As the Gay Games in Sydney drew to a close New Zealanders were rewarded with another batch of medals, in aerobics and ballroom dancing. Men's aerobics pair paul Dawson and Vernon Waretini picked up a bronze medal, after last minute changes to their routine due to a team member dropping out. In ballroom dancing Wellingtonians hit the high placings in three men's and women's categories. Owen Shanks and Ted Fecteau won a bronze in the men's over-45yrs latin dance as well as a gold for the Men`s over 45 standard dance. They were, however, the only competitors in this latter category. Women dancers also did well with Kate Jason-Smith and Francesca Brice taking gold with Ros Bignel and Rae Torrie the silver in the women's D grade latin dance competition. Other New Zealand competitors are rumoured to have placed well, but the Gay Games official results website has lagged badly behind actual competition and at the close of the games some sports had yet to post final results.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Sunday, 10th November 2002 - 12:00pm