by Vaughan Hunt | Jun 20, 2013 | Board Chair's Blog
The blogs we are getting from Glenys on her intrepid journey across the vast Nullarbor Plain make for fascinating reading. It is hard to imagine the distances involved and the determination she is showing. I blame Colin Anderson! The Christie 250 also did not help. Colin has started a trend in our club and the bar keeps getting higher!
I have been mulling over the roads and pathways that cycling has taken our club members in recent times.
It makes for impressive reading. Here is a list of what I can recall.
- Glenys on her Perth to Adelaide odyssey…lady Lala
- Colin Anderson 65 times around Lake Taupo…wow and how.
- Taupo to Palmy for the Christie 250 ladies…awesome teamwork and cause.
- Luke Mudgeway to Australia with U19 road team….a great result for hard work.
- Jesse Sergent in the snow on the Italian Alps racing the Giro and then on to Akers Road with the schools cycling last Sunday…outstanding.
- Simon van Velthooven sprinting his way through Minsk, Feilding, Invercargill, Tokyo, Valencia, Paris, Berlin…where next?
- Dave Fryer and Vaughan Hunt in France for the ITU World Championships Long Course Triathalon….a tough day in the office.
- A number of our juniors and masters to Taranaki for the QB Tour….flying the flag high.
- A great turnout for Manfeild 6 hour relay….90 laps for winners.
- A big contingent to Queenstown for road nationals…..amazing results for our club.
- Steve Stannard racing from Wellington to Auckland…..tough bugger.
….and there are lots more…
This sport has it all….our members are maximizing their opportunities, there is no doubt about that.
See you at the quiz night on 5th July.
Come prepared for Aussie facts off Glenys’s blog page.
by Vaughan Hunt | May 9, 2013 | Board Chair's Blog
The new Bike Manawatu board met for the first time this week .
We welcome Sue McMaster and Marcel Hollenstein and know that they each have much to contribute. Their pedigree on and off the bike is outstanding.
As reported in the Chairmans’ report at the AGM, the club continues to punch above our weight in so many different areas. What must be recognised and applauded loudly were the outstanding achievements of our group of riders, particularly the junior riders who represented Bike Manawatu at the Road Nationals last month in Queenstown. The rest of the country wants to know the secret! How often would you see 5 of the first 6 riders in a national competition from just one club being first across the finish line?
Outstanding work by all involved and congratulations too to the parents, supporters, coaches and others who helped all our riders perform and to make it happen. Long may it last.
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by Vaughan Hunt | Feb 28, 2013 | Board Chair's Blog
Sport has its ups and downs, its swings and roundabouts, winners and losers.
It is hard to believe that we are in the 3rd month of 2013. Where did that go? So much to reflect on….so much to look forward to.
The beautiful fine weather which is great for cycling is starting to create angst amongst our rural cousins. Two days rain would be nice.
The negativity around Mr Armstrong has been replaced by the positivity of the numerous local cycle events held here and elsewhere and the wonderful results recently achieved by NZ riders in Minsk at the World Track Cycling Champs.
The busy programme set down for all our members has on occasion been conflicted with other events meaning some of our riders have had to choose. That is always difficult and can be awkward for both riders and our decision makers. More support for our events group would help ease the decision making load somewhat. The full calendar is however always going to be a challenge.
Some of our riders are going great guns in Invercargill at present with Libby, Emily, Campbell and Micheala leading the charge. It was more difficult for our under19 and elite riders to shine last month as the competition seriously heats up at this level. A couple of crashes did not help. Ruby flew the Bike Manawatu flag with some great results.
Steve Stannard has shown us all what can be done when your endurance base is maintained by placing high in the Wellington Auckland race.! Too late and too much Pinot Gris for me!Well done also to those who supported the riders as they passed through Palmerston North and to BDO for sponsoring the event.
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by Vaughan Hunt | Oct 25, 2012 | Board Chair's Blog
Dear Lance.
The long suffering, deeply infected and painful boil afflicting our beautiful sport has finally been lanced Lance.
Now is your chance Lance to come clean so that the nasty infection can be dealt to and the wound you have inflicted can heal.
Come on Lance tell us what really went on all those years in your Postal Team and in the peloton. We all need to know so that these terrible mistakes will not be repeated.
Lance you inspired millions with your battles and achievements. You can claim a big chunk of the enormous growth in popularity of cycling worldwide over the past decade. Young and old have picked up this sport because of you.
We loved it how you beat cancer and we loved it how you scaled those enormous heights in the Alps. How you time trialled in the so called “ race of truth”.
Now we want the truth.
You may have needed clever drugs to beat cancer. Not to race your bike.
Livestrong is a fantastic legacy to you and millions have gained inspiration. Cancers have been beaten because of your Livestrong Charity and many clever drugs developed by clever people.
But Lance, you have stepped over the line.
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by Vaughan Hunt | Oct 9, 2012 | Board Chair's Blog
Bike Manawatu has done it again.
If you have not already read it somewhere then please be advised that Bike Manawatu has taken out the Property Brokers Grass Roots club of the year for the second year running. Not bad given we have been in existence for the same time….i.e. two years!
The strong feeling I get is that we are still only scratching the surface in terms of what we can offer our membership in terms of events, support and a pathway to the top for those who choose that route.
It certainly was a real thrill to win the grand prize again in front of so much strong opposition and it was great to have such a great representation there from the club.
Well done to Sport Manawatu for organising the event and running such a good night.
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by Vaughan Hunt | Sep 20, 2012 | Board Chair's Blog
A club such as ours is made up of many parts. To achieve the great results we are getting is the result of many different parts within our club working together, in harmony and with the same outcome in mind. A bit like a good bike, lots of moving parts that if oiled well and maintained , will get you over the line every time.
It really struck me at the Feilding Festival of Cycling last weekend what a wonderful resource we have at Bike Manawatu in terms of the people (parts) who help organise and run our events. To see so many people giving up their time to run an event that went so well and so smoothly deserves mention and praise.
Thank you Anne Redgrave and your team for a wonderful weekend of cycling. Your organisation of the event was outstanding.
The FFoC is just one example of our members( and many non members) pitching in to help deliver cycling outcomes to people who want to ride a bike.
Next week another Bike Manawatu team kicks into gear to run the Novice Tour an iconic event for junior riders from around the country. It too is a major under taking. The National Secondary Schools Champs will be in this region the same weekend , with up to 1000 riders and their supporters descending on us for three days of racing on our roads.
We have many members and helpers who regularly put up their hands to help run track cycling, weekend road races, the Sunday recreational rides, schools racing, time trials not to mention the Manfeild 6 hour and La Femme……the list goes on. We also now have a coaching coordinator connecting riders with coaches….thank you Megan. There are also those members who just quietly mentor or help out with new riders.
In case you haven’t been thanked lately, I would just like to say a big THANK YOU to all those who freely give up their time to deliver worthwhile events and outcomes for our members and our sport. You are the parts that keep the well oiled Bike Manawatu machine rolling.
Paul van Velthooven
Chairman
