ATHLETICS
Masterton athlete Josh Taylor added a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay to his silver medal in the 200m, completing a successful Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.
New Zealand finished third in the M02 final in one minute, 12.21 seconds, almost 12 seconds behind runaway winners China, with Switzerland second.
The team also included Jamie Davidson from Pahiatua, who had also won a silver medal over 100m.
Taylor also finished a game fifth in a strong M04 400m final in 1:02.90, just over a second outside the bronze medal position.
Meanwhile, Liam Lamb started his European campaign by winning an 800m race at Loughborough University, England, last Thursday in a pleasing 1:53.43, his fourth-fastest time and less than a second outside his personal best [PB].
The Wairarapa Track and Field Club member led from start to finish in what was a shakedown run to help remove any remaining jetlag before his first major challenge, a 1500m race at the Watford Grand Prix meeting on Saturday.
SWIMMING
Wairarapa masters swimmers Robyn Wells, Richard Swallow and Paul Maguire returned with a host of medals from the National Masters Championships held in Hastings.
Maguire turned in a gold medal-winning performance, dominating his age group by winning all of his five races – the 50m, 100m, 200m, 800m and 1500 freestyle events, swimming PBs in each.
Richard Swallow also won each of his four events – the 50m and 100m butterfly and 400 IM [individual medley] – the latter result earning him the Bob McClure medal, the final time this particular medal will be awarded. Swallow swam PBs in all his events and came second in his age group.
Wells secured victory in two out of six events in her age group and four second-place finishes, missing out on the top spot to a current World Masters record holder.
She won the 50m and 100m butterfly events and was second in the 50m, 200m and 400m freestyle and the 200 IM. Wells also swam PBs in all events and finished second in her age group.
