Medal masters

THE Pan Pacific Masters Games showcased the talented pool of athletes aged over 30, and Noosa can be proud with two of our own bringing home gold in the indoor rowing.
Held over 10 days from 1 November, the games saw more than 14,000 competitors aged 30 and over, from 20 countries, compete in 42 different sports.
Local lifesaver Roberta Gordon and dentist Andy Meek, who train at Franks Gym, Noosa Junction, competed in the indoor rowing championships at the Gold Coast games.
Roberta took our four gold and Andy can add two gold medals to the haul.
At 67, Roberta won gold in the 65-69 age group in the 500m championship, breaking her own Australian record by 2.2 seconds with a time of 1:52 minutes, putting her fourth in the world rankings for indoor rowing.
Gold in the four minute, 1000m race and 2000m races completed Roberta’s dream run at the Pan Pacific Masters games and is a great achievement for someone who only started rowing in February this year.
“Rowing has improved my cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility and core strength and I love that rowing is non-impact, especially after many years of running,” she said.
“Rowing is a world-wide sport that is very strong overseas and is growing steadily in Australia.”
Former karate champion, Andy, won gold in the 50-55 age group at the Queensland titles and went on to win gold in the 500m and 1000m races.
Roberta’s partner and trainer, Rob Cossalter, did Queensland proud bringing home three gold and one silver medal at the Pan Pacific games.