Vol. 1 No. 6. NOVEMBER 1986 PRICE $2 Great win for Joe Petkovic he National Masters News will combine with Sports Travel International, Ltd. to host a tour to Australia in 1987 for the VII World Veterans Games, T and we invite you to join us. The tour will be led by A1 Sheahen,-editor of the National Masters News; David in S.A. Pain, founder of the U.S. masters track & field program; and Helen Pain, the head of Sports Travel, International. David Pain organized the first The Australian organizers will pro­ masters international tours from vide a special travelcard for local 1972-1976 to Europe, New Zealand, transport and promise that buses will the South Pacific, Africa and run frequently from the tracks to the Marathon Australia. Helen Pain’s Sports Travel hotels, so that no competitor will ever International, Ltd. agency has conduc­ be stranded without a ride. We trust ted many successful overseas masters the Aussies to do it right. (Don’t let us tours, including trips to all six previous down, mate!) World Veterans Games. We also hope to have on the tour a The VII World Veterans Games next team manager, who will provide a ser­ Champ’ship year in Melbourne, from November 28 vice long needed in these Games, thru December 6, is shaping up as the namely: solving competition problems best World Games ever. Its director, and providing up-to-date information Ray Callaghan, seems remarkably well on meeting schedules, transportation, The SAVAC’s 1986 Marathon Champ­ organized and his staff appears quite banquet tickets, protest procedures, ionship was this year held in conjunction capable of staging an event of this seedings, advancement to finals, with the South Australia State Marathon, on magnitude. medical facilities, relay teams, where to 20 July. Peg Smith, Executive Director of the go, how to get there, what to do, etc. Games, has rounded up sponsorship We will try to house everyone on the The course followed the The diminutive Maiy commitments of 1.1 million Australian tour in one of three locations — all route from Gawler Oval to Leith was first female to dollars (U.S. $660,000) to help provide centrally located and proximate to the the Adelaide Aquatic finish, and winner of the all the extras that can often make a dif­ tracks and to each other. Some tour Centre, in North Adelaide. W40, in 3 hrs 24 mins 35 ference between a good and a great members will want a no-frills, dor­ The field of 124 starters secs. She was followed by included twenty two Vet­ W35 gold medallist Sue event — such as keeping the entry as mitory package, and we will have one. erans vieing for honours in Worley, in 3.41.10. low as U.S. $40, which would include While the university accommodations their various age-group the WAVA levy of $15. are going fast, we have already sent a categories. The ever consistent Frank Howitt took the The Olympic Park facilities in substantial deposit to Melbourne to Qstought winner of the honours in the M45 after a fcfetbouftie — the same venue that* event for the incredible hosted the 1956 Olympics — are ex­ Others on the tour will want to stay fourth consecutive year great duel with John Mary Leith has good reason to look pleased as she cellent. Two first-class tracks are adja­ at a top hotel, and we will provide that, was the brilliant S. A. Vet­ Martin, M50. Both were eran, Joe Petkovic, in the toasts her recent success In the SAVAC’s 1966 cent to each other, just like in Rome, as well. Still others may want credited with the same Marathon Championships. excellent time of 2 hrs 26 time of 2 hrs 43 mins 52 so that an athlete doesn’t have to bus something in between, so we are also mins 06 secs, which also secs, after a totally absorb­ Phillip Mount, M40, won the gold medal in their across town to a second track, as was reserving rooms at a moderate-budget gave him the gold medal in ing battle for most of the Andy Docherty, M55, and respective age groups. the case in San Juan and Hannover. hotel. the M35 division. Norm Martin, M60, each (Results Page 14.) ^ While no housing is available next to We hope you’ll start making plans, the track, the University housing is on­ now, to go to Australia. Details of the ly about three miles from the tracks. tour and prices will be available next Hotels, in all price ranges, are within a month. Please b e. ready to send a VVAC mile or two. deposit. Bob Harding wins W.A. 25km Road Cross Country Championships Championships Chris A superb exhibition of front running, after a cautious start, gave Terry Harrison Schultz another great win in this year’s Victorian Veterans 25km Road Championships at sets new Landyfield, Geelong, on Sunday, 26 October. mark in Fresh from his recent event, the depth of talent success in the State 10 was certainly evident on Mile Championships at the day, with the first six Samoa Princes Park recently, placegetters all finishing Harrison capped off an under ninety minutes. Chris Schultz, the excellent winter season in “mighty atom” from fine style, winning com­ A particularly notice­ Kew, Melbourne, com­ fortably in 1.23.42, from able feature of the quality peting in the recent 3rd his arch rival and ever con­ this year was also in the Oceania Games in sistent, Lew Harvey, with M50 division where the Western Samoa, hurled last year’s M35 winner top four finishers, Mike the discus (W35), a Jeff Walker, a close third. McAvoy, 1.32.55; Bill mammoth 47.86 Hughes, 1.34.11; Bert metres. The course this year Gaudion, 1.37.09 and Rex consisted of a three lap cir­ Young, 1.46.42, would This challenges her own cuit around the roads have all taken the medal surrounding the Landyfield existing State, National honours in the lower M45 and the Oceania record, Athletic Track, with the category! Bob Harding, 41, from Bunbury, won the finish on the track itself. pending subsequent ratif­ 1986 West Australia Veterans State cross-country ication. championships at Kings Park, Perth, on Sunday, A strong head wind at In the female division Vicki Thompson held on 12th October, in 37.14. times, together with soul Chris, who set a new testing hills, made condit­ strongly to win overall, Bob, who only two weeks previously completed his from Jeanette Harrison, National record at the first ever marathon in 2 hrs. 58 mins., only really became ions difficult for most of' Australian Championships the competitors. W35, and take the gold serious about competitive running two years ago, after a Terry Harrison, M40, chalks up another great win in the medal for W40. in Adelaide at Easter, with frustrating series of injuries prevented him from doing a throw of 47.36 metres, Vic. 25km Road Championships at Geelong, in 1.23.42. Though overall numbers anything much more than cycling to keep fit. — Photo Peter Colthup. (Results Page 19.) also took the honours in were down on last year’s the Shot Put and Javelin, However, his recent training schedule of nearly 100 winning all three of her kms *a week, including plenty of hills — and of course chosen events. free of injuries — seems to be paying dividends at last. CONTENTS Dedicated to all existing and potential Veteran Athletes in Australia. PAGE Congratulations are in order to popular New Zealand Veteran, Editorial..................................................................... 2 There is of course, next years inaugural Australian Masters Clem Green, whose recent appointments include Secretary/Treasurer Games in Hobart, Tasmania. Further possibilities of even more of the newly formed Oceania Association of Veteran Athletes and great competition in our region of the South Pacific are looming. ’87 World Games Update........................................ 3 WAV A representative on the IAAF Veterans Committee, who will With the advent of the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, provide an administrative role in the vital integration period between New Zealand being preceded by the 2nd Veterans Commonwealth WAV A and IAAF in the near future. Under the Watchful E y ............................................ 4 Games (the inaugural meet was held in Edinburgh, last July), again in N.Z. during the summer of 89/90, the 1st World Veteran Long Talking to Clem recently reminded me once again just how Distance Championships to be held in Hamilton. These will include Racewalk Review ....................................................6 rapid the growth of the Veteran movement is World wide. There 10k Road, 10k Cross Country, Marathon and Road Walks. are so many exciting things happening around the globe in Veteran Overseas News ....................................................... 7 Athletics, and many more will materialise in the very near future. Also in 1990 the busy Kiwis will host the 5th Oceania Games. So you see, folks, things are really happening, and guess what? Ultra Distance News ................................................8 On the home front, of course, we have our own exciting prospect of the V I1 World Games, here in Melbourne just a short Even the ‘Poms’ are about to launch a National Veterans newspaper year away from possibly the greatest sporting spectacle the city has after all these years! Now there’s progress for you! The Throwing Scene................................................9 witnessed since the 1956 Olympics. Seriously though, to Sylvester Stein and Bill Taylor, who have both been a great source of encouragement to me, best wishes to all Profile (Ruth Frith).................................................. 10 We have the might of U.S. Masters making a very serious bid concerned. I’m sure it will be a great success.