Betty Forbes
# Betty Forbes

Elizabeth Madge Taylor (née Forbes; 27 December 1916 – 29 August 2002) was a New Zealand track and field athlete who competed at the 1938 British Empire Games, where she won the bronze medal in the women's high jump.

## Early life and family

Born on 27 December 1916, Forbes was the daughter of Alexander Forbes and Elizabeth Herries Forbes (née McKenzie). She was educated at Waitaki Girls' High School in Oamaru.

## Athletics

Forbes came to national attention in 1933, when her application for the New Zealand women's high jump record, with a jump of 4 ft 8+3⁄4 in (1.44 m) was declined as the certificates were not received in time by the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletics Association (NZAAA). However, the following year, she recorded a height of 4 ft 9+1⁄2 in (1.46 m) at Dunedin on 3 February 1934 that was duly recognised as a national record.

In February 1936, Forbes bettered her New Zealand record at the Otago track and field championships with a jump of 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m), but once again the NZAAA refused to ratify it as the application for the record was out of time. She went on to increase the record to 4 ft 11+1⁄2 in (1.51 m), and then broke the five-foot barrier with a leap of 5 ft 3⁄16 in (1.53 m) at Dunedin in November 1937.

At the national trials in December 1937 for the New Zealand team to compete at the 1938 British Empire Games, Forbes increased her national mark by 1⁄16 in (0.2 cm), recording a height of 5 ft 1⁄4 in (1.53 m), and she was subsequently confirmed in the team for the games in Sydney. At those games, Forbes won the bronze medal in the women's high jump, with a height of 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m), 1 inch (2.5 cm) behind the gold medal winner, Dorothy Odam from England.

Forbes went on to win the New Zealand national high jump title in 1939, 1940 and 1941.

## Later life and death

Forbes married George Taylor. She died on 29 August 2002.

