Pegasus Post: August 12, 2021

6
Thursday August 12 2021
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
PEGASUS POST
Close contest for gold at
retirement village games
MAIREHAU’S Doreen Watkins
says her race for gold at the
Olympics@Ryman cycling final
included a tough push for the
line at the end of the 13.5km
race.
The 71-year old Diana Isaac
Retirement Village competitor,
who admits she is a bit of a
fitness fanatic, was chased hard
by silver medal winner Sue
Greet, from Halswell’s Anthony
Wilding Retirement Village.
A total of 104 people from
31 Ryman retirement villages
throughout New Zealand and
Australia entered the virtual
cycling event, with 18 in the
women’s event.
Doreen said activities and
lifestyle co-ordinator Laura
Richmond warned her Sue was
making up ground in the final
kilometres.
“Laura tapped me on the
shoulders and said: ‘Watch
this one.’ I had just enough
to put a wee spurt on,” Doreen
said.
The course was “hard work”,
especially the changing of gears
on a hill.
“I remember the supporters
saying: ‘Change up a gear,
change up a gear’ as I was going
CHAMPION: Doreen Watkins relaxes after her massive
cycling win on 13.5km route during the virtual Olympics@
Ryman games.
down the hill.
“I was struggling to get up a
gear and I also thought I don’t
know whether I can stand that
pressure, if I want to have a little
bit left at the end,”
While Doreen had ridden a
bike as a child going to school,
her love of cycling awakened
with a tour of the Otago Central
Rail Trail in around 2004.
She feels as fit as she has for a
long time.
Three times a week she exercises
on the treadmill, backed up
by a 1km swim.
On other days she completes
a village gym class before again
stepping onto the treadmill.
“I take the weekend off,” she
laughed.
The residents and spectators
in the Christchurch village gym
have witnessed some stunning
cycling from the women and
men, who were motivated in
part by the Japanese scenery on
the screen in front of them. ​
JUNGLE: A mural painted in 1979 by Linwood High School
sixth form students Grant Takle and Marcelle Park at the
former Woolston Park pool could be recreated at Te Pou
Toetoe: Linwood Pool. ​
Mural could be redone
• By Bea Gooding
A JUNGLE-INSPIRED mural
painted by students in the late-
1970s could be reimagined at
Linwood’s newest pool.
Created at Woolston Park
pool by Linwood High School
students in 1979, the mural’s
recreation is currently being
considered at Te Pou Toetoe:
Linwood Pool ahead of its October
opening.
Linwood Ward city councillor
Yani Johanson is keen to see it
brought back to life so that the
new facility can reflect a slice of
the area’s history.
“Woolston Pool has a significant
history in terms of its place
in the community,” he said.
“It’s important to not lose that
history, and personally I felt it
was a nice way to remember and
acknowledge that there’s a lot of
special memories people will have.”
Cr Johanson broached the
idea with Linwood-Central-
Heathcote Community Board
members last week after coming
across an old black and
white photo of the mural being
painted.
So far the possibilities were
open in terms of its resurrection,
including an exact recreation
or using the photo itself as the
artwork.
To register your interest, email
linwoodpool@ccc.govt.nz
• HAVE YOUR SAY: Do
any memories spring to
mind when you think of
Woolston Park pool and
its mural? Email your
stories to bea.gooding@
starmedia.kiwi
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