The Characters Of The Masters Games

The Characters Of The Masters Games

While few like to stay tight lipped on game happenings, others can’t wait to chat about a certain person whom they admire for their dedication to their sport.

One particular name has been coming up, especially in the Rowing fraternity. Richard Safey was a long time competitor in the New Zealand Masters Games Indoor Rowing competitions, sadly he passed away last year but would have been front and centre at this years’ Games.

In his memory a trophy has been gifted and will be engraved with the name of the person that gets the highest percentage to their respective world record times. Patrick Carroll,

coordinator of this year’s Indoor Rowing event summed up what a lot of people are no doubt feeling about Richard this year “a nice guy taken too early”.

There have been other great stories emerging too like the 12 strong netball team who came to compete all the way from Sri Lanka, and the story of John Gray who grew up in Wanganui but now resides in Canada for the past 49 years. John was the men's springboard diving champion and his father has a timing clock at the Splash Centre presented in his honour by the Gonville Swimming Club. It is both history and present that bring together such fantastic sports people.

However the Games cannot pass without the mention of all those others that make it a true success; the sports coordinators, the volunteers, the supporters and the local businesses who do everything in their power to make all visitors feel welcome. Leading up to the Games, a challenge was put down for the Mainstreet Wanganui shops to get behind the Masters Games and show their support with a window display competition. After much deliberation, the overall winner was Etcetera Fashion and Bridal who offer a striking display in the theme of the Games – the Wild West.

Remember for all enquiries concerning registration, results, sports and merchandise, the NZCT Games Village will be open every day from 8am to 6pm, website nzmg.com or download the phone app for NZMG.

Background Information on New Zealand Masters Games:

Since its inception in 1989, the NZ Masters Games has grown from humble beginnings of 1500 entrants competing across 29 sports to the heady heights of over 8,000 entrants and 67 sports, making it the biggest Masters Games event in New Zealand by far.

The 2015 New Zealand Masters Games is the 26th Games held in conjunction with our partners in Dunedin. The Games is a 10 day event comprising 55+ different sports and over 2,400 individual events. Minimum qualifying age starts from 20 years of age. Located conveniently close to the sport venues and commercial heart of the city, the NZCT Games Village provides a unique and unforgettable focal point to the Southern Trust New Zealand Masters Games.

The philosophy of the Games is inclusive, focusing on participation and achievement where competition is important but not all important and where there is literally no minimum requirement for skill or experience. People return year after year to re-kindle friendships and re-unite as team-mates in a place that celebrates fair competition and spirit. Competitors recapture the thrill and emotion of their youth through participation and achievement over the
huge range of sports on offer. Some accomplish more as a ‘Master’ than ever before in their lifetime. The energy and atmosphere of “the Games” is infectious amongst the young at heart – it’s about “letting your hair down for a while” and enjoying sporting success, whether you’re thirty-five or seventy-five.

“There are very few sporting events which offer people of all ages, shapes, sizes, abilities and levels of experience an opportunity to participate, achieve and have a truly memorable time doing it!” says Games Manager Judy Doyle NZMG attracts five to six thousand participants, plus their supporters, to each event. For many of the competitors, the event is a highlight on their sporting calendar. A whopping 85% have indicated an intention to return to the next event, and every year new converts are welcomed to the “Masters” culture. Many visitors are from overseas representing over 22 countries to date including Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, Canada, Turkey, Sri Lanka, France, Denmark, Italy, Brazil, India, Hong Kong and the Pacific Nations.

Former sporting greats such as Sir Brian Lochore, Andy Haden, Peter Snell, Dick Tayler, Yvette Corlette (Williams), Aaron Slight, Peter Bellis, Gary Anderson,
Frank van Hattum and Simon Owen (to name only a few) have competed alongside our
other competitors in the spirit of the masters movement. Apart from the minimum age designated by each sport, there is virtually no other criteria for entry. Most sports start at 35 years of age, with some (such as swimming) offering a minimum age of 20. By far, the largest segment of competitors (in fact, almost 57% of our competitors) are the “baby boomers” - the generation of “ageing hipsters” born between 1946 and 1964. Following close behind (at just over 16% of competitors) is “generation x”, young and vibrant at around 20 to 40 years of age, and now proudly qualifying to compete as a ‘Master’. Our veteran competitors, at “60 years young” or more, make up a healthy 25% of our competitors.

Overall, participants are fairly evenly split between male and female.

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