A Crash Course in Cycling

I've had my feet under a desk in the Cycling Southland office for something like six weeks now. I'm not sure whether it's because I feel so at home, or whether it's because I've had a bit on, but it feels like I've been here for months, rather than days.

It's been a crash course for the last month and a half and boy, have I learnt a lot!

My background was outside the sports industry. Media actually (16 years in radio ... although I try to keep that quiet.) I came into the role with a commercial background. I'd readily admit that in my blissful ignorance I thought that my role would have been mostly around commercial opportunites - sponsorships, increasing funding streams, developing new programmes and events and revenue sources.

Now, after my crash course, I won't say I've gone 180 degrees ... but it's not far off it. What I've realised is that all those commercial aspects are very important. To be fair there is limitless potential for this organisation. Naturally a key part of my role is making sure the balance sheet stays looking good and the risk around the organisation is minimised. But I now believe it is secondary to the most important function in my role. Members.

Cycling Southland is a sports club. A large one admittedly, but one none the less. I've come to the realisation that the balance sheet can look good, but unless we have a happy, healthy membership, we are as good as bankrupt as an organisation.

There is so much goodwill around this organisation, so much experience and expertise and so many ideas. Although I shouldn't publicly state this ... my job is pretty straight-forward. 1. Listen. 2. Put the people to make thing happen together. 3. Give them all the support they need to get the job done.

At the risk of sounding like a local body politician in election year ... it's about putting Members first. The best part about that, is that I know all the commercial stuff will start roaring along too if we make sure the most important person in Cycling Southland, you the member, is in the middle of every thing we do.

Hope you're enjoying the ride. I know I am

Nick

Strong Southland Contingent Off To World Champs

Cycling Southland congratulates club members Eddie Dawkins and Tom Scully, who were this morning confirmed in Bike NZ’s 17-strong squad for the World Track Cycling Championships in Denmark later this month.

Dawkins, who has been in blistering form over recent months, is part of a five-strong men’s sprint squad and Scully will ride the Points race and the two-man Madison alongside Timaru’s Marc Ryan.

Cycling Southland’s Chief Executive Nick Jeffrey said, “we are delighted to see Eddie and Tom’s continued development to the point where they now form a key part of the national squad. The NZ squad has been in camp at the ILT Velodrome for the last two weeks and certainly have been driven hard by Tim Carswell and his coaching team. We’ve been lucky enough to see Ali Shanks wearing world championship colours while training and it would be outstanding if we see a few more of those white uniforms when the squad returns for its next camp in Invercargill after Copenhagen.”

“I know I speak for all of the Southland sporting public and certainly for Tom and Eddie’s fellow club members when I wish them and the rest of the squad the very best for their World Champs campaign,” Jeffrey said.

Cycling Southland member Chris O’Connor from Invercargill also joins the team as mechanic.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Cycling Fan?

For sixteen years I was very lucky. I worked in an industry that I loved and was passionate about. Radio was my life and I had a heap of fun. The only way I was going to leave the industry that gave me so many good times through the years was if I found something I could get equally passionate about. And it hasn't taken me long to confirm that cycling was the best possible choice.

In fact I know the exact amount of time it took to confirm my thinking - 44.632 seconds. Let me set the scene ... I had been appointed to the role of Cycling Southland CEO early in January, to start March 1st. Even though the Elite National Track Champs were scheduled for mid-February I knew it was too good an opportunity to not get an early look behind the scenes. What I saw blew me away.

On the Friday night with the track and the talent running hot, the programme finished with Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and local hero Eddie Dawkins suiting up with the Team Sprint record in their sights. They blew it (and me in the process) away.



The seats at the ILT Velodrome were probably three quarters full - but those eight or nine hundred people lifted the roof off the place for a tick under 45 seconds, roaring to get those boys home.

Coming into my new role, it's pretty obvious that we need to bottle that 45 seconds and give it to the paying public as often as we can.

I've been converted in less than 45 seconds. Now my aim is to do the same with you.

Enjoy the ride
Nick