WHEN you have three hip and two knee replacements, it would be fair to assume competing in the Australian Masters Games would be off the agenda – but not for Sandra Atkins.
The Tasmanian horsewoman had already signed up to compete in the equestrian events, but after paying the “steep” entry fee decided she should get value for her money and put her name down for indoor rowing too, despite having never competed in the sport before.
“I was limited to what I could do, but I could do rowing,” the 76-year-old grandmother of three said.
“It took me three minutes to get to 500 metres the first time at the gym. I looked up what the last Masters Games winner in my age group rowed and set that as my goal. It was 2:20.7 minutes and I rowed 2:19.1.”
The games were held at 65 venues in north-western Tasmania from October 21- 28.
Sandra, from Deloraine, competed in the 1000-metre and 2000-metre rowing competitions and won gold in both. “I was pretty stoked. It was terrific being there.”
Sandra then turned her attention to her more familiar sport – and took home two more gold medals and two silver medals in showjumping.
Despite walking with a stick and having her most recent knee replacement in 2016, Sandra said riding was not an issue.
“I get on a horse and have four good legs beneath me.I wanted to get back into riding. I’ve been at the top level and I’m lower now, but I can still do it.”
Sandra got into showjumping seriously after she married 57 years ago and almost made it to the Olympic Games.
“There’s nothing like sitting on a horse you’ve brought up through the grades and they keep going,” she said.
“You’ve got to be fit yourself (to ride) because there needs to be a good trust between you and the horse.”
The Masters Games are not new to Sandra: she and her husband Owen participated in the 1976 event when it was held at Ulverstone, also in Tasmania.
“I was 36 then and competed in the youngest group. My husband rode too.
“I hadn’t had a chance to get back (to another Masters Games) until they came back to Tasmania.”
Training for equestrian and rowing events proved good for Sandra in more ways than one.
“Getting fitter for rowing was the best thing. I’ve been trying to encourage other oldies to take up a sport because it’s good for you.”
Adelaide will host the 17th Australian Masters Games from October 5-12, 2019.
16th Masters Games highlights
- More than 5000 participants took part in 47 sports.
- More than 1000 volunteers helped out over the eight-day event.
- The oldest competitor, Ted Moule, 93, from Hobart, took part in sailing events all week – and it was his first appearance at the games.
- Tasmanian-born Roger Churchward, 92, who now lives in Victoria, won gold in the 1500m. He stopped the clock at 12.23:52 to win the 90-94 division. He has competed at every Australian Masters Games since he was 50.
- Ninety-year-old Heather Lee, from Richmond in NSW, clocked a world record for her age group of 24:56 in the 3000m walk.
- Fly fishing and trail running made their debuts.
- Participants came from every state and territory.
- Seventeen other countries were represented.
