Talk about a crazy week. It started in the worst possible way, assisting in some small part with the aftermath of the collapse of Stadium Southland. It ended with cyclists back on Stadium Southland’s ILT Velodrome and a full weekend at the Southland Time Trial and Road Race Championships.
Much has been written since last weekend’s day of destruction. Many opinions have been voiced. Whatever yours is, know this – you should be extremely proud of those working on the ground behind the Stadium scenes. Life tends to throw up its fair share of tragedies and they tend to either bring people together or push them apart.
Certainly the evidence of the last week tells me that the sporting organisations and Stadium Southland team are closer now than ever. Already it’s become obvious what can be achieved when we work together. Yes, there will be challenges, but if this week is anything to go by, nothing should be insurmountable.
The best way to bounce back was to get back to business. It seems incredible to me that just four days after the collapse the Dunkley’s Craft Show was setting up in the centre of the track. Today the Stadium Southland team open ticketing for our OctoberFest Track Carnival next Tuesday and Wednesday night (Tickets only $10 for adults and $5 for students from the Stadium’s new reception). That shows how committed the team is to maintaining their spot as the heart of the Southland sporting community.
After the challenges of the last week, it was great to get out in the fresh air to assist with the Southland Road Racing Champs. A lot of familiar names appear in the results you’ll find in this fine publication today, but one should make us all particularly happy. Tom Scully is back and in winning both the Senior Men’s Time Trial and Road Race he’s shown how to bounce back from adversity. You don’t get bitter and twisted. You just get on with the business. Nigel Skelt’s Stadium team provide another perfect example.
This Friday the 26th Yunca Junior Tour will be staged around Southland. Over 160 junior riders from Australasia will battle each other (and maybe the elements) in the country’s premier junior road race. It’s the last round of the National Junior Points Series so the competition should be hot. That will be true also of the OctoberFest Track Carnival which follows the Yunca next week. It will be a great way to get major local events back in Stadium Southland. We’ve got some exciting things planned for these two nights and if you are looking for a couple of hours of non-stop sporting theatre, I know you won’t be disappointed.
And to finish, yesterday Cameron Karwowski showed just how much he’s benefiting from his recent European racing campaign by winning for his H&Js Outdoor World team at this weekend’s Benchmark Road Race in Christchurch. Apparently he went out on training rides every day this past week. That’s commitment ... or madness.
Cycling Southland CEO's Blog from inside the Stadium Southland Velodrome
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Stadium Will Return Stronger
Two weeks ago I wrote about being caught in the middle of Christchurch’s big shake. That surreal feeling returned on Saturday morning as news of the collapse of the Stadium’s court structure spread like wildfire throughout the south.
That feeling turned to one of disbelief upon viewing the destruction first hand. It is truly remarkable that no one was killed. Structures can be replaced, people cannot. The lack of injury is nothing short of a miracle.
The other remarkable thing about this tragedy has been the way Nigel Skelt and his Stadium team have swung into action. Although they have been totally shattered that this cornerstone of their lives and of Southland sport has been brought to its knees, they immediately focussed on the job at hand and on the logistical nightmare that the coming days, weeks and months will present.
The Stadium may be down, but the team behind it is already up off the canvas. This augers well for the challenges ahead. It is our responsibility as the Southland sporting and wider community, to unite positively to ensure this jewel in our crown returns stronger than ever.
We hosted our first ever Starter Team’s Racing Night at the ILT Velodrome on Friday night, where 40 newbie racers charged all over the track for two great hours of entertaining racing. (For the record the Edge Roofing and Spouting team snuck in front of the ILT/Heineken team by a solitary point on the table to earn a first up victory.)
To return just over 12 hours later to witness the devastation was incredulous.
Bruce Ross was hosting a track session in the Velodrome at the time. Just 15 minutes earlier he had run through his standard briefing, “in the unlikely event of an emergency ...” Again it shows why organisations can never fall complacent about safety procedures. So it proved on Saturday.
Now we wait for the thaw. I know you will join me in hoping and praying it is fast and incident-free. The ILT Velodrome will remain closed through today up until Tuesday lunchtime at the earliest.
They say things like this happen in threes. Earthquake, Stadium ... I don’t want to think about what the third might be.
To happier matters, congratulations to all of our newbie racers in Cycling Southland’s inaugural Starter Team’s Race Night on Friday.
This new initiative was designed to give newcomers the chance to race against riders of their own ability and try their hand at a number of different events. Lining up with around 15 others in a Scratch, Points or Elimination race is a challenge our riders relished.
This event is a concept we will develop further to make it as easy as possible for beginners to develop in the sport of track cycling. Having spoken to a number of riders over the weekend, each was surprised with how they backed up after a strenuous night on the bike. Shows what a great low-impact activity biking is, doesn’t it?
That feeling turned to one of disbelief upon viewing the destruction first hand. It is truly remarkable that no one was killed. Structures can be replaced, people cannot. The lack of injury is nothing short of a miracle.
The other remarkable thing about this tragedy has been the way Nigel Skelt and his Stadium team have swung into action. Although they have been totally shattered that this cornerstone of their lives and of Southland sport has been brought to its knees, they immediately focussed on the job at hand and on the logistical nightmare that the coming days, weeks and months will present.
The Stadium may be down, but the team behind it is already up off the canvas. This augers well for the challenges ahead. It is our responsibility as the Southland sporting and wider community, to unite positively to ensure this jewel in our crown returns stronger than ever.
We hosted our first ever Starter Team’s Racing Night at the ILT Velodrome on Friday night, where 40 newbie racers charged all over the track for two great hours of entertaining racing. (For the record the Edge Roofing and Spouting team snuck in front of the ILT/Heineken team by a solitary point on the table to earn a first up victory.)
To return just over 12 hours later to witness the devastation was incredulous.
Bruce Ross was hosting a track session in the Velodrome at the time. Just 15 minutes earlier he had run through his standard briefing, “in the unlikely event of an emergency ...” Again it shows why organisations can never fall complacent about safety procedures. So it proved on Saturday.
Now we wait for the thaw. I know you will join me in hoping and praying it is fast and incident-free. The ILT Velodrome will remain closed through today up until Tuesday lunchtime at the earliest.
They say things like this happen in threes. Earthquake, Stadium ... I don’t want to think about what the third might be.
To happier matters, congratulations to all of our newbie racers in Cycling Southland’s inaugural Starter Team’s Race Night on Friday.
This new initiative was designed to give newcomers the chance to race against riders of their own ability and try their hand at a number of different events. Lining up with around 15 others in a Scratch, Points or Elimination race is a challenge our riders relished.
This event is a concept we will develop further to make it as easy as possible for beginners to develop in the sport of track cycling. Having spoken to a number of riders over the weekend, each was surprised with how they backed up after a strenuous night on the bike. Shows what a great low-impact activity biking is, doesn’t it?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Proud to Become A MAMIL
This past week has been notable for a couple of personal milestones.
The first occurred on Thursday when I officially entered the realm of Masters’ cycling, ticking over to 35 years of age. This, I am told, is a landmark in any cyclist’s life and it means I now enter the fastest growing age category in the sport.
I’ve noted a number of newspaper stories recently from home and abroad which have discussed the topic of cycling’s growth amongst middle-aged men particularly. Cycling’s been labelled the new mid-life crisis. Instead of trading in a wife or car, men the country and world over are trading in the couch for a road bike. And a carbon fibre road machine is a far healthier option than a sports car or new life partner for your marriage, your bank balance and your stomach circumference.
It has also given rise to a new favourite acronym of mine, the MAMIL or Middle-Aged Men In Lycra. Now, while that may be a visual image we can all do without, I readily admit, even with my rather limited experience in the saddle, that padded bike shorts do make the world of difference!
On a similar note, yesterday I read on the Stuff website Dr Hamish Osborne from Otago University prescribing exercise for its medicinal benefits. He believes the Government should spend more promoting exercise and less on drugs for the treatment of illnesses, the incidence of which could reduce by as much as 50% with daily exercise. So rather than chastise the MAMIL on how he looks in his figure-hugging get up or label his decision as a mid-life crisis, we should celebrate and follow his choice of a healthier lifestyle.
My second milestone could more accurately be described as a crisis.
It occurred at 4.35am on Saturday morning in what was easily the most terrifying moment of my life. Having overnighted in Christchurch on Friday, I was awoken from my slumber in my hotel room by the damaging earthquake which shook the garden city like never before.
I can think of no greater feeling of helplessness than to know you are completely at the whim of Mother Nature and I don’t think I have ever had a greater sense of relief than when the plane I was finally on lifted off on Saturday night bound for Invercargill.
Stories at the airport and on-board were swapped between friends and strangers, all with common themes of drama, fear and ultimately survival. Like most, I have mates who reside in Christchurch. Some had the good fortune to escape major damage while others had their homes and a lifetime of possessions ruined in less than 60 seconds.
There is something very crystallising about being reminded of your own mortality as we all were in the small hours of Saturday. That’s why I have made the lifestyle and wardrobe choice to join the ever increasing band of MAMILS and it’s why you should seriously think about doing the same.
The first occurred on Thursday when I officially entered the realm of Masters’ cycling, ticking over to 35 years of age. This, I am told, is a landmark in any cyclist’s life and it means I now enter the fastest growing age category in the sport.
I’ve noted a number of newspaper stories recently from home and abroad which have discussed the topic of cycling’s growth amongst middle-aged men particularly. Cycling’s been labelled the new mid-life crisis. Instead of trading in a wife or car, men the country and world over are trading in the couch for a road bike. And a carbon fibre road machine is a far healthier option than a sports car or new life partner for your marriage, your bank balance and your stomach circumference.
It has also given rise to a new favourite acronym of mine, the MAMIL or Middle-Aged Men In Lycra. Now, while that may be a visual image we can all do without, I readily admit, even with my rather limited experience in the saddle, that padded bike shorts do make the world of difference!
On a similar note, yesterday I read on the Stuff website Dr Hamish Osborne from Otago University prescribing exercise for its medicinal benefits. He believes the Government should spend more promoting exercise and less on drugs for the treatment of illnesses, the incidence of which could reduce by as much as 50% with daily exercise. So rather than chastise the MAMIL on how he looks in his figure-hugging get up or label his decision as a mid-life crisis, we should celebrate and follow his choice of a healthier lifestyle.
My second milestone could more accurately be described as a crisis.
It occurred at 4.35am on Saturday morning in what was easily the most terrifying moment of my life. Having overnighted in Christchurch on Friday, I was awoken from my slumber in my hotel room by the damaging earthquake which shook the garden city like never before.
I can think of no greater feeling of helplessness than to know you are completely at the whim of Mother Nature and I don’t think I have ever had a greater sense of relief than when the plane I was finally on lifted off on Saturday night bound for Invercargill.
Stories at the airport and on-board were swapped between friends and strangers, all with common themes of drama, fear and ultimately survival. Like most, I have mates who reside in Christchurch. Some had the good fortune to escape major damage while others had their homes and a lifetime of possessions ruined in less than 60 seconds.
There is something very crystallising about being reminded of your own mortality as we all were in the small hours of Saturday. That’s why I have made the lifestyle and wardrobe choice to join the ever increasing band of MAMILS and it’s why you should seriously think about doing the same.
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