Couple takes 10 titles

Press, 25 February 1987, Page 26

Couple takes 10 titles

Mene Mene and his wife, Sally Ann, were flushed with success at the end of the Canterbury veterans’ athletic championships at Queen Elizabeth II Park last Sunday. Each of these former national open champions won five titles, and Mene Mene also broke the national record for men’s 40-years discus and the provincial mark for the high jump. Sally Ann Mene set a new 35-years high-jump record. Another New Zealand record was achieved by Jack

King in the men’s 60-years javelin, but pride of place went to Norman Hawke in the 76-years division. He broke the world record for that age group with a heave of 21.68 m in the hammer throw. Notable athletes of the past who competed with distinction included Shirley (Hardman) Peterson, Ken Simpson, Dave Leech and Arthur Grayburn, as well as two men who played rugby together for Canterbury and the South Island, Bruce McPhail and Vic Sykes. McPhail, a 1959 All Black wing, carried off five titles in as many starts in the men’s 50-years group, breaking the records for the long jump and 400 m. The national marks set were 43.12 m by Mene in the discus, and 36.8 m by King in the javelin. Canterbury records broken were:Men.— 60-years: K. Kidd, triple jump, 8.3 m. 55-years: C. O’Brien, triple jump, 9.54 m; R. Ferguson, high jump, 1.36 m. 50-years: B. E. McPhail, 400 m, 55.45; long jump, 5.46 m. 40-years: M. Mene, high jump, 1.6 m; K. G. Simpson, triple jump, 13.05 m. Women.— 45-years: G. Watts, 400 m, 69.95. 35-years: S. Mene, high jump, 1.34 m; G. Tabbot, 400 m, 62.85.