Two-time Masters Male Road Cyclist of the Year Jim McMurray and Masters Male Track Cyclist of the Year Colin Claxton at the awards evening held at the Avantidrome.
New Zealand’s best cycling talent was celebrated at the Cycling New Zealand Annual Awards dinner held in Cambridge last Saturday.
The Annual Awards dinner recognises achievements by riders throughout the year across road, track, BMX, mountain bike, and schools cycling, as well as the contributions of their coaches, volunteers and officials.
A number of titles went to members of Cambridge’s cycling community, including Jim McMurray, awarded Masters Male Road Cyclist of the Year for the second year in a row. Jim won his age group at the UCI 2018 Gran Fondo World Championships Time Trial in Italy, ahead of 58 competitors from 43 countries, and won both the time trial and road race at the age group road nationals.
Ally Wollaston was named Junior Female Track Cyclist of the Year, described as the most consistent women’s athlete throughout the 2018 season. She won all five events at the National Track Championships, as well as the road race at the National Road Championships in 2018, and was a leader in the silver medal winning Team Pursuit at the Junior World Championships.
Rushlee Buchanan was awarded Elite Female Track Cyclist of the Year following considerable performances in both road and track cycling, including a bronze medal finish in the Omnium at the Track World Championships.
Sam Cook was awarded Junior Male Road Cyclist of the Year after a successful 2018 winning stage 6 of the U19 Nations Cup, finishing second in stage 2 and fourth overall at the Tour de l’Abitibi and placing third at the Oceania Championships.
St Peter’s student Finn Fisher-Black and his fellow Junior World Champion team pursuit riders George Jackson, Bailey O’Donnell and Corbin Strong were awarded Team of the Year after defeating France by over three seconds in the final at the UCI Junior World Championships in Switzerland.
Former individual pursuit World Champion Alison Shanks won the Service to Cycling award for her contribution to the sport as an athlete and more recently as a board member of Cycling New Zealand.
The Avantidrome’s coach, Commissaire and event volunteer Colin Dixon was awarded Cycling New Zealand’s Road and Track Volunteer of the Year for his dedication and commitment to the sport of cycling, described as being above and beyond the call of duty.
