Aaron Joy, the face of the New Zealand Masters Games in
Dunedin for the past nine years, is calling it quits and
returning to his home town of Christchurch.
The oldest athletes were only a few years shy of their 100th
birthdays, but fierce competition was still evident at the
19th annual Central Super Masters Games in Alexandra
yesterday.
A Dunedin city councillor sitting on the board of the New
Zealand Masters Games insists he has followed correct
procedures, after queries over a possible conflict of
interest led to a review by the Office of the
Auditor-general.
Otago could soon play host to a second international
celebration of winter sports, with plans being drawn up for a
Winter Masters Games, at venues across Dunedin and Central
Otago.
After placing fourth in the masters section of the Cape Epic
in South Africa, Alexandra residents Geof Blance and Malcolm
McLeod are looking forward to their next races this Saturday.
Chairman John Bezett holds no fears for the future of the
Masters Games despite the event losing its major sponsor and
suffering a 15% drop in numbers this year.
Eighty-year-old Sidney Salek (Mount Maunganui) displayed the
enthusiasm and aggression of a teenager when he punched the
air with his fist after breaking a New Zealand record at
Moana Pool this week.
