If membership is what Athletics New Zealand wants it should fish where the fishes are, and that is in the big running and walking events. Paul is correct to say that the non-race walkers are a potential source of membership, and therefore more money from SPARC for Athletics NZ.. I have no idea if there is any strategy in AthNZ to find a way to encompass these walkers.
In April I went to the Rotorua Marathon with Jack Tregurtha and at our own (considerable) expense conducted an exercise to see if it was possible to scrutinise the event to eliminate joggers from the walking class, and therefore allow walkers to get merit prizes. We've written a report to say that it is possible, provided some changes are made. I now wait to see what the organiser and AthNZ (Owners of the event) decide.
At the Rotorua Marathon/10km/5km race prizegiving there were endless prizes and of categories of runners. Walkers were included in the sot prizes, but that is all. There were lots of thanks, and congratulations during the prizegiving. Not once were walkers congratulated or thanked for taking part. I was amazed! There were 407 walkers entered in the marathon, which is 21% of the total entries, and I obviously plenty in the 10 and 5 km races. Even if there were no merit prizes some thanks might have helped.
In the Harbour Capital Marathon, Half, and 10 km races held here in Wellington on 25 June the organisers provided merit prizes for walkers in the marathon and half. There was a Recreational Class of entry and this had 584 entries, compared to the 628 walkers. The Organisers, The Wellington Marathon Clinic have made changes for the last three years so that this time our Scrutineers had an easy job. First all walkers had a distinctive pink coloured number, secondly they started at separate times from runners and thirdly they all wore a bright yellow ankle bracelet. This is one of Paul's ideas which I used, and it worked a treat. We could see who was a walker from a long distance. And importantly the walkers knew why they were wearing it. As a result we only had to recommend that two walkers (out of over 600) be moved into the Recreational Class because of their jogging.
Apart from a few mistakes at the prizegiving, where the wrong people took prizes they had not won (Quickly fixed) the walkers went away with a good feeling. So there were probably 500 of the 600 who were potentially candidates for some form of relationship with Athletics NZ. As I said at the beginning I don't know if there is strategy to involve these people in AthNZ, but this was one of many good opportunities, gone begging. Bart Jones with a little help from his friends is doing a good job to stimulate walking in general here in Wellington, and it is thriving in a few other centers as well. As Paul says non-race walkers need to be encouraged, realistically and honestly. Just 5000 of those many thousands of walkers, at $25 each would have replaced the SPARC money. Hopefully AthNZ will realise this and come up with a realistic and honest offer to the non-race walkers, and soon.
David Lonsdale
-----Original Message-----
From: Kiwiwalkers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Kiwiwalkers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul Godbaz
Sent: Sunday, 9 July 2006 12:15
To: Kiwiwalkers
Subject: [Kiwiwalkers] Fw: I wonder why?
I personally feel that this was inevitable as Sparc can see that Athletics New Zealand is, in general, doing NOTHING to encourage the hundreds of thousands of non-racewalkers in New Zealand who could become a part of the organisation if they were encouraged realistically and honestly.
SPARC would rather fly like eagles than associate with turkeys.
SPARC has taken the recent decision to withdraw its Sport Development investment that it has made in Athletics New Zealand in the last couple of years.
The calendar 2006 investment of $125K is not to be made as SPARC is of the opinion that Athletics New Zealand is insufficiently aligned with its own objectives based around securing various ‘participation’ targets.
“It is disappointing that this action has occurred because it has an immediate significant financial impact for the Association” says Jeremy F Kennerley, Chief Executive.
One direct unfortunate consequence of this decision has been the necessity of Athletics New Zealand to disestablish one permanent position in National Office due to the lack of funds to pay for the position.
“The removal of this level of funding has meant the Association is now unable to employ anyone in the Sport Development part of the business. Not only is this terrible for the individual involved, but it also represents a backward step for the Association as it will make it increasingly more difficult for the National Office to deliver outcomes for the Sport, not least in the area of participation” adds Kennerley.
Jeremy F Kennerley
Chief Executive Officer
Athletics New Zealand
Ph 04 384 6021
Cell 0274 953 480
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