3 February 2009

Three-times world sculling champion Philippa Baker-Hogan is still a class act in rowing as she displayed with three titles at the 20th ACC New Zealand Masters Games in her home city of Wanganui.

Now aged 45, Baker-Hogan won her age grade single sculls and was also in winning four and eight-oar crews on the Whanganui River.

Former national lightweight champion Pat Spriggens was the most prolific title winner.

The 48-year-old, rowing on his home Aramoho course, won his age group single sculls and was also in five other winning crews.

The Aramoho-Wanganui club’s Rush family was also prominent with Jacqueline (34), Stephen (36), and Trevor (61), another ex NZ lightweight champion, featuring in 11 winning performances.

Richard Brock (Wanganui – 53), who has also won national honours in the past, claimed four titles as did Wellington’s Nicola Roderick (30) who was the youngest woman.

Three of the visiting Australian Victorian contingent - Neil Courtney, Denis Bourke and Christopher De Guingand – won gold medals in their age grade of the fours.

Three defending champions from 2007 – Kerry Bennett (Wanganui), Christine Voelkerling (Hunterville) and Pat Taylor (Tauranga) – retained their titles in the demanding stair racing, which included running up and down 376 stairs.

Second youngest entrant, Bennett (38) again won his age grade with a time of 5m 57s, 17sec quicker than two years ago but 6sec outside the record time.

Voelkerling (43), took 28sec off her previous best time with 7m 29s to win her age grade, while Taylor (63) whittled her 2007 time down by 13sec with 8m 37s.

Tauranga took gold, silver and a share of bronze in the indoor bowls singles to halt a Wanganui clean sweep of titles.

Barry Clement, 56, from Te Puke, beat Kati Kati’s Ted Cole, 59, in an all-Bay of Plenty final with another Kati Kati player, Leslie McLachlan, 66, sharing third place with New Plymouth’s  Mike Phipps.

Half centuries from Marton’s Mark Godfrey and Greg Maughan and economic bowling from ex Wanganui rugby rep Kellick Harding helped the Hunterville Hackers (243-8) beat the NSW Springwood Royals by 53 runs in cricket which involved 143 players.

Highest score of the opening round was 287-8 by Central Hawke’s Bay Country Districts who beat Tennix by 130 runs.

Waikato’s Fraser Flyers retained the women’s 35-39 basketball title with a side that included first timers Rechelle Warden (Manukau) and Materoa Rata, on the minimum qualifying age, and Caroline Kirby (47) as the oldest.

Porirua took the 11-team 40 plus women’s title, ages ranging from Angela Kara (42) to Lynette Bradnan (53).

Wangaz won the six-team men’s 35-39 championship, Chris Kells, Jonathan Hodson and Selwyn Baxter, all 35, collecting their first games medals.

Waitakere OB, with Bernie Roberts and Stewart Hughes, both 46, the oldest, headed off the 10 other sides in the men’s 40 plus grade.

Gisborne’s Colleen Skuse (63) and tournament organizer Bevan Tasker (81) retained titles in the Twilight 400 which comprises putt putt golf, smallbore rifle shooting, golf croquet and darts

Wanganui’s Joanne Rodgers, 37, recorded the highest women’s score of 232.1 pts with other locals Marion Rountree, 54, and Jenny Wray, 71, also winning gold medals. Skuse recorded the second highest women’s score of 229.7 pts.

Highest overall score of 256.8 went to John Rountree (Tauranga – 65) with his grade runner-up Roy Skuse (Gisborne – 67) next best on 248.6.

Richard Bennett (Wanganui – 43) was third highest on 242.4 pts in winning his grade with Wally Franklin-Browne (Wanganui – 59) also a title winner.

The fifth day of competition today (Wednesday) will see 1960 competitors in 18 sports engaged.

A feature will be the first grass track cycle sprint, being held at Springvale Park with 38 riders entered.