Masters make medal haul Down Under
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Updated: November 05, 2009 7:14 PM
Abbotsford’s status as a basketball hotbed was burnished during the recent World Masters Games in Sydney, Australia.
A pair of local men’s hoops teams climbed the podium at the Games, which attracted a record 28,000 athletes from 98 countries. A 60-and-over squad from Abbotsford won the gold in their age division, while a 50-plus team claimed bronze.
“It was a huge event,” marveled Don Macdonald, organizer of the over-60 team. “They must have had 45,000 people at the stadium for the opening ceremony.
“And when you win it, it’s just a great feeling. All the guys had a great experience down there.”
The Abby 60-plus men went a perfect 7-0 en route to the gold medal. The local 50’s team went 7-1, with their lone loss coming against a tall and talented Russian side.
In addition to Macdonald, the gold-medal team featured Elgin Reid, Rick DeFehr, Tom Antil, George Carter, Gordon Mierau, Dan Wade and Rich Chatwell. The 50-plus team was comprised of Ed Jones, Larry Simister, Stan Pedersen, Bill Leathem, Brad Rendall, Len Davidiuk, Mike Farrer, Dean Bauck and Mike Dendys.
n Abbotsford athletes also found success on the diamond. Local products Rick Unrau and Craig Lauze were part of the Vancouver/Ladner Rossini’s club that won gold in the 45-and-over fastball division.
Unrau, a pitcher, tossed a four-hitter as Rossini’s beat Alberta QMax 1-0 in the gold medal game. Lauze, a right fielder, racked up a .450 batting average.
“In such a big setting, to pull off the gold was phenomenal,” Lauze said.
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