Masters games gold medal haul

Overcoming aches and pains and being a good sportsman is all part of the game for gold medalist Alyn George.

The 62-year-old tennis and badminton player just returned from winning a haul of medals - four gold and one silver - at the 29th New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin from February 3 to 11.

George, from Kerikeri, won gold in the badminton 60+ men’s doubles, gold in the badminton men’s singles, gold in the tennis men’s singles, gold in the tennis mixed doubles and silver in the combined tennis men’s doubles.

But it was the tennis match with rival James Lynch from Waihi that was particularly tough, he says.

‘‘He had three match points and I was four games down and came back to win in a tiebreak.

‘‘I was really pleased with that. ‘‘I didn’t expect to get the gold medals. I went in thinking I’d just participate so that was pretty good.’’

The NZ Masters Games is the largest multi-sport event in New Zealand. Held every year, the event alternates between Wanganui and Dunedin.

The games hosts 60 plus sports which attract more than 5000 competitors.

George won gold in the mixed doubles tennis with his wife Jaki George at the same event in Wanganui last year, and went on to win silver and bronze at the World Masters Games in Auckland in April.

George, a member of the Doubtless Bay Tennis Club, says he enjoys participating in the masters games, and will probably enter future events.

‘‘It’s good socially to catch up with old friends and fellow sports people and meet new people.’’

George’s entry into the world of tennis and badminton is ‘‘a bit unorthodox,’’ he says.

He started playing tennis in his 20s and ‘‘has never had a tennis lesson’’, and began playing badminton as a prison officer in the UK in the late 1990s.

Even though he has a few more aches and pains now, he’s happy to still be playing.

‘‘You don’t have to be the best person to win,’’ he says.

‘‘You just have to want it the most and be the most determined.

‘‘It’s like life really. And enjoy it as well.

‘‘If you really like it, it brings out the best in you.’’

Alyn George is pretty pleased with the haul of gold medals he won at the NZ Masters Games.