Geoff Henry and Roger Robinson Receive Honours.
Two of Athletics Wellington’s long time and most loyal members have been honoured in different forums over the last couple of weeks in recognition of their individual contributions to the Athletics Community locally and on a wider scale and for their somewhat differing but enduring contributions of passion and service to our sport.
Geoff Henry was honoured at the Nuku Ora’s Āti Awa Toa Wellington Regional Sports Awards for his Lifetime contribution to Athletics in Wellington and New Zealand has been far reaching guiding our regional body and his beloved WHAC club in so many different ways for over 40 years. From 1995 – 2012 Geoff was the Development Officer and Coaching Co-ordinators for Athletics Wellington Centre. This was a voluntary at first, then a part-paid for a while and then a voluntary position. Geoff holds the Athletics New Zealand long service and merit awards and have been elected to life membership of WHAC club and Athletics Wellington. He was also Chair of the former Hillary Commission Community Sports Grant scheme for Wellington City, arranging funding and equipment for a lot of sports teams. He was awarded an MNZM in 2015 for services to sport
Geoff’s key areas of contribution to Athletics Wellington include
- Chairman, Wellington Harrier Athletic Club (8 years)
- Junior Handicapper WHAC (30+ years)
- Cross Country and Track & Field Coach
- Development Officer Wellington Centre (9 years)
- Coaching Co-ordinator Wellington Centre (5 years)
- Centre President (5 years)
- Secretary, Athletics NZ Central Athletics League (6 years)
- Secretary, Athletics NZ National Athletics League (4 years)
- Member, Official’s Association
- Member, Coach’s Association
- Member, Master’s Association
- Member WHAC (40+ years)
- Acting CEO, Sport Wellington Region 1996
Roger Robinson, was honoured by Athletics New Zealand as a Life Member for his considerable contribution to our sport in many aspects, but not the conventional route via Centres administration.
Roger’s running career was highlighted whilst at Cambridge University in the 1966 when selected in the England Junior Team to run at the International Cross-Country Championships held in Rabat, Morocco. He migrated to New Zealand in 1968 as Lecturer in English at Canterbury University becoming heavily involved in their athletics. He won various Canterbury titles over 1968-74 before accepting the post of Professor of English at Victoria University of Wellington in 1975.
Again, becoming involved in their Victoria University Athletics club won various Wellington Centre titles 1975-79. In 1977 he was selected in the full NZ Men & Women’s team to the World Cross Country Championships in Dusseldorf, West Germany.
As a Masters athlete he achieved titles and records in NZ, Boston, New York, Vancouver & Canberra, always as a proud Kiwi. Moving up the age groups he won more titles & records, including in the 80+ division – after replacement of both knees! In 2023 at the World Athletics WCC Championships in Bathurst, NSW he won the Masters 80+ grade over 4km by 61 seconds on a very demanding course!
In 1975 he served as Auckland Delegate on the NZAAA Management Committee (now Athletics NZ Board). He was also one of the instigators of the concept for the NZ Road Relay Championships which, since 1976 is the largest, oldest and only genuine interclub annual competition. He is still active with Victoria University Athletics club where he established the Roger Robinson Scholarship to support students who wish to “combine academic and sporting excellence”.
At the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch he was the Principal Athletics Announcer at the QE2 Stadium where his knowledge and style received many accolades – especially for his research on difficult surnames. He has continued announcing at athletics meetings throughout the years in NZ and across the globe and is a regular at Newtown Park on the tack and the mic, recently announcing at NZ T&F Champs in Wellington in 2023 & 2024. He has presented TV athletics coverage from various Commonwealth & Olympics Games too as well as major worldwide marathons as a commentator and often also at the preceding symposium as a guest lecturer, regularly accompanied by his wife, Kathrine Switzer- herself well known in international athletics circles as the first female to compete in the Boston Marathon and founder of the Avon International Women’s Running Programme that became the catalyst for the introduction of the Women’s Marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
In 1982 he commenced writing in the “NZ Runner “magazine, then expanding to overseas running journals where his perceptive comments and colourful race reports were much appreciated. He also contributed to Athletics NZ “Legends” archive. In 1986 he published his first running book: “Heroes & Sparrows”, since then over 8 athletics books, all extensively and meticulously researched. So much so that in his most recent “Running throughout Time” (2022) many myths, legends and mistruths have been revealed and corrected. For this alone the world athletics fraternity owe him a debt of gratitude.
Congratulations to two of our finest gentleman for their passion and dedication to our our sport.
