Winning was good, but New Zealand sprinter Zoe Hobbs admits a trip away with family and friends as a youngster was the best part of competing at the Colgate Games.
More than a thousand young athletes are preparing to run, jump and throw their way to possible glory at the North Island Colgate Games in Whanganui this weekend.
Zoe Hobbs Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Games, for children aged seven to 14, was established in 1978.
The North Island athletics meeting will be held at Cooks Garden, while the South Island meeting is in Timaru next week.
Hobbs, the national 100 metre record holder, competed every year she was eligible and then became a volunteer.
"It was just a great opportunity to go away as a family and as a club (Eltham in Taranaki) and race against other girls in a bigger event," she said.
"You not only got to compete but also have a holiday with the family."
25 year old Hobbs is now an ambassador for the Whanganui meeting where 85 clubs from around the North Island will compete at the track made famous by Sir Peter Snell.
She went unbeaten in the sprints at the Colgate Camps which obviously led her towards a career in athletics.
"I was a sporting kid growing up, also playing netball and basketball among other things, but sprinting and jumping was definitely my strong point and I probably knew I'd eventually specialize in it."
However competition wasn't her sole focus back then.
"I always remember the barbecues afterwards and swimming in the pool with your friends, so it definetly wasn't just about winning."
Kids compete at the Colgate Games Photo: Athletics NZ Alisha Lovrich
Hobbs, who ran a record time of 11.08sec at last year's World Championships and finished sixth at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, says she still competes against some of the athletes she first started out against as a youngster.
"I certainly have fond memories of the Games."
Colgate General Manager John Garside says the Colgate Games, now in its 45th year, have encouraged generations of young New Zealanders to give athletics a go.
"The Colgate Games gives these young athletes the opportunity to gain valuable experience and lifelong memories, no matter where they finish in their chosen event"
Each year, Colgate and Athletics New Zealand provide eight scholarships worth $500 each for athletes who display outstanding performances.
The eight scholarships - four awarded each in the North and South Islands - are named after Colgate Games alumnus, Nick Willis and the funds will go towards helping the winning athletes achieve their athletics goals.
