[2] Well known in his home country, he stayed in South Africa in 1922 after touring with a New Zealand team.

He competed for South Africa at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris and came fifth in the decathlon.

[1][4] In May 1915, he enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, serving overseas for three years and six months as a rifleman in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion, and seeing active service in North Africa and France.

[1][6] In all, Sutherland won 12 New Zealand national athletic championship titles across six field disciplines.

He had a fatal fall from his bicycle on 8 July 1936 in Palmerston North when his shoulder strap became entangled with his knee and handlebars.