Athletics New Zealand reports Bruce Clarke death in shot accident
The news we were hoping not to report has come to pass: “A Hamilton man has died after a shot put struck him on the head during an athletics meeting at Mt Smart Stadium,” local media reported Monday. Bruce Clarke, 77, was competing at the North Island masters track and field championships late last month when the accident occurred during the warm-up for the 75-79 years shot put. He died 10 days later. Clarke won gold at the New Zealand Masters Games in Wanganui in February in the 75-79 discus, hammer and javelin throws, and silver in the shot put. Athletics NZ chief executive Linda Hamersley said the thoughts of the governing body, and the entire athletics community, were with Clarke’s family and friends. New Zealand Masters Athletics and Athletics Auckland are investigating the accident.”
Bruce (second from left) is shown in 2012 with members of the Lodge Frankton Athletic and Harrier Club. Photo by Shane Morton
The formal New Zealand Athletics statement:
OBITUARY
Waikato Bay of Plenty stalwart and President of the Frankton Athletic and Harrier Club Bruce Clarke died on Sunday 6 December 2015 aged 77 after an unfortunate accident a week earlier while warming up for the shot put at the North Island Masters Athletic Championships at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
He was fiercely competitive and excelled in masters throwing events.At the New Zealand Masters National Championships in Tauranga in February/March he won the M75 hammer throw, weight throw and the throws pentathlon. He also finished second in the discus throw, third in the javelin throw and fourth in the shot put.
At the New Zealand Master Games in Wanganui in February he won the gold medal in the 75-79 discus, hammer and javelin throws and the silver in the shot put. Bruce holds the M70 New Zealand Masters National and Championship record in the M70 track pentathlon with 1562 points set in March 2011.
He has been involved with the Frankton Club since 1986 and has been honoured with Life Membership of the Club.From 1999 to 2004 he managed a number of teams at the Frankton Rugby Sports Club and for 25 years was a captain in the Boys’ Brigade.
He was a pig and beef farmer at Tuhikaramea and lately was well known for his Christmas tree farm. He was president twice, the current patron and gave 40 years’ service to the Waikato Winter Show Association.
Bruce’s contribution to sport was recognised with the awarding of a Hamilton City Council Civic Award in 2012.
Our deepest condolences to his Kiwi friends and family.
One Response
Officials are particularly at risk during throwing events, particularly the warm up. It was a year ago that Douglas Koban was killed while officiating the weight throw. Rarely happens but a tragic reminder about safety.
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