Skater brings skills to games
LAST Monday, speed skater Robert Cook was basking in the Brisbane heat.
A few days later, he was on a plane heading across the ditch to compete at the 143rd Waimate Caledonian Games at Victoria Park on Saturday.
The 1000m Australian national champion was enticed to Waimate by veteran speed skater Bruce Begg.
‘‘I got a call on Monday and I was on a plane on Thursday morning,’’ Cook said.
He won the men’s A grade 1600m event at the Waimate games, a decent effort considering he was competing in the South Canterbury township for the first time in his 26year career.
Cook, who skates for Logan City Speed in Brisbane, was pleased with his performance against a strong field, and said the speed skating talent on show in Waimate gave him high hopes for the future of the sport in New Zealand.
‘‘You have got a lot of strong juniors, particularly in the female grades. It’s good to see there [are] numbers in the sport and it’s also good to see a lot of clubs here, not just one or two.’’
Now that his racing career has started to wind down, Cook has moved into coaching to pass on his extensive knowledge to Australia’s upandcoming speed skaters.
‘‘I have been doing it [racing] for a long time. It’s probably one of the best things, passing on what you know and seeing people develop.’’
Several hundred competitors, including a strong contingent from North Otago, took part in this year’s edition of the games, believed to be the longestrunning of its kind in New Zealand.
In addition to speed skating, Highland dancing, piping, cycling and athletics were all on the extensive programme.