TWIN City Archers veteran Merv Grinstead was all but unbeatable in masters competition this year, culminating in his recognition at the Victorian Community Sports and Recreation Awards as senior sportsperson runner-up last month.
The 71 year-old Morwell resident was on target all season, winning four out of five possible gold medals at the Australian Masters, the Victorian Clout competition, the state open target and previously finished second at the World Masters. Grinstead rated the accolade as “number one or two” in his long list of achievements in archery, and said he did not expect to be in contention given the number of nominations, which exceeded 1000.
“I was pretty proud actually, it’s quite an honour really,” he said.
“You had to be pretty well at the top of your sport in your age group; I guess I’d won most of the tournaments for the year and set a few records.”
Grinstead has been an influential figure at Twin City throughout his 20-year tenure, and literally helped build the club with his bare hands.
Along with club stalwart Peter Bennett, Grinstead runs a work for the dole program twice a week, in which up to 20 job seekers have helped in the construction of facilities at their Toners Lane location in the past decade.
“I like the archery but I’ve been retired for about six years and I cannot sit down and not do something,” Grinstead said. One of their completed projects, an indoor shooting range, was named ‘The Grinstead Shed’ in the bowman’s honour. The champion competitor will now turn his eye to the Australian Masters in Geelong next year, but may miss the Australian Nationals in Canberra as it coincides with his 50th wedding anniversary.
