Ian Gray receives Civic award honours

Despite the current ‘cost of living challenges’ facing all community events, Bike Manawatu is 100% committed to ensuring the 51st year of the Novice Tour – once again provides a safe, fun, competitive cycle racing event.

We will adopt a high-quality assured approach in implementing the Local Roading Authority’s/Cycling New Zealand’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) standards which ensure best practices and rider and spectator safety.

If the level of community funding secured is not sufficient to contract in external road management service providers with the ability to stop/go traffic, the Novice Tour will proceed on a ‘local club racing’ model, whereby our team of trained/experienced road marshals will, where necessary, pause racing in order to give way to traffic and ensure rider safety.

Although funding external road management services with the ability to stop/go traffic is ideal, if this is not feasible – we are confident that the event’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) will provide a competitive, fair, enjoyable and importantly safe racing environment.

Irrespective of which model of traffic management/racing is finalised, as with all CNZ/Bike Manawatu events, normal road rules will apply and a full rider briefing confirming the event rules will be provided to all riders prior to the start of each race.

This evening club life member Ian Gray was awarded a Palmerston North Civic Award hosted by the Mayor Grant Smith at the Palmerston North Convention Centre. The annual awards are the City’s highest recognition for voluntary service. They have been going since 1988.

Ian was nominated alongside 12 others and was one of the 5 deserving recipiants. As a club we are extremely proud of Ian and this achievement as we know the time he has put into Manawatu and WCNI Cycling over the last 50 years as a rider, official, administrator and coach.

He is an extremely knowledgble and kind man that has done wonders for cycling, and especially encouraging junior riders in the Manawatu.

“Ian Gray is a 75 year old cycling enthusiast, who has had an integral role in the success of cycling in the Manawatu and surrounding regions since he shifted here to attend Massey University in 1961, where he completed a bachelor of Agricultural Science in 1964 and completed Master Agricultural Science (Hons) in 1996. Ian originally grew up in New Plymouth, where he commenced cycle racing with the New Plymouth Amateur Road Cycling Club from 1956 to 1961.

Ever since moving to Palmerston North Ian has been an active member of the cycling community, as a competitor, businessman, historian, volunteer and leader in many capacities.”

Congratulations Ian and thank you to all of those in the cycling community who contributed to this nomination.

Official event photo’s to come.