Background
Born in Taihape in 1909, Evans was the son of Grace Emily (née Wood) and John Evans.
Born in Taihape in 1909, Evans was the son of Grace Emily (née Wood) and John Evans.
As a youth, Evans competed in professional athletics meetings in Taihape as there were no amateur meets in that area. In February 1931, Evans broke the Australasian 880 yards record at a meet in Whanganui, recording a time of 1:54.8. Following negotiations between the New Zealand Amateur Athletics Association and the English Amateur Athletics Association later in 1931, Evans was deemed eligible to compete at the Olympic Games.
He died at Whanganui in 1980, and his ashes were buried in Aramoho Cemetery.
He was duly selected as a member of the New Zealand team to compete at the 1932 Olympics, where he finished fifth in his 800 m heat and did not progress.