Sport
Profile - Vince Forrester
Vince Forrester, of Dunedin has always been involved in sport, and the medical misadventure which left him partially blind more than a decade ago, hasn't changed his competitive spirit.
At school, Vince represented Hawkes Bay in both the under-14s softball and soccer. He was also active in athletics, road racing and cross country plus any other sport which time allowed.
This came to an abrupt halt in 1986, when a brain haemorrhage left him partially paralysed, blind and hospitalised for two years.
When he came out, he was in a wheelchair but had lost none of his determination.
"I basically spent the next few years at the gym, working out and swimming up to four times a week building up my muscles. Now I have the use of both sides of my body and I can walk without a limp," Vince says.
He has taken up running again and competed recently in a New Zealand Master's 10 kilometre marathon event coming ninth out of a field of 11 runners.
Vince says the placing is not important, it is the fact that he is back competing again, and he hopes to run many more.
His running companion of three years is Ralf Ohlemueller.
Vince says that initially he was provided with a woman trainer Liz Heenan, but because he was faster she suggested he find a male companion. In the meantime, Liz coached him for the 100 metre, 3000 metre and 10,000 metre Master's events.
Vince says he trains twice a week and is continuing to keep fit at the gym. He's keen to compete at the Special Olympic games if there is an event for him to enter and he wants to play blind cricket again.
He's also kept up with his love for motorcycling, attending more than 30 rallies now riding as a pillion passenger.