Leon Blanchet president of Athletics New Zealand

Leon Blanchet of Canterbury was elected president of Athletics New Zealand at the annual general meeting in Wellington yesterday. Blanchet was a track umpire at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games, a technical official at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and was on the jury of appeal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games earlier this year. He takes over from retiring president Colin MacLachlan of Wellington. Mhyre Oman of Waikato was elected vice-president.

Les Mills, who has competed at four Olympic and four Commonwealth Games was made patron of the association.

Gary Clareburt and Alan McCauley of Wellington along with Annette Purvis of Canterbury were elected to the board of directors. An additional position on the board will be sought by postal ballot.

John Bowden of Auckland and Ken Simpson of Canterbury were returned as track and field selectors along with a new member to the selection panel Graham O'Brien of Auckland. Blanchet and Fred Holmes of Wanganui were elected to the national technical committee.

Merit awards were presented to Pat Boland and Arthur Grayburn of Canterbury, George McConachy of Palmerston North and Auckland's Murray McKinnon.

Chairman of the board Stephen Underwood said that the association is dependent on Sparc for funding especially for high performance, leading to winning medals as well as increasing participation at all levels.