Veteran records fall

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 26

Veteran records fall

PA Dunedin A former Otago athlete, Shirley Peterson, from the Technical Club in Christchurch, won the women’s 50 to 54 years long jump with a record of 4.444 metres at the national veterans’ athletics championships in Dunedin at the week-end. ' This beat her own national record by 27cm and suggests that she has by no means reached her peak. In her youth, as Shirley Hardman, she was a noted athlete and won the New Zealand senior women’s long jump title in 1946. She also won the 100 yards

title five times and the 75 yards title five times. Tom Fleming (Ashburton) set a record of 47.40 metres in the men’s 40 to 44 years hammer throw with a distance of 47.40 metres. He is the champion and record-holder and this mark beat the old record by five metres. Trevor Bent (Taieri) won the 50 to 54 years age group in the same event with a throw of 36.34 metres. This was the second national title won by members of the Bent family this month. His son Gary won the junior men’s hammer throw during the national championships in Dunedin. In the men’s 40 to 44 age

group 1500 metres John McDowell (Palmerston North) saw off Eddie Gray (Greymouth) in the final * int to win in 4 min. 18.255. Bill Baillie (Lyndale), the former international, used his experience to win the 50 to 54 age group 1500 metres in 4 min 25.95. He sat on the leader, Jim Macdonald (Canterbury), until the final straight before winning narrowly in the final 60 metres. A former All Black, Bruce McPhail (Ashburton), won the men’s 45 to 49 age group 400 metres with a time of 54.65. He also won his high jump with a leap of 1.45 metres.