a former New Zealand rower who won two Olympic medals in his career....
, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl
Athol Earl
Athol "Joe" Earl is a former New Zealand rower who won 2 Olympic medals. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich he teamed with Dick Joyce, Wybo Veldman, John Hunter, Lindsay Wilson, Tony Hurt, Trevor Coker and Gary Robertson and Simon Dickie to win the Gold medal in the eights...
and Dave Rodger
Dave Rodger
Dave Rodger is a former New Zealand rower who won an Olympic Bronze medal. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal he was a member of the eight along with Tony Hurt, Ivan Sutherland, Trevor Coker, Peter Dignan, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl and Alex McLean and Simon Dickie...
and Simon Dickie
Simon Dickie
Simon Dickie is a former New Zealand rowing cox who won 3 Olympic medals. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico Dickie won the Gold medal in the coxed four along with Dick Joyce, Dudley Storey, Ross Collinge and Warren Cole...
(cox). He subsequently participated in surf boat tests internationally, racing for New Zealand, including a 'rebel' tour to South Africa. He retired undefeated. Dignan also played rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
. Dignan's son Matthew is also a representative rower, and is in the Australian Under-19 coxed four.
Dignan is now a modern history teacher in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at Sydney Grammar School. He is also a senior coach at the Sydney Grammar School boatshed, and currently coaches the School Second Eight. In previous years he has had much success with younger crews, coaching three different Year 10 Second Eights to victory at Head of the River, including the 2004 and the 2008 Year 10 Second Eights.