Hough was born on 21 April 1929 in the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby, the son of William Hough of Wiri.[3]
Athletics career
Representing Auckland, Hough won the 1948 New Zealand under-19 long jump title, jumping 21 ft 2+7⁄8 in (6.47 m).[4] He went on two win the national men's long jump championship in each of the following three years, with a best leap of 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m) in 1949, breaking the New Zealand record held by Jack Metcalfe.[4][5] In 1949, he also won the national triple jump title, with a distance of 45 ft 5 in (13.84 m).[4]