SPORT PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN HIS LIFE, PARTICULARLY RUGBY. JAMES WAS A WAIKATO PREMIER REFEREE, SPENDING WEEKENDS ON THE FIELD WITH A WHISTLE IN HAND AND JUST AS MUCH TIME IN THE STANDS WATCHING THE GAME. HE WAS A COMMITTED CHIEFS SUPPORTER AND A LIFELONG ALL BLACKS FAN. 

JAMES LIVED LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND HAD A KNACK FOR MAKING ORDINARY MOMENTS MORE ENJOYABLE. HE LOVED BEING AROUND PEOPLE, HAD A SHARP SENSE OF HUMOUR, AND WAS NEVER FAR FROM SPORT OR GOOD COMPANY.

JAMES WAS NAMED RUGBY UNION OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR AT THE 2019 INGHAM’S MATAMATA–PIAKO DISTRICT SPORTS AWARDS. 

WHY WE PLAY

WHY WE PLAY

THE JIMMY BEHIND

THE CLASSIC

THE JIMMY CLASSIC WAS CREATED TO HONOUR JAMES - A PASSIONATE GOLFER, SON, BROTHER, AND FRIEND - THROUGH A DAY ON THE COURSE. FOLLOWING JAMES’ PASSING AS THE RESULT OF A MOTORBIKE ACCIDENT, HIS BROTHER SAM ESTABLISHED WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY CALLED THE JAMES HOUGHTON MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT, AN EVENT CENTRED ON BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH GOLF.

OVER TIME, THE EVENT EVOLVED TO INCLUDE A CHARITABLE FOCUS, EXTENDING JAMES’ LEGACY BEYOND THE DAY ITSELF. TODAY, THE TOURNAMENT CARRIES A NEW NAME WITH THE SAME PURPOSE. THE JIMMY CLASSIC TAKES ITS NAME FROM WHAT HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALWAYS CALLED HIM - JIMMY.

AT ITS CORE, IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER ON THE COURSE AND CONTINUING TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE, JUST AS HE DID.

JAMES LIVED LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND HAD A KNACK FOR MAKING ORDINARY MOMENTS MORE ENJOYABLE. HE LOVED BEING AROUND PEOPLE, HAD A SHARP SENSE OF HUMOUR, AND WAS NEVER FAR FROM SPORT OR GOOD COMPANY.

SPORT PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN HIS LIFE, PARTICULARLY RUGBY. JAMES WAS A WAIKATO PREMIER REFEREE, SPENDING WEEKENDS ON THE FIELD WITH A WHISTLE IN HAND AND JUST AS MUCH TIME IN THE STANDS WATCHING THE GAME. JAMES WAS NAMED RUGBY UNION OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR AT THE 2019 INGHAM’S MATAMATA–PIAKO DISTRICT SPORTS AWARDS. 

HE WAS A COMMITTED CHIEFS SUPPORTER AND A LIFELONG ALL BLACKS FAN. 

JAMES WAS THE FIRST AMONG HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO TAKE UP GOLF, AND HIS ENTHUSIASM QUICKLY DREW OTHERS IN. YEARS LATER, HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE STILL OUT ON THE COURSE, WITH GOLF CONTINUING TO BRING THEM TOGETHER.

JAMES HAD ALSO BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE MATAMATA-PIAKO CRICKET CLUB AS A PLAYER FOR THE PREMIER TEAM AND CLUB COMMITTEE MEMBER. 

A FEW YEARS BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY, JAMES DISCOVERED GOLF AND APPROACHED IT WITH THE SAME ENERGY HE BROUGHT TO EVERYTHING ELSE. HE SPENT HOURS AT MORRINSVILLE GOLF CLUB WORKING ON HIS SWING, GRADUALLY BUILDING HIS GOLF BAG, AND ENJOYING THE CHALLENGE OF A NEW SPORT. EVEN DURING COVID LOCKDOWNS, WHEN ACCESS TO COURSES WAS LIMITED, HE FOUND WAYS TO KEEP PRACTISING. OLD TIMBER AND DUVETS BECAME A MAKESHIFT DRIVING NET AT HOME SO THE PRACTICE COULD CONTINUE.

JAMES WAS THE FIRST AMONG HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO TAKE UP GOLF, AND HIS ENTHUSIASM QUICKLY DREW OTHERS IN. YEARS LATER, HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE STILL OUT ON THE COURSE, WITH GOLF CONTINUING TO BRING THEM TOGETHER.

  • reffing the National 7's 2019

  • Matamata-Piako Senior Mens Premier Team

  • winning the finals morrinsville mens hockey association

  • earlier years of rugby, playing in the Hamilton boys rugby team