Athletics Club busy
Takaka Amateur Athletics’ team which recently competed in the Hester Shield in Motueka. Photo: Supplied.
As the club looks forward to its 50th jubilee of its most recent incarnation, club nights remain very busy. Members are achieving great results in regional events and officials are excited about a new five-star awards scheme that will track individual athletes’ progress over the season.
The dozens of eager young athletes who attend the well-organised club nights in Takaka have very little sense of the long tradition they are maintaining; they are too busy having fun. The new club handbooks include record-breaking performances going back to the 1960s, 70s and 80s in some cases, but there has been an athletics club of some sort in the Bay since about 1870, according to local history experts.
“I’ve been researching the records at the museum,” said club stalwart Jimmy Nalder. “It’s quite a painstaking process but there are minute books going back a long way. The 50th jubilee we’ll celebrate in April marks the beginning of the Takaka Amateur Athletic Club in 1960. It had a few different names historically. It was once called the Takaka Athletics and Cycling Club. That would have been in the days when they used to race for cash.”
Jimmy explained that preparations for the 50th jubilee were in hand, and the club is starting to contact former members from all over the country. The jubilee will take place on 2 April 2011 and organisers hope that local people will buck the usual trend and register early.
The Colgate Five Star Awards scheme is designed to give each club member an individualised and detailed record of their improving achievements. Its aim is to encourage children to take part in a wide range of events and to spread recognition for achievement over all members, not just winners or the better athletes. The scheme does not aim to produce champions, but rather to provide incentives and develop skills and enjoyment in all events. It recognises that children develop physically and mentally at very different rates and ages, and by encouraging participation in a wide range of events, more children can enjoy more events at their level of achievement. They can begin to concentrate on their favourite or best events as their developing physique and ability dictates, and it’s hoped it will also maintain their interest in athletics until they become seniors.
Record-breaking Takaka athletes so far this season are Lauren Gardiner (Tasman District record for 12 yr girls hurdles: 15.1 seconds), Rosie Taylor Richmond (Takaka record for 12 yr girls high lump: 1.34m), Daya Rosemeyer (Takaka 8yr shot put: 4.15m) Tom Bassett-Eason (Takaka 9yr shot put: 8.93m), Tyler Palmer (Takaka 10yr shot put 8.93m), and Geena Gross (Takaka 13 yr shot put: 8.56m).
Takaka sent a strong team to the Hester Shield event in Motueka. They are pictured below next to the results they achieved.
“They did really well,” said club spokesperson Maree Fleming. “We’re expecting big things again this season.”
Hester Shield placings Motueka: Shikana Palmer - 1st discus 5.00, 3rd long jump 2.26; Jennifer Sampson - 2nd shot put 4.14, 3rd 60m 11.4, 3rd 100m 19.1; Marie Sampson: 3rd discus 6.71; Reggie McDonald - 3rd 200m 41.5; Kayla Harvey:1st 60m 10.8, 1st 100m 17.8, 3rd 200m 39.0; Mikaela Gardiner - 3rd shot put 3.9; Taine Reynish - 1st shot put 5.40, 3rd discus 10.3; Tom Basset-Eason - 1st discus 24.48, 1st shot put 8.78; Tyler Palmer - 1st high jump, 1.14, 1st shot put 8.93 3rd 200m 33.6; Lauren Gardiner - 1st hurdles 15.1 (Tasman record) 1st discus 19.7, 2nd 400m 68.1s, 3rd 200m 30.6 Drew Jackson: 2nd discus 17.32, 2nd shot put 6.57; Rosie Taylor-Richmond - 1st high jump 1.32, 1st long jump 4.13, 2nd hurdles 15.4, 2nd 100m 14.9; Ari Wells - 2nd 800m 2.41.0, 2nd 1500m 5.27.8, 3rd 100m 15.4; Katerina Clarke - 3rd shot put 5.31; Geena Gross - 1st hurdles 15.1, 1st 100m 14.6, 1st discus 22.45, 1st shot put 7.90; Cara Wells - 1st 100m 16.2, 1st 1500m 6.19.7; Marco Symmons - 1st 100m 13.4, 1st 200m 26.8, 1st high jump 1.54, 1st long jump 4.55; Danyon Fleming:1st 800m 2.30.8, 1st 1500m 5.02.8, 2nd shot put 7.05, 3rd discus 22.06; Calum Lewis - 1st 400m 65.3s, 3rd 100m 14.3, 2nd 800m 2.47.9, 3rd long jump 3.71.
Neil Wilson
