Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 120, July 2019 | Page 54

TRACK & FIELD
MY
STORY
The Heavy Metal
Gang of Pinelands
AC, along with
‘young’ javelin
thrower Shukri
Wiener
The Heavy
Metal Gang
Masters Athletics has a small but dedicated following in South Africa, with athletes of 30 years or older being able to take
part in regular Masters meets and Champs around the country, as well as compete internationally in the World Champs.
One club with a rich tradition in this discipline is the Pinelands Athletics Club in Cape Town, with Anton Wale (65-69 age
category), Steve Johnston (80-84) and Borg Stannius (90-94) regularly starring at both local and international level.
Affectionately known as ‘The Heavy Metal Gang,’ this is their story.
I was born in Denmark on 28 February 1928 and
raised by wonderful parents. In spite of a depression
and German occupation, when food was rationed on
coupons, they managed to cope with that situation and
to feed us well, mainly on porridge for breakfast, a bit
of meat, lots of potatoes and tons of gravy for dinner.
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My sporting career started at school by me throwing a
ball further than anyone else. In my late teens I started
playing handball and throwing the javelin. I served 16
months in the King’s Guard in the army. I was told that
he felt perfectly safe during that period, believe it or
not! After that I visited Germany and Austria, playing
handball, and France, participating in athletics. I was
also chosen to represent the Danish national team in
athletics against Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
I served my apprenticeship as a Fitter, Turner and
Toolmaker. Due to the not so good times in Denmark,
I decided to immigrate to New Zealand, seeking
better job opportunities and more sunshine. During
my time in New Zealand, I first worked in my trade,
but later started importing machinery from Europe.
I ended up selling real estate and building houses. I
married in 1954, and had two sons, Mark and Craig,
who were brought up in a yachting environment, also
playing soccer, and in their twenties, taking up rugby.
They didn’t quite make the All Blacks, as anticipated.
Shame on them...
DISCOVERING SOUTH AFRICA
Sports-wise, I became interested in playing league
ISSUE 120 JULY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
badminton, but also did running to keep fit. I ran two
marathons, which nearly killed me! During my many
travels to Denmark, my family and I visited South
Africa. My son Mark and I took a liking to Cape Town,
so we decided after having returned to New Zealand,
that Cape Town was for us. We therefore returned.
Our ladies were of different opinions, however,
resulting in divorces becoming the in-thing. Having
lived in Johannesburg for a while, my son and I arrived
in Cape Town in about 1985, where I met my partner,
June, as well as Steve Johnson, both of whom
introduced me to the wonderful game of tennis, which
I played until five years ago.
In the meantime, as I had a knee replacement and
a lower back operation, I did not want to risk further
injuries. Steve also introduced me to the Pinelands
Athletics Club, catering for mainly road and cross
country runners, but also for families, with young
children all taking part. The club also catered for
people who have had nothing to eat during the week,
on Thursday evenings after the club run.
As for my sporting career in South Africa, I have
participated in all the throws, namely the hammer, the
Borg Stannius (Age 91)