Athletics: Infighting over election

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Athletics New Zealand continues to lurch from one off-field crisis to another.

Needing to fill the vacancy left by John Walker's resignation from its board, the national body has sent out a letter endorsing one of four candidates.

The letter, endorsed by board chairman Joanna Hickman and general manager John Stewart, urges that votes be cast in favour of Auckland businessman Phil Kirk.

Not surprisingly, the letter has caused an outcry, with some centres now pledging not to vote for Kirk.

Former Athletics New Zealand president (in 2000) and Auckland centre life member and president (1990-97) Murray McKinnon is a candidate after being nominated by the centre.

The others are Geoff Henry, of Wellington, and Wanganui's Geoff Hooper.

"I was not going to say anything until after the vote," said 56-year-old McKinnon, who has 40 years in the sport. "But someone in the centre spoke out.

"I rang John Stewart to find out what was going on. They said they are looking for someone they felt could associate with the run-of-the-mill athlete, and Phil Kirk fitted that bill."

Kirk is a member of the Auckland YMCA club, which has long catered for the non-competitive runner and has organised many fun runs.

Athletics New Zealand, desperate to reverse a dramatic fall off in registrations, apparently sees Kirk as a lifeline.

The national body is constantly in dispute with the Auckland centre over much-needed registration money, claiming it owes "mega bucks" based on population rather than the number of athletes registered with clubs.

In an earlier dispute, the national body ditched high-performance manager Steven Hollings in a clandestine meeting involving former board members Kelly Diprose, Ross Pownall and Marlene Hudd.

Pownall and Diprose later lost their seats on the board. Hudd did not seek re-election.

Asked if he would put his name forward again for the next election, in October, McKinnon said he would "check the weather at the time" and added that he was only trying to help the sport.

Hickman said she was concerned the matter had become a public issue.

"We have worked hard to get things [in our sport] done more positively."

The postal ballot closes at the end of the month.

"The vote will take its course," Hickman said.

"We will be happy to accept the outcome."