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A successful season was celebrated by the burgeoning Warkworth Athletics club last month with a special games night followed by its annual prizegiving ceremony.
Membership of the club has grown steadily over the past two years to the point where there are more than 150 children aged between four and 14 registered and at least 100 turning up for weekly training sessions at Shoesmith Domain.
Coaches have introduced a number of new initiatives and incentives this season, including documenting new club records and entering members into external meets and competitions.
Senior coach and committee member Patrick Morrison said taking part in regional and national championships had been the norm when he lived in Wellsford and was involved in the athletics club there, so it was natural for him to encourage young Warkworth athletes to do the same.
“It’s great to test ourselves against other kids in Auckland and beyond,” he said. “We did the Colgate Games in January, which are the North Island championships that were held in Auckland this year – we took seven kids and they all did really well.”
Morrison said the club would be entering a lot more such competitions next season, including Whangārei Ribbon Day on Waitangi Day, the North Harbour Championships, Auckland Championships and maybe even the South Island Championships in Christchurch.
“There are a lot more kids getting involved, it’s a huge change,” he said. “We want to start to develop a club uniform, and we’d like to see more teenagers stick around as well.
“The club is all about empowering our tamariki – our young and teen athletes. Getting kids moving, making new friends, enjoying sport and bringing our community together.”
He thanked committee members Dave Ruane, Tabea Salewski and Nikki McKay, senior professional coach and paralympic track athlete Mitch Joynt, and all the parent volunteers who helped to keep the club running and well organised.
Club championships were held over two weeks in early March to assess and grade boys and girls in each age bracket across a full range of running, throwing and jump events, with the following trophies awarded: 7-y-o girls: 1 Delta Sanderson, 2 Erin McKay, 3 Frankie Guinness; 7-y-o boys: 1 Toby Knapp, 2 Caiden Booysen, 3 Ari Fokkema; 8-y-o girls: 1 Aria Nepia, 2 Jasmine McLean, 3 Delilah McLean; 8-y-o boys: 1 Phoenix White, 2 Tyler Rhead, 3 Harry Ranum; 9-y-o girls: 1 Ireland Van Dyk, 2= Ciera Morrison and Matilda Van Der Meer; 3 Amelia McAuley; 9-y-o boys: 1 Zane Jackson, 2 Braaxton Jackson, 3= Lachlan Ranum and Hunter Mai; 10-y-o girls: 1 Aria Purcell: 10-y-o boys, 1 Quinn Taylor, 2 Adam Ibrahim; 11-y-o girls, 1 Lily Rhead, 2 Xanthe Walker; 11-y-o boys: 1 River Van Dyk, 2 Max Lewington, 3 Harrison Jamieson; 12-y-o boys: 1Braxton Morrison, 2 Olly James.
The Overall Athlete trophy was shared between Aria Nepia and River Van Dyk.
Colgate Games participants: Aria Nepia; Ireland van Dyk; Ciera Morrison; Iden Thorns; River van Dyk; Olly James and Braxton Morrison.
The 2024-25 season will start in spring and run for two eight-week blocks, from October to December and February to March.
Info: Warkworth Athletics on Facebook
