Tararua trio triumph at Masters Games

Tararua District athletes Lorraine and Eddie Warrington and Glen Hurst have returned with a “hatful of medals” from the New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin in February.

Alternately hosted by Dunedin and Whanganui, the Masters Games this year were in Dunedin, which hosted more than 5000 athletes competing in more than 60 sporting codes ranging from athletics to swimming, badminton to lawn bowls.

The Masters Games is for athletes of masters’ age. Every sport is different regarding the age at which athletes become masters; you’re a master at age 20 in swimming and a master in most other sports by 30.

The Masters Games offers both summer and winter codes. There are opening and closing ceremonies, medals are awarded, and they have a games village. You do not need to be an elite athlete to compete, and you don’t need to qualify. Anyone can register for the games — whether to win, to beat your personal best or to just participate.

Tararua’s three have been regular competitors, Lorraine and Glen in badminton and Eddie in lawn bowls. They often link up with friends from outside of the Tararua District to form doubles or teams.

Athletes also had the chance to compete in two novel events — the twilight 400 and pickleball.

In the twilight 400, Eddie and Lorraine Warrington participated individually in curling, smallbore shooting, tenpin bowling and darts. The accumulated points had Eddie score bronze in the 65-plus age group and Lorraine a silver in the 60-plus category. Pickleball was another sport Glen and Lorraine participated in, winning a silver in the 50-plus age group.

Results:

• Eddie Warrington and Gavin Streeter, 65-plus outdoor pairs bowls — silver

• Lorraine Warrington and Glen Hurst with two Feilding athletes, 50-plus team badminton — bronze

• Lorraine Warrington and Sue Boyde 60-plus pairs badminton — gold

• Glen Hurst and partner 50-plus pairs badminton — silver

• Lorraine Warrington and partner 55-plus ladies’ badminton doubles — bronzed

• Lorraine Warrington mixed social grade badminton 65-plus — gold.

Eddie and Lorraine Warrington with Glen Hurst — all from Dannevirke — display their medal haul from the NZ Masters Games held in Dunedin in February.