Hamilton studied medicine[2] at the Queen's University Belfast and won the Kenneth Holmes Cup for the outstanding athlete at their 1956 annual meeting after winning the 100 and 220 yards and the long jump.[3] Shortly afterwards at the British Universities Championships he won the long jump title[4] and then just two weeks later at the Northern Ireland Championships he retained his long jump title.[5]
Hamilton won the long jump event during the international match against Scotland in September 1957.[6] In May 1958 he was selected for the first trials relay team at Paisley Park, with the view to forming the relay squad for the Empire Games.[7]
Hamilton was named by the Northern Ireland AAA in the final 1958 Northern Irish Team for the forthcoming Empire and Commonwealth Games.[8] He subsequently competed at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales,[9] participating in the two athletics events;[10] the 100 yards[11] and the long jump.[12]
Hamilton also played rugby union for Queen's and Ulster and had trials for the Irish national team.[13]