Special Olympics: 51 medals for Tauranga team

Tauranga Special Olympians, back from Dunedin, are (clockwise from yellow) Angus Bates, Morgan Penny, Alisse Richardson, Neil Oliphant, Michael Conder and Edwin Crowther. Photo/Andrew Warner

The Tauranga Special Olympians are rightly proud of their 51-medal haul at the recent New Zealand champs held in Dunedin that was spread across six sporting codes.

Indoor bowls was the standout with 11 golds, 1 silver and 7 bronze medals won, but there was also success in swimming, athletics, 10-pin bowling, golf and basketball.

Head coach of the indoor bowls team Sally Holbrook said Edwin Crowther was a standout performer. "He is the New Zealand Special Olympics A grade champion and we have overall a very, very strong team," she said.

"... They all have a good attitude and try their best."

Team manager Keryn Darroch said the medal haul was better than they expected.

"They are a fantastic group. Special Olympics is about competing rather than winning but when you win it is always a big buzz as well, which drives everyone else on. If someone gets a win everyone wants a win," Darroch said.

"We encourage good sportsmanship and competitiveness. Sport is very important to them. It gives them an avenue to get out and about and have something to do, but also to have social interaction with other people who are doing the same thing as them ..."

The swimming team notched up a notable third consecutive gold medal in the division one medley relay.

Remarkably, Angus Bates wiped eight seconds of his personal best in the 200m freestyle - and he has been swimming the distance for only six months.