Athletics: Walker elated by place on board

By MURRAY MCKINNON

Athletics New Zealand has dumped its chairman and deputy chairman at the annual meeting in Wellington.

In a move to rescue the sport from a financial crisis and place it in the right direction, the meeting replaced chairman Kelly Diprose, of Te Aroha, and his deputy, Ross Pownall, of Auckland.

In their places are Olympic 1500m gold medallist John Walker, former New Zealand 400m champion Joanna Hickman, of Christchurch, Craig Purdy, of Wellington, and Rotorua accountant Len Watson.

Don Mackenzie, of Christchurch, and Noeline Hodgins, of Auckland, the other two directors to retire by rotation, did not seek re-election.

Walker was elated at his election.

"Good, now we can go forward and upwards," he said. "We have got potential to succeed again.

"We have got to get the numbers back into the clubs and competing at schools.

"We have got to make the sport interesting for them and produce champions. Encourage winners but if not, teach them to train harder to be first," he said.

The association ended the year $38,000 in the red and the Hillary Commission had placed an acting general manager, Bruce Stakell, in charge for the past two months.

Stakell said while it was a shame to lose board members, he was encouraged by the new blood.

"I'm sure they will do well. They have got talents and are enthusiastic," he said.

One of the first tasks of the new board is to appoint a general manager. Another move is to take control of the sport and this will start with a 10km road race throughout the country in mid-January.

Incumbent track and field selectors Tony Rogers, of Hamilton, Dave Norris, of North Harbour, and Ken Simpson, of Christchurch, were re-elected for a further two years.

Barry Hunt, of Nelson, was made a life member.