By Lorraine Clarke

VERY FEW of Meander Valley’s residents have earned a gold medal in sport, but Deloraine Online Access Centre’s own Sandra Atkins can’t seem to help but accumulate them!

Sandra is a well known local rider with a passion for retraining thoroughbred horses for new careers after the track. She has hunted for many seasons, and nearing 80 years, is still active in showjumping, eventing and dressage.

After recovering from 3 hip and 2 knee replacements, Sandra started riding again in January 2017, with the goal of competing in showjumping in the October Masters Games in Ulverstone. Forty-five different sports are contested by athletes aged from 35 to 90 plus, in 5 year age groups.

‘Being of Scottish ancestry, doing two sports for my $99 membership was better than one,’ Sandra said.

‘I looked at the list of sports available, and the only one I was capable of doing was Indoor Rowing. I didn’t know it was a competitive sport. I thought it was just a gym exercise.’

Sandra came home from Ulverstone with 2 gold and 2 silver medals, and this year was keen to compete again at the 17th Masters Games in Adelaide.

‘I needed a holiday. Why not go? My husband came for the week as well.

‘The competition was held at Adelaide Convention Centre, with 10 brand new rowing machines lined up. There was a big screen up front with a little boat for everybody to show their progress. There were heaps of people from 35 up to 92 years.

‘In the 1000m I found it really hard to keep up the rhythm, but rowed 3 seconds faster than in preparation. A personal best, so I was really happy with that. That afternoon I went well in the 500m, 2.5 seconds faster than ever before.

‘The next morning at 8.30 in the 2000m, I just pinged. I rowed a personal best, 23.5 seconds faster. In the 100m, I needed only 20 pulls with the lever on 10, and took out 4 gold medals.’

Sandra is enthusiastic about the experience of competing in the Masters Games.

‘The atmosphere is marvellous. Everybody was so encouraging.

‘Getting fit with rowing has helped improve my riding.’