Entry Form Now Available for the 2008 OAMA Championships in Townsville. Download from the host site at http://athleticsnorthqld.org.au/images/stories/oceania_masters_official_entry_form_-_web.pdf

20 January 2008

TO ALL OAMA AFFILIATES AND OAMA COUNCIL MEMBERS

NOTICE OF MEETING
The OAMA General Assembly will be held on Wednesday 30 July 2008 in Townsville Australia. The venue and time are yet to be confirmed.

NOMINATIONS/REMITS
All nominations for Council positions and all remits should be in the hands of the OAMA Secretary
by 30 March 2008.

Council positions*
President: (The incumbent has served the maximum of six years as President and is unable to stand again for this office)
Vice President
Secretary (The current Secretary is not standing again)
Treasurer
WMA Delegate
Council Members (5)

(*refer to OAMA website www.oceaniamastersathletics.org for current Council details)

Helen Tobin
Secretary

In accordance with IAAF precedent he will continue to retain his office as WMA Executive Vice President. He will however delegate certain of his Executive Vice-Presidential functions to one or more Council members, in order to reduce his executive work load.

3 November 2006

Derek Turnbull dies

The fastest old man in the world, Derek Turnbull of Southland, has died.
Turnbull aged 79 died in his sleep on Thursday.

The sheep farmer from Tussock Creek started masters running at the age of 40. Since 1975 the greatest veteran runner of all time claimed 25 world age group records.
His best year of running was 1992 when he set six 65-69 age group world records and two world best times as well as running a time of 2h 41m at the age of 65 in the London Marathon.

At world veteran track and field championships Turnbull won 28 gold medals. At the 1997 championships in Durban South Africa, at the age of 71 he won six individual gold medals.

Turnbull had no set training programmes, no stop watch or coach, he just got out and ran the hills for enjoyment.
His philosophy was: "find enjoyment in it and never give up".

He was born in Waikaka in 1926 and attended Southland Boys High School. He attained a Diploma of Agriculture with honours at Massey University, scooping New Zealand University Blues in athletics and cross country.

Turnbull has been farming his own Sherwood Farm, 260 acres at Tussock Creek 30km north of Invercargill for the past 26 years.
The Southland Masters Athletics had arranged an 80th birthday bash run for Turnbull on 10 December around Turnbull's old stomping ground of Forest Hill Reserve, Tussock Creek.

Turnbull was awarded the QSM for his services to athletics and was patron of CCS (Crippled Children), Sport Southland, Invercargill Harrier and Athletic Club and New Zealand Masters Games.

Turnbull had a mild stroke in 2001, which he recovered from and he was bright, alert and very active right up to his unexpected passing.
Derek Turnbull and his wife Pat had a family of six, including triplets, and have 14 grandchildren and four great grand children.

A great runner is laid to rest.


Murray McKinnon
Communications Advisor
Athletics New Zealand