Mr and Mrs Marathon honoured

Ask Dennis Kenny whether he deserves a Queens Service Medal (QSM) he says "no give it to my wife".

When the 68-year-old received a letter asking if he would accept the QSM for services to athletics, he considered turning it down because he felt his wife was more deserving.

"I believe Pam should be getting the recognition because she did far more than what I have over the years. We both have put a lot into the sport but invariably in these instances it's the male who gets the recognition."

However, unknown to him, his wife Pamela had been sent a letter offering her a QSM for her services to the sport she and her husband have devoted much of their lvies to.

The couple are known in Rotorua as Mr and Mrs Marathon. Their involvement in it stretches over more than three decades.

Even when they realised both were on the New Year's Honours list they were unsure they should accept it.

"I'm quite surprised. I didn't expect it and I'm pretty humbled about it but it's not only us but others within the sport that have worked hard for athletics and they deserved to be recognised as well," Mr Kenny said.

Between the two of them they have given more than 90 years of service to a sport they are passionate about.

Mr Kenny, a former competitor, coach and selector was involved in athletics in the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty for more than 50 years. He was the Rotorua Marathon's race director for 34 years.

They remain involved with Rotorua athletics and are long-standing members of the Lake City Athletic Club..

Mr Kenny has belonged to the club since 1955, holding various roles. He was made a life member in 1989.

Mrs Kenny, a former New Zealand high jump representative, competing at the Perth Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1962 and the Pan Pacific Games in Japan and Canada in the 1970s. She has also been heavily involved with organising the Rotorua Marathon.

She has been a member of the Lake City club for more than 40 years, serving as treasurer, vice president and president. She too is a life member. The couple have been married for 42 years and have athletics and the Daily Post to thank for meeting. It was at an athletics meet a Daily Post reporter pointed out to Mr Kenny his future wife.

"The athletic club went to Putaruru and I tagged along and when the reporter pointed her out I thought she was a pretty good athlete." Mrs Kenny said when she first met her husband she would never have guessed they would end up married. "At the time I was focused on my sport and being young you don't really think of those things."

The Kennys intend to celebrate the award with family when they meet for Mrs Kenny's mother's 90th birthday in the New Year.