Three generations of Colgate Games

Dannevirke athletes Rebekah Irwin (L), Olivia Augustine, Georgie Hogan and Ella Hogan take part in the Colgate Games opening ceremony at Hawke's bay Regional Sports Park. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

One thousand three hundred and fifty three runners, hurdlers, high and long jumpers, shot putters and discus athletes kicked off the 39th Colgate Games yesterday with a ceremonial march past the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park's finish line.

The three-day-long competition of more than 200 events for athletes aged 7 to 14 has representatives from 93 North Island clubs and is New Zealand's largest National Junior Athletics Championship. A South Island meeting is being held in Invercargill next week.

Competition secretary and Hawke's Bay mother-of-three Nicki Carlson is one of 150 volunteers. She said the games were open to athletes at all levels, emphasising participation over achievement "but we have some excellent athletes coming through".

With husband Craig she always takes annual leave to coincide with the games, which come to Hawke's Bay every seventh year.

Family members and spectators outnumber athletes by up to three to one but unlike winter sports there were no problems with side-line umpires.

"Once you explain the rules in detail they are all pretty good," she said.

For ages 7 and 8 athletes are divided into divisions, with each division having winners and an Olympic-style award ceremony. Other age groups have qualifying heats before winners are decided.

The naming sponsor's red marquees feature alongside the running track's home straight, proclaiming teeth should be brushed twice a day and flossed once. Athletes are given packs including toothbrushes, dental floss and toothpaste.

Colgate general manager John Garside said the company had sponsored the Games since 1978, so some participants were third-generation competitors.

He said the outstanding performance of New Zealanders at the Rio Olympics had renewed young people's interest in athletics.

New Zealand Children's Athletics Association president Brian Cockeram said the event was about bringing the athletics community together in the spirit of true sportsmanship.

"While the focus is on participation, Colgate has provided four scholarships named after Colgate Games alumnus and Olympian Nick Willis, worth $500 each to athletes who display outstanding performance."