By New Zealand standards the Tasman Centre is one of the smallest Centre’s affiliated with Athletics New Zealand (ANZ) but that hasn’t stopped the masters in the Tasman Centre regularly ‘punching above their weight’ at national championships across a wide range of events. This includes road, cross country, mountain running, half and full marathon, as well as track and field championships with numerous individuals claiming five-year age groups titles and many others with podium finishes.
Master’s runners in the Tasman Centre also have a proud record of gold medal wins and minor medals in teams events, particularly in the NZ Road Relay Championships and more recently the new team events for M65+ masters at the NZ Cross Country and NZ Road Championships. Over the last 30 years teams from Tasman competing in Athletics Nelson or Tasman Tigers singlets have won a total of 17 NZ Road Relay Championship titles in the master’s men, master’s women and master’s open grades, the second highest number behind the Wellington Scottish club. In 2014, Athletics Nelson won the top club award at the NZ Road Relay Championships in Christchurch. This award is usually claimed by much larger clubs in the major cities, such as Wellington Scottish, who have won it more times than all other clubs put together.
Master’s athletes in the Tasman Centre have regularly participated in the NZ Masters Athletics (NZMA) Track and Field Championships, claiming many five-year age group titles and records, including South Island Masters T&F Championship records and NZMA T&F Championships records and NZMA National records. One of the best-performed current track and field master’s athletes in the Tasman Centre is Joeline Jones who currently holds 7 SI Masters Championship records, 3 NZMA Championship records and 3 NZMA National records (including being a member of the W35 team that holds the 4x100m relay record). She has enjoyed considerable success at various major overseas track and field meets, little wonder that she has twice won the Master’s Sportsperson Award at the Nelson Sports Awards.
But it is not all about winning as many masters age athletes participate to achieve personal goals, to improve their fitness and health and for the great comradeship that athletics also offers. Lots of masters aged runners and walkers regularly take part in informal, fun events such as the regular club runs and 5k events on offer across the top of the South Island Te Tauihu.
Nelson hosted the NZMA T & F Champs at the Saxton Field Athletics Oval in 2017 and has regularly hosted the SI Masters T&F Champs which rotate around the South Island centres with all-weather track facilities. The 2024 SI Masters T&F Champs will be held in Nelson on 19-21 January 2024. Entries close on 12 January 2024.
The 2024 NZ Masters Athletics T&F Champs will be held in Christchurch on 16-18 February 2024. Entries close on 6 February 2024.
These champs are open to master’s age athletes 30 years and older. They provide an ideal opportunity for local masters to participate and for first timers to have a go with minimal travel and accommodation costs. For further information on both these championships, including the schedule of events and to enter go to the NZ Masters Athletics website.
To take part in the SI Masters T&F Champs and NZMA T&F Champs you must be either a competitive member of your local Master’s Centre (Tasman Masters if you reside in Nelson Marlborough) / NZ Masters Athletics or a competitive member of a club that is affiliated with Athletics NZ eg Athletics Nelson or Marlborough Athletics. Registration for Tasman Masters or NZ Masters Athletics can also be on done on the NZMA website. While registration for Athletics Nelson or Marlborough Athletics can be done on their respective websites.
For further information or any queries on Masters athletics and the SI Masters T&F Champs please contact Derek Shaw, President of Tasman Masters Athletics and Board member of NZ Masters Athletics, Phone 027 548 7537, email: nikau1052@gmail.com.
Masters athletes are welcome to participate in the Athletics Tasman senior T&F meets listed on this website. They provide a good opportunity to train for SI and NZMA champs and if you are new to the track to experience what it is like.