Masters athletes span ages

By Nick Tolerton | 23rd September 2009

Southern Steel netballer Megan Hutton and a 95-year-old athlete from Picton are among the sportspeople taking part in the five-day South Island masters games that start next Wednesday in Christchurch.

Hutton, eligible for masters as a 33-year-old, will play for the One London netball team. Netball will be the biggest sport at the games, with 52 teams on the Hagley courts.

Another big name will be former Kiwis and West Coast league iron man Tony Coll, who is competing in the mountain biking and road cycling at his first games.

The oldest entrant is Ian Mathison, 95, who will do the 5km walk and play bowls.

“He’s the oldest competitor ever at the South Island masters,” said communications manager Ken Dunning.

More than 1600 athletes are competing in 30 sports at the games, he said.

Twenty-five venues will be used.

Netball, soccer, and lawn bowls all received maximum entries.

The entrants are not expending their energy just on competition.

“The masters theme this year is Five Days of Games, Five Nights of Fun,” said Dunning.

The games village will be at the Hagley netball centre.