slfcEEHiwr* A NATIONAL Vol. 1 No. 7 DECEMBER, 1986 PRICE $2 1986 South Melbourne Marathon winner this year of the Harrison as a worthy HARRISON AND Traralgon Marathon, took runner-up. out the first Veteran female The tremendous support EDWARDS AGAIN award from Claire Bowker given to this event was W45, and Noella Young, evident by the fact 73% of World record TOP VETERANS W35, with Claire winning the entire field were over her age division in the 35 years of age, which excellent time of 3.11.34. must be of great concern attempt by There were endless to organisers in view of notable performances next year’s impending from Veterans, like the old­ clash with the V11 World est competitor, popular Veterans Games marathon. John Gilmour Victorian Jack Bennett, A final note of apprec­ 71, who seemed “ absol­ iation must go to co­ utely delighted” with his sponsor, Doug Wade’s — during Second Test 3.44.07. A marvellous run Lifestyle Lakeside Gym, by K. Marden, 45, whose whose facilities were made Match in Perth 3.58.47 was an improve­ available to all particip­ ment of, would you ants to relax their exhausted believe, an hour! on his bodies with a sauna and West Australians athletes, the legendary last Marathon, and a superb swim. Also once again to gearing up for the John Gilmour, 67, from effort by the diminuitive the South Melbourne greatest sporting era in Leeming, attempt to break Croydon Vet, Bruce Athletic Club for a truly their history over the four world records during Peters, M45, whose gutsy great event. next few months, cul­ the lunch recess. performance left him a Refer page 17 for results. minating with the Gilmour, who currently mere 73 seconds behind — Dot Browne. staging of the multi holds forty world age million dollar America records, will compete Cup defence, have against the clock over eight another treat in store laps of the 400 metre track, for them on the second spurred on by thousands of day of the England v. hometown supporters. If he Australia test match is successful and can break W.A. STATE 10 minutes for the two in Perth, on Saturday, 29 November. miles (3200 metres), he will smash all four records, including the 3000 metres, In a special feature race in the 65-69 and single age organised by the W.A. (67 years) groups. CROSS Veterans’ Association Gilmour, aware o f the and WACA marketing great publicity the occasion manager Don Marsden, will have on the V I1 the expected crowd of World Games in Melb­ 30,000 will have the ourne next year, has been COUNTRY memorable opportunity of training hard for this event witnessing one of the and is confident he can CHAMPS. World’s greatest Veteran break the records. Rob Harding and Marg Croydon veteran Bruce Peters, M45, finishes the 1986 South Melbourne Marathon in 2.39.42 and Forden take major honours second veteran. in tough going at Terry Harrison, M40 and petite Mary Edwards, W35, yet again took Kings Park the major Vets honours in the 1986 BY BOB SAMMELLS Mita Copiers South Melbourne Mara­ Conditions in this year’s Western Aust­ thon, held on Sunday, 16 November. ralian Cross Country Championships were Victoria’s second largest Of the 175 finishers at to say the least, extremely arduous. Marathon once again least two thirds achieved the stronger as the race proved very popular, personal bests! which surely On the undulating, quite neared its climax. attracting competitors must be an all time record demanding 9.8km course, With less than a kilo­ from interstate and over­ for an Australian Marathon? around Perth’s Kings Park, metre from the finish seas, adding to the large in cold, wet and blustering Harding made his decisive contingent of Veterans who Overall winner this year conditions, the going pres­ move and was just able to seem to patronise this was Kew-Camberwell ented a tough challenge for hold off another gutsy event more and more each athlete Bemie Kelly in the all but the fittest. challenge from Carse to year. excellent time of 2.23.25, And challenge it became win by two seconds. Hoye and similarly in the female This year’s race, con­ as it was evident from the came in a gallant third division, a brilliant exhib­ onset this was going to be forty seconds further ducted by the ever efficient ition by pre-vet Linda South Melbourne Athletic no contest for the faint at back. Club, was held on the flat, Thompson, 32, from Trar- heart, by the blistering In the female division algon Harriers, to record pace set by the leading Margery Forden was in a fast, picturesque course 2.49.43, just seven days encompassing the beauti­ group of Derek Hoye, class by herself, finishing ful Albert Park Lake. after winning the Albany Hugh Kirkman, Bob Hard­ three minutes clear of Joan marathon in 2.49.30, in ing, Ted Maslen and Bert Pellier, who is gradually The organisers attend Western Australia! Some Carse. to every minute detail to returning to fitness. Nan back to back performance The first few kilometres Harding, Bob’s wife, was ensure all competitors’ from the girl who also won was a fascinating battle for needs are catered for, from the third to finish, and this event in 1983, in supremacy, as the lead winner of W35. There was the first class certified 2.49.40. What consist­ repeatedly changed from course, early 6.30am start a tussle for the W40 title ency, and from someone one to the other, until with Phyllis Farrell and to avoid the heat, excellent fast approaching Veteran drama struck when Hoye, running surface, drink Alison Aldrich racing Status. who was taking the init­ together much of the way stations and time calls First Veteran over the iative at the time, inexplic­ every 5 kms, etc. until Farrell’s greater line was the ever consist­ ably took a wrong turn. strength prevailed. Jack Bennett, 71, looks well Virtually nothing is left ent Terry Harrison, 40, The pattern of the race The oldest runners on the pleased with his 3.44.07 in the to chance. who capped off a great suddenly took on a new day were Phyllis Head and recent 1986 South Melbourne Even the weather was season in 2.38.29, 6th dimension, as first Kirk­ Marathon. Cliff Bould, who both ran perfect, with cool overall and winner of his man applied the pressure, remarkable times despite temperatures and no wind age-group. Teny recently unsuccessfully followed the lack of competition in of any significance. Suffice captured both the 25k and by Carse, who did finaly their age groups. Our con­ to say many performances 10 mile State titles in break away from his rivals gratulations go to them were nothing short of fine style. with the exception of Hard­ and to the other State The brilliant John Gilmour, 67, strides effortlessly to spectacular to say the Mary Edwards, W35, ing, who stuck gamely to Champions for 1986. least! another World Record, in the 5000 metres, at last year’s from Frankston, earlier the task and was looking Refer to page 9. World Games in Rome. PAGE Editorial..................................................................2 Dedicated to all existing and potential Veteran Athletes in Australia. our 4 ‘mate’ ’, the unflappable Ian Thomas, Managing Editor of the ’87 World Games Update ...................................3 JW Today, December 1st, 1986, marks a small but important Pakenham Gazette and his delightful staff who perform minor 7X milestone in the short history of the ‘ ‘Veteran Athlete” . Not only is miracles each month to ensure the deadline is achieved, sometimes I inHor tho Watchful Fw 4 S it our seventh and final issue for the year, but our Christmas against all the odds, and they haven’t failed us yet. We thank them I e c y ............................................ w e(jjt|on> ijjg en(j 0f our firSt six months of production. all for a great team effort. As I look back now and reflect on the initial idea, the tentative As we approach 1987, the greatest year in our short history, Profile (Reg Austin) .............................................5 steps, each decision taken with the utmost caution and wondering we hope, with your support to continue to bring you, the veteran } J more than once, whether the cynics were right, that it just wouldn’t athlete, all the exciting news and stories as it happens in the lead up RonovA/aik RowiovA/ R Jjr succeed tor this or that reason, I am glad we took the gamble and to the V11 World Games. Our widespread recruiting campaigns are 9w listened to the majority"who pledged to support us. beginning to take effect in most states and numbers are growing rapidly. Great promotional foresight such as John Gilmour’s World . .. n . M 7 Penny and I would like to take this opportunity of expressing record attempt, in front of possibly 30,000 hometown fans at the Ultra Distance News ................................................. ( our most sincere thanks to so many of you out there in “ Vetland” , WACA, dunng the 2nd Test Match in Perth (see front page) can especially our wonderful advertisers who have made this whole only boost the Veteran image and provide much needed publicity. Overseas News 8 4 ft thing possible, International Sporting Tours, for the tremendous We need many more of these feature events to gain media attention. J® support and encouragement given to us by the last Case Muskens, K before his untimely death and likewise the never to be forgotten Also on the subject of feature events you will notice an entry Central Australian Masters Games ........................