Athletics: Special spikes on again

Steve Tatton pulled his old running spikes out of the closet to race in his first New Zealand Masters Games at the Caledonian Ground at the weekend.

It was the first significant race run by Tatton (55), a Feilding chemist, since he won a bronze medal for Otago in the New Zealand junior men's 800m in Hamilton in 1974.

His time then was 1min 54.10sec.

The shoes were special to Tatton because they were given to him by John Walker after the medal ceremony in Hamilton.

It was just a few weeks after Walker had broken the world 1500m record when finishing runner-up to Filbert Bayi (Tanzania) at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games.

"I got John to sign his autograph on the shoes," Tatton said.

"If you look closely you can still see his signature."

Tatton, who was educated at Kaikorai Valley High School, left Dunedin soon after that to begin his pharmacy studies in Wellington.

He had raced only twice in the past 36 years, and it was only the third time he had worn Walker's old spikes.

He still had his old relaxed style when he finished sixth in the men's aged 55 to 59 400m (1min 14.81sec) and fourth in the 200m (31.09sec).

"I'm surprised at the way I've come back," Tatton said.

"My legs felt OK and the pace was comfortable."

Walker's shoes have always been special to Tatton and he has kept them safely locked away in his home.

"When I was coming to Dunedin to compete I needed some spikes and these were the only ones I had."

Tatton has been paying more attention to his children's athletics prowess than his own, but he intends to continue his fitness regime.

Son Michael (22) and twin daughters Sarah and Laura (20) have studied at the University of Otago for the past four years.

They were all promising athletes.

Sarah won a New Zealand junior women's 800m title.