[1] Murray was in the first-ever Maddi Cup eights race that won gold in 1947 for Mount Albert Grammar School.

In 1949, he was part of the crew who won the first-ever redcoats (premier titles) in the men's eight for West End Rowing Club on Lake Karapiro.

At the 1950 British Empire Games he won the silver medal as part of the men's eight alongside crew members Donald Adam, Kerry Ashby, Bruce Culpan, Thomas Engel, Grahame Jarratt, Don Rowlands, Edwin Smith and Bill Tinnock.

Four years later at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver he again won a silver medal, this time in the men's coxed four.

Ashby was also an accomplished rugby union player for the Grammar Old Boys club, and was a member of the teams that won the Gallaher Shield in 1951 and 1953.