He made good progress in the following two years and in the 1951–52 season was included in the Canterbury team which competed in the New Zealand speedway league.
[5] In 1953, he made his international debut for New Zealand in the series against England at the second test at Bristol,[6] but in September that year he broke his leg in a fall.
The following year began promisingly with the prospect of another season with Middlesbrough, and he was also called up by the Southampton Saints to provide injury cover.
After this, McKeown returned to New Zealand and settled in the suburb of New Brighton in Christchurch where he set up a lawn mower repair business.
From 1966 to 1972, he was the referee at the Templeton speedway track and officiated at a number of national championships and test matches during this period.