National cycling championships gains key support

Next month’s New Zealand elite road cycling championships in Christchurch has received a boost with the naming sponsorship from Calder Stewart Industries.

The Otago-based building company has a long association with the sport, including support of the Tour of Southland and the company built the Southland Velodrome. Calder Stewart has a team at Tour of Southland and in the South Island-based Benchmark Homes cycling series.

The Calder Stewart NZ Elite Road Championships will celebrate its 75th anniversary edition on January 11-13, the fourth straight year to be held on the demanding course on the Cashmere Hills.

Championship organiser Simon Hollander said the sponsorship is crucial for the event’s future.

“This is the fourth year the championship has been in Christchurch,” Mr Hollander said. “We know we have a true championship course which is popular with the riders and cycling fans.

“We receive great support from the Christchurch City Council, BikeNZ and other sponsors, but the naming sponsorship from Calder Stewart is vital if we are to make the event work and have a chance to keep it here in Christchurch going forward.”

Joint Managing Director Peter Stewart said the sponsorship presented a two-pronged opportunity for the company that specialises in industrial commercial and rural construction.

“We have been associated with cycling for more than a decade and enjoy our involvement with the country’s leading event, the Tour of Southland,” Mr Stewart said. “Sponsoring this event enables our company to further this involvement.

“More importantly Calder Stewart has a long time association with the city of Christchurch and we are deeply involved in aspects of the reconstruction here. This sponsorship is a way of helping to ensure a high profile event like the national championships can remain in Christchurch and assist in bringing some tourism and business to the region.”

Mr Hollander said he is expecting a strong field including some World Tour riders and Olympians and he will announce key starters in the coming weeks.