Eric Johnston with his gold medal from the recent World Masters Games in Auckland. Photo Jaime Pitt-MacKayWhat was just supposed to be a trip away with a few old softballing buddies turned into a gold medal-winning trip for Ashburton local, Eric Johnston.

Johnston won gold for softball in the recreational grade at the World Masters Games in Auckland recently.

“I was picked up by a guy I used to play with in Christchurch who was coming out from America to play in an old team of his,” he said.

“We just threw a team together, we hadn’t played together for 20 years.”

Despite only putting the team together “for a bit of fun”, the side went through their nine games in recreational division undefeated.

“We played against teams like Team Canada and Western Australia, so it was good competition,” he said.

Now only playing softball in the local division, Johnston spent six years in America and Canada playing, before returning to New Zealand and winning Canterbury titles, and playing for Canterbury against Japan.

“I won a silver in motocross at the NZ Masters Games in Dunedin last year and in 2012, but this is the first time I have won something for softball, especially at a world event,” he said. “I’m semi-retired from it now, but I still enjoy going out in the local league on a Saturday and just hitting the ball.”

Johnston was one of many athletes, officials and supporters who travelled from Mid Canterbury to the games.

Some of the sports attended include: Archery, athletics, basketball, cycling, hockey, rowing, softball, swimming and triathlon.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 10 May 2017