Record breaking number of entries for Colgate Games 2015!

MEDIA RELEASE: 5th January 2015

Record breaking number of entries for Colgate Games 2015!

This month, young athletes from up and down the country will put all their training into practice at the 37th year of the Colgate Games.

The 2015 Colgate Games, known as New Zealand’s National Junior Athletics Championship, has received a record breaking number of entries to the South Island Games at 4,000 plus. In total, the North and South Island Games has received over 8,700 entries from across the country for a host of track and field events.

IAAF World Indoor Championships Bronze medallist and 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Tom Walsh, has some words of wisdom for the 7 to 14 year old aspiring athletes taking part, based on his own experience participating in the Colgate Games.

The talented 22 year old shot-putter will be the ambassador for the 2015 games, encouraging and inspiring young athletes to challenge themselves and do the best they can.

“The Colgate Games are a great stage for Kiwi kids to compete. It’s a fantastic opportunity for all the athletics clubs and supporters to get together, and a wonderful experience for the kids.

“I remember when I went to the Colgate Games when I was younger. It was a really big deal as it is the biggest athletics competition around as a child. It inspired me to train harder and push myself all the way.

“My advice to the children competing would be that they try their very best. It can be hard pulling out a performance at a big competition, but so long as they give it their all, they can be very proud of what they have achieved, irrelevant of whether they receive a medal or not.”

John Garside, General Manager, Colgate New Zealand, said “the Colgate Games have been bringing children and their proud parents together for many years. It’s wonderful to be able to work with the NZCAA and give thousands of young aspiring athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents.”

The 2015 Colgate Games will see over 2,000 athletes from 108 athletics clubs across New Zealand participate in the two events in Wellington and Dunedin with the ultimate prize being the Nick Willis Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to athletes who have outstanding performances throughout the Colgate Games events in January, and gives recipients funds to put towards sports gear, coaching, travel, and other resources to help them with their athletics goals.

The North Island Colgate Games will take place at Newtown Park, Wellington from 9 – 11 January. The South Island Games will be held at Caledonian Ground, Logan Park, Dunedin from 16 – 18 January.

-ENDS-

Notes to the editor:
The 2015 North Island Colgate Games will take place from 9 – 11 January 2015 at Newtown Park, Wellington.
The 2015 South Island Colgate Games will take place from 16 – 18 January 2015 at Caledonian Ground, Logan Park, Dunedin.

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