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- Written by Paul van Velthooven
Bike Manawatu is home to the best coach in New Zealand.
At the BikeNZ AGM in Cambridge last weekend Mike McRedmond was awarded the 2014 Coach of the Year for Road and Track.
This is an outstanding recognition for a man who has put a huge effort into our riders achieving and exceeding their goals in 2013/14 and for many years before that. He is also an outstanding contributor to the club at many levels.
We all know the wonderful results that have been achieved this past year from Jesse in Europe, Simon on the track, the PNBHS Schools team, Kate, Campbell, Chris, Carne, Libby, Michaela and all the others who have experienced Mike’s guidance and passion.
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- Written by Paul van Velthooven
This weekend Bike Manawatu will have close to a record level of entries (32) to the Club Road Nationals to be held in Cambridge. What is most impressive is the range of entries from Junior right through to the Masters categories with a Bike Manawatu representative in virtually every age group.
The way our riders are performing and the form they are in, suggests we could have a host of National Champions by the end of the weekend.
Over recent weeks our riders have been on the podium in the Te Awamutu Tour, the CHB Tour and the Easter Tour in Wairarapa.
The Te Awamutu Tour in particular has a great history of providing future champions and is an important selection race for the Junior riders.
This year we had Robert Stannard and Campbell Stewart place first and second in the U17 grade. Awesome work and possibly a first time that one club has scooped the first two places. Robert is the first Manawatu rider to win U17 since James Dobson in 2005. Campbell has been second the past two years running. Campbell won U15 in 2012.
I recall Luke MCarthy won the U19 KOM in 2002 and then overall GC in 2003 before he went on to represent NZ at the Junior World Champs in Canada.
Michalea Drummond won the U17 girls GC this year which is a first for girls from our area.
It is important to celebrate successes as they cannot be guaranteed and the gaps can be wide. I have a feeling though that we should brace for much more success in the short to medium term at least.
Well done to all the riders on making it to the Road Nationals. The progress some have made over the past year is impressive and I am sure we will have more names to celebrate by the end of this weekend. Have fun.
Wear your Bike Manawatu jersey with distinction and go well.... and big thanks to John Arbuckle for being team manager.
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- Written by Paul van Velthooven
What a privilege and a pleasure it was to witness our young riders clean up at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cycling Champs last weekend. So many fantastic results across so many age groups and events. Congratulations to the riders, their coaches, teachers , parents and supporters.
Our young riders are to be proud of both on and off the bike.
The Schools programme in Manawatu is the envy of many and really is a testament to the great work and effort put in by John Arbuckle and his team.
Saturday , the Teams Time Trial day , in Levin was for some a joy to behold as the winds came up almost to gale force. Our riders seemed to grow another leg. When the going gets tough our tough riders really did get get going.
First place for our junior girls team from PNGHS and then that was backed up by First and Second place for our Junior Team from PNBHS. Those efforts surpassed the great results from PNINS who earlier had placed second in both boys and girls. Our senior teams were only just off the very strong pace.
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- Written by Paul van Velthooven
This year is the 40th running of the Novice Tour an iconic event for budding young cyclists, introduced to the Manawatu by the visionary Ian Gray in 1973.
Remember 1973? I know I was still in school shorts and sandals, had long hair and was listening to Pink Floyd. The English rugby team beat the All Blacks 16-10 at Eden Park and Norm Kirk was the Prime Minister.
Cycling was not on my horizon back then but here in the mighty Manawatu there was a dedicated group ( as there are today) who had a vision around providing a multi stage event that would appeal to 15 and 16 years old boys.......a mini Dulux Tour of NZ! Many of our well known and highly successful cyclists have ridden this tour over the ensuing 40 years.
It has historically been run over the same weekend of the NZ Secondary School Champs an event also instigated locally. More recently the Tour has included an U17 girls division.
Read more: Bike Manawatu Novice Tour is 40 years old and going stronger.
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- Written by Paul van Velthooven
Seasons come and Seasons go , some things change....and other things just keep getting better.
Here we are in the midst of spring after what has been a record winter for all the right reasons. Perfect for riding bikes.
And the mighty Bike Manawatu machines rolls on. Just to recap on recent to-ings and fro-ings.
A very pleasant evening was had last month for the annual Bike Manawatu Awards at the Hotel Coachman a generous sponsor and supporter of Bike Manawatu. With the help of compere Russell Harris it was enthralling to see an insight into the makings of Colin Anderson a truly remarkable person who does remarkable things on a bike. Colin has had an enforced spell since his Taupo odyssey but we expect to see him back on his bike again soon. It was also gratifying to see the various winners of awards made to people who do go beyond the call of duty in their contribution to the workings of the club. Well done once again to the worthy winners.
That evening we also presented our nine National Champions with specially made BM jerseys that had the wording of ‘NZ National Champion’ inscribed on to the sleeves. The jerseys looked great and the “ champions” wore them with pride. Let’s hope that the Board finds the need to print many more jerseys like these in years to come and that the jerseys become treasured items.