Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Sir John Walker named Patron of Athletics NZ

Sir John Walker named Patron of Athletics NZ
November 9, 2020
Sport /

Legendary middle-distance runner Sir John Walker has been named as Patron of Athletics New Zealand.

Sir John was welcomed into the honorary role at the 133rd Athletics NZ Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held at Auckland’s Bruce Pulman Park yesterday.

He is the second successive Olympic 1500 metre gold medallist and mile world record holder to assume the position, which has been vacant since the death of Sir Peter Snell last December.

Welcoming his appointment. Sir John Advised “it’s a great honour to be named Patron of Athletics NZ and to follow in the esteemed footsteps of a legend like Sir Peter Snell, who was a huge inspiration to me.

"I am excited by the strategic direction of Athletics NZ as the organisation looks to ensure all New Zealanders have the chance to take part in athletics in a safe and enjoyable environment."

Now 68, Sir John was the first person to run a mile in under 3 minutes and 50 seconds and won 1500m gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. He also won three medals at the Commonwealth Games, as well as breaking numerous national and international records.

Coached throughout his remarkable career by Arch Jelley, he also helped the New Zealand team to a senior men’s title - for the first and only time - at the 1975 World Cross Country Championships.

In addition to naming Sir John as Patron, the 2020 Athletics NZ AGM also served to appoint Karen Gillum-Green (Athletics Taranaki) as Vice-President while Dianne Rodger (Waikato-Bay of Plenty) was confirmed as club appointee on the Board Appointments Panel.

Catherine Rossiter-Stead was appointed to the Board by the Board Appointments Panel while the available elected position was filled by Genevieve Macky. The two new Board members replace retiring members Chris Maister and Peter Wyatt.

Outside of the Board appointments, Debbie Strange was also named as just the second-ever recipient of the prestigious Arthur Eustace Award for Coaching, which serves to recognise an outstanding athletics coach whose behaviours align with Athletics NZ’s key coaching values.

A leading throws coach for several decades, Debbie has helped develop the careers of the likes of Beatrice Faumuina (discus) and Stuart Farquhar (javelin). She has attended a number of Commonwealth Games, World Championships and Olympic Games as a team coach or official. She has also been instrumental in educating coaches throughout the Oceania region and is a life member of the Oceania Athletics Association.

A long-time member of the Hamilton City Hawks athletics club, Debbie is still coaching in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty region. She follows in the footsteps of Southland coaching stalwart Lance Smith, who was named as inaugural winner of the Arthur Eustace Award in 2019.

The contribution of many others to athletics was also recognised at the AGM via confirmation of new Life Members, as well as Long Service Award and Merit Award winners.

Life Members: The late Don Chadderton, Trevor Spittle, John Tylden

Long Service Award: Brendon Flanagan (Wellington Harriers, 24 years), Gabrielle O’Rourke (Wellington Harriers, 24), Jim Samson (Wellington Harriers, 21), Willy Szeto (Athletics Wellington, 20), Mike Ritchie (Athletics Wellington, 20), Shaka Sola (Athletics Wellington, 20), Vaughan Oates (Athletics Wellington, 20), Alistair Leslie (Athletics Wellington, 20), Mark Harris (Wairarapa Athletic Club, 20), Nga Holmes (Ttahi Bay Athletics, 22), Kelvin Wickliffe (Paeroa Athletics Club, 25), Yvonne Wickliffe (Paeroa Athletics Club, 21), Robyn Ruka (Paeroa Athletics Club, 29), Megan Gibbons (Athletics Taieri, 33), Neville Dippie (Temuka Club, 20+), Marilyn Morrison (Christchurch Avon Athletics Club, 31), Frances Cadman (Christchurch Avon Athletics Club, 20+), John Ingles (Christchurch Avon Athletics Club, 30)

Merit Award: Ray Young (Waikato-Bay of Plenty), Henry Tudor (Athletics Southland), Craig Brown (Athletics Canterbury)

The Athletics NZ Board is now comprised of the following: Cameron Taylor (Chair); Roger Carruthers (Deputy Chair); Jo O’Sullivan; Paul Spinks; Brent Robinson; Catherine Rossiter-Stead and Genevieve Macky.


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

ICP

ICP is an Australian-based company focused on indoor climbing. ICP will manage your project from initial design to completion and beyond, whether you're building an international-level climbing…

read more

Attractions / Fitness / Recreation

 
 

Technogym Australia

Technogym is the leading company in the Wellness and Fitness field all over the world. With 2,200 employees, 14 branches in Europe, U.S., South America, Asia  and Australia, Technogym exports its…

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Goplay Commercial Playground Equipment

Goplay designs and manufactures specialised playground equipment for indoor play centres, hotels, food chains, clubs and resorts. If our years of experience and dedication have taught us one thing,…

read more

Play

 
 

GREENEDESK

Track. Engage. Retain GreeneDesk is a suite of cloud based software solutions helping health clubs, leisure centres and swim schools to effectively track progression, improve customer engagement and…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Education / Fitness / Technology

 
 

DAE Global

DAE Global is one of the world’s leading international creative and production practitioners, creating award-winning sport, culture and entertainment experiences for over 30 years.  It was…

read more

Culture / Entertainment / Events / Venues

 
 

HRMWEB

At easyemployer we've come up with a software solution that manages one of your most important, and often most costly, business resources - your staff. We are helping 100s of clients to…

read more

Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

SimplySwim

    SimplySwim is a school management solution that helps swimming school owners and managers optimize operations by automating functions such as managing class schedules, billing and…

read more

Aquatics / Education / Recreation / Safety / Technology

 
 

AAC

Welcome to AAC – makers of the world’s best wristbands, lanyards, tickets, tokens and full-service print solutions. We are Australia’s premier global manufacturer and supplier of…

read more

Access / Marketing / Safety / Ticketing

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business