Northland's master athletes were lucky not to incur charges for excess baggage when they flew home with their haul of medals won at the Oceania Championships. Seven Northland Masters athletes won eight gold, six silver and four bronze medals and narrowly missed medals with three fourths. Nancy Bowmar's dedicated training paid offwith wins in women's 55-59 age-group high jump, long jump and triple jump. But it was her silver medal performance in the pentathlon 800 metres that she will be remembered for. In the 800 metres - the final event of the pentathlon - Bowmar managed to head off fellow Kiwi Noeline Burden, by just 1.03 seconds, securing silver and relegating Burden to bronze. "After four events [in the pentathlon] I was only two points ahead of Noeline Burden," Bowmar said. Bowmar needed to beat Burden in the 800 metres to be certain of silver. "After the start, I tucked in behind her - she slowed at 300 metres (to go), knowing that she had a better sprint than me. When we got to the 100 metre mark, I passed her and we had a 100m sprint to the finish and I ended up in front of her. "As a result I ended up 11 points in front of her in silver medal place," Bowmar said. Bowmar also won silvers in the 4 x 100 metres relay and the medley relay. Well established as a Northland champion, Ian Calder, lived up his reputation, taking gold in the men's 50-54 age-group 800m, 1500m and half-marathon. Calder was also awarded the prestigious Clem Green Trophy for the best 1500m performance across all the age-groups at the championships. Evergreen Dave Eastmond, M70-74, came home for gold in the 800m and 1500m, bringing Northland's total golds to eight. He also took silver in the 400m. Chris Portch, M60-64, showed he still has what it takes, with a silver medal performance in the gruelling decathlon, scoring 4,645 points and bettering the Northland record. Also competing in the M60-64 age-group, Willie Bowmar performed above expectations, winning bronze in the steeplechase and in New Zealand's half-marathon team. Beth Mcleod, W60-64 took silver in the long jump and bronze in the weight throw and discus.
