The success and hard work of the local athletics club athletes and committee members has brought about a free athletics coaching workshop and a motivational talk by two paralympic athletes being held in Wanaka - for the first time - on Saturday October 10.

The success of the Aspiring Athletes Club’s (AAC) young athletes in recent times has raised the profile of Wanaka athletics with Athletics New Zealand, according to club secretary Kirsten Wyatt.

Kirsten said Athletics NZ’s (ANZ) club development leader Mariah Ririnui had told her the Aspiring Athletes Club was “on their radar”.  

“We have been proactive in our contact with ANZ and have hopefully put our hand up at the right time for some coaching assistance, as our little club is growing by the season,” Kirsten said.

Mariah said AAC is on Athletics NZ’s club development programme - a three year pilot programme designed to provide in depth support to 17 clubs around the country. 

As a result, Wanaka is the only other South Island venue (other than Christchurch) to be selected to host the Athletics New Zealand Community Roadshow, a series of coaching workshops facilitated by ANZ affiliated coaches to prepare clubs for the new season.

Mariah said the roadshow’s morning workshop is designed to upskill coaches, parents and teachers who deliver Get Set Go (three to six-year-olds) and Run Jump Throw (seven to 11-year-olds) at their athletics club or school.

Aspiring Athletes Club members at the South island Colgate Games this year.

These programmes provide education and developmentally-appropriate activities that build and develop a child’s basic fundamental movement skills in a fun, inclusive, sporting environment.

The afternoon’s two workshops give an introduction to Level 1 coaching in sprints, long jump, high jump, shot put and discus events for coaches of athletes aged 11 to 16.

“Both workshops will be highly practical as we aim to give coaches and parents the tools they need to be able to deliver and teach key skills to their athletes,” Mariah said. “They’re open to all sports clubs and schools interested in learning more about athletics.”

In the past few seasons, many of the AAC club members had been reliant on written coaching material provided by the ANZ, Kirsten said. “So to have a practical course run by ANZ affiliated coaches here in Wanaka is hugely beneficial for our club.”

Later that same day, paralympians Holly Robinson and Caitlin Dore will be among a group of para athletes sharing inspirational stories at the Wanaka Watersports Facility. 

Holly Robinson has attended two Paralympics and a Commonwealth Games and was the New Zealand flag bearer at the Rio Olympics, where she won a silver medal. She is the current world record holder in the F46 Javelin. She is joined by Caitlin Dore, the F37 shot putter who also attended the Rio Paralympics. 

Primary school children (parents required) are invited from 4.30pm - 5:00pm. Secondary pupils (parents welcome) are invited from 5.15pm - 5.45pm.

The free weekend of athletics-based activities concludes with the Aspiring Athletes Club Open Day on Sunday October 11. The club’s fun day of athletics is open to all athletes aged five-years-old or older and provides “a good opportunity to give athletics a go and see what the club is all about,” Kirsten said.

The weekly AAC club nights, held at the club’s grounds at the Wanaka Recreation Centre, begin on Thursday October 29 and run from 4:30pm-5:30pm every Thursday during the fourth and first terms. Registrations for all ages for the season are now open here.

The coaching roadshow will be held at the Wanaka Recreation Centre on Saturday October 10 from 10:00am - 4:00pm. Registrations for the workshops close October 8. Find more information about the workshops here.

That same day the opportunity to meet paralympians Holly Robinson and Caitlyn Dore starts at 4:30pm at the Wanaka Watersports Facility. Entry is free but bookings are essential. Please email [email protected]. 

The following day (Sunday October 11) the Aspiring Athletes Club hosts its open day at the Wanaka Recreation Centre from 10am to 12:00 noon. 

PHOTOS: Supplied