"I THOUGHT THAT I WAS FINISHED" Simpson on comeback trail after cartilage operation

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34021, 10 December 1975, Page 14

"I THOUGHT THAT I WAS FINISHED" Simpson on comeback trail after cartilage operation

(By

ROD DEW)

At the end of the last track and field season, the former New Zealand Pacific Conference Games representative, Ken Simpson (Toe H), thought that he was finished as far as serious competition was concerned. Although he had earlier won the Canterbury long jump title and finished a good third in the national championship, a recurring knee injury was seriously restricting his activities.

But Simpson has had the cartilage removed from his

right knee and is now keen to resume his athletic career. Less than two weeks ago, he registered himself and had three careful jumps in an inter-club long jump event. His best effort of 6.81 metres was good enough to give him third place and convince him that he still had a future in the sport . "I just thought I would sneak down to Queen Elizabeth Park without telling anybody and see how my leg stood up to it,” he said afterwards. “It was good — no problem at all.” Simpson, now 30, hopes to compete seriously in the long jump for the rest of this season and will be available for the national championships at Auckland in March. But he does not

feel that he should attempt a return to the triple jump, the event in which he won the New Zealand championship in 1972 and 1973.The leg he has had the cartilage removed from is his take-off leg.

However, he might also compete in “the odd high hurdles” event. Simpson won the New Zealand 220 yards hurdles championship in 1969. although he probably never fully realised his full potential “over the sticks.” He intends to take things very much as they come.

Simpson partially owes his new lease of athletic life to another Olympic sport — cycling. After the

cartilage operation, in June, he borrowed a racing cycle from a prominent road competitor. Corrie Tabak, and used this to strengthen the leg. “I went out only when I felt like it, but it certainly helped. I did the occasional 20 miles, even though I probably didn’t do as much as I should have.”

At any rate, Simpson has returned to the competitive arena and, as a result the long jump in Canterbury gains in stature. What seemed like being a twoway battle for the Canterbury championship this season between the New Zealand decathlon champion, Mene Mene (Technical), and his accomplished club-mate, Dragon Ivanov, will now be at least a three-way contest. Simpson has best performance in this event of 7.32 metres and still holds the Canterbury senior record at 7.30 metres. He also holds the Canterbury triple jump record at 15.23 metres. Some indication of the length of time he ha? been prominent in the sport can be gained from a glance at the Canterbury record list. Simpson holds the provincial junior triple jump record — a mark set 12 years ago. In his time, he has also been an A grade sprinter as well as a hurdler and jumper. Even now, he finds it a little hard to believe that he is able to compete again. ! ‘I thought that last season would be the finish,” he said.

He will probably make his first serious outing since his operation in the annual triangular contest against Otago and Southland at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday. But, for the first time, it will not be as a member of the official Canterbury team. Mene and Ivanov have been selected ahead of the reigning champion and Simpson will compete by invitation only if the southern entry is not a full one. It is a situation which should appeal to his competitive instincts. But it is one which is unlikely to be repeated. It seems hardly likely that, he will fail to win back his place in the Canterbury team for the next inter-provincial contest. against Wellington at Wellington on January 31.