‘Fun, fitness and friendships’ is the tag line used by East Burwood’s Bernie McLoughlan when describing masters’ athletics.

So, when he and 11 other masters’ athletes from Burwood East travelled to Echuca-Moama to participate in all the twin towns have to offer — including its own masters’ athletics program, he checked all three boxes.

The 12 athletes from Melbourne visited the twin towns for the weekend, to enjoy the local attractions and make some new friends through the sport they all have in common — athletics.

On Monday night, October 27, Echuca-Moama Masters’ Athletics was joined by East Burwood masters at Jack Eddy Oval to participate in a combined club meeting.

Despite the windy conditions, the combined meet had four events for athletes to participate in: 400m, 100m, shot-put and a special intra-club relay.

While severe weather played a factor in the travelling contingent’s overall experience of Echuca-Moama, McLoughlan emphasised how great it had been to experience something new and forge new connections.

“A few of us got here in time to do the local parkrun on Saturday morning, which was great; the weather closed in, but we still had a training session on Saturday as well,” he said.

“We also got on the paddle steamer, which was nice, we managed to time it well in between the rain showers.

“It’s been great to meet the masters in Echuca-Moama, we hadn’t met them before tonight, we’ve just been corresponding over the phone so it’s great to be able to share the same space and passion for masters’ athletics.

“We have a range of levels of competition to make it a level playing field, we want as many people involved as we can, it’s great for inclusion, and gives everyone a fair chance.

“We have many social activities at East Burwood, which is a great way to form bonds and bring the community closer, and with Echuca-Moama being a new club to masters’ athletics, with lower memberships, we’d like to help out and raise the profile locally and make people aware that it exists.”

Echuca-Moama Athletics president Kate Downward echoed McLoughlan’s sentiments about the bond the two club’s now shared, while also encouraging anyone in the area interested in masters’ athletics to come and give it a try.

“We are very pleased to be joined by East Burwood’s masters’ athletics group tonight; they’ve had a great weekend in town, and it’s great to see they’re here at our weekly meet,” she said.

“At the end of the day, masters’ athletes are here for a bit of fun; we run, jump and throw, and we say no to an event if we don’t feel like it, which is fine.

“We have our kids here with us and grandparents are also welcome to compete, any age group really, it’s a welcoming environment, we teach you if you don’t know how to do an event.

“We encourage everybody, regardless of whether you’re winning or losing or somewhere in the middle, and urge anyone to come down to Jack Eddy Oval for masters’ athletics and give it a go.”

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