Tech athletics club winds up | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

The club that produced some of New Zealand’s greatest athletes is disappearing.

The Technical Athletics Club is closing after having only a handful of athletes last season.

Technical produced five Olympic athletes and 25 Commonwealth Games representatives.

Its members included two greats, Marise Chamberlain and Val Young.

Young won five Commonwealth Games golds in shot and discus over three games – as well as two other medals. Chamberlain set a 440 yard world record in 1958 and won the 800m bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.

Other Technical stars included legendary coach Valdy Briedis, 1936 Olympic representatives Cecil Matthews and George Giles, and in more recent times Bev Peterson, Diane Charteris, Sally Mene, Mene Mene, Janice Maxwell, Lyn Osmers, and Tania Lutton.

Members farewell 84 years of competition at a dinner last Saturday, and its winding-up will be completed soon. It’s given its gear to the New Brighton club and its remaining funds will be dedicated to benefit local athletics projects..