Southland Olympic official honoured at cycling awards

Southland cycling administrator Graham Sycamore has been honoured for his vast contribution to the sport.

Sycamore (Invercargill) has received the Malayan Cup, the highest honour, at the BikeNZ Road and Track (BRT) Volunteer of the Year Awards held in conjunction with the BRT AGM in Auckland.

Sycamore, who has been named to commissaire the track cycling at next year’s London Olympics, has been involved in cycling for over 50 years. He began as a competitive cyclist before moving into administration and officiating including team manager roles, the organiser of the famed Tour of Southland, an international Commissaire and secretary of the Oceania confederation.

“Honestly, I’m a bit gobsmacked. I’m surprised, honoured and humbled,” Sycamore said.

“It’s the first time I have ever beaten a world champion,’ he joked, in reference to 2009 individual pursuit world champion Alison Shanks who was also a finalist for the award.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Shanks (Otago) was a deserving winner of the female ‘face of cycling’ with Shane Archbold (Mid South Canterbury) crowned the male ‘face of cycling.’

Archbold, widely known by his nickname ‘Novie’ and signature mullet hair cut, won the silver medal in the Omnium at the UCI Track World Champs this year.

Cycling Otago’s Mark Falcous won the Shona Smith Trophy for raising the involvement and profile of women in cycling. Falcous runs a ‘Women on Wheels’ programme in Otago which gives women the chance to try track cycling in a supportive environment. In the first year he introduced over 30 females to cycling by running track coaching clinics and bunch rides.

Wanganui’s John McDonnell was awarded life membership to BRT. McDonnell, an international commissaire, has been a member of the Wanganui Cycling Club for 43 years. He has held many administrative positions within the sport and well respected amongst his peers.

The volunteer of the Year for lifetime service went to Canterbury’s Bruce and Amy Dawe, who remain actively involved in the cycling community. While in their 70s,  they run the weekly secondary school racing as well as the South Island secondary school championships and are fixtures at any Canterbury cycling event.

Sue Lyttle (Wellington) was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Newcomer award for her increased involvement as a Commissaire over the last two years. 

Top New Zealand para-cyclists were  commended for their achievements. World Champion Jayne Parsons (Canterbury) was named female ‘paracyclist of the year’ with West Coast North Island’s Nathan Smith taking the male title.

BikeNZ Road and Track Volunteer of the Year awards:

Shona Smith Trophy – Mark Falcous (Cycling Otago). Nominees: Lauren Ellis (Mid South Canterbury)

Face of Cycling, male – Shane Archbold (Mid South Canterbury). Nominees: Brendon Hastie (Otago), Mike Watson (Tasman), Steve Hurring (Otago), Matt Archibald (Southland)

Face of Cycling, female - Alison Shanks (Otago). Nominees: Sequia Cooper (Southland), Gabby Vermont (Southland), Sue Lyttle (Wellington)

Volunteer of the Year, lifetime service – Bruce and Amy Dawe (Canterbury). Nominees: Steve Hurring (Otago), Peter and June Gilchrist (Mid South Canterbury), Bruce and Amy Dawe (Canterbury), Graeme Howes (Mid South Canterbury), Tina Noble (Wanganui/West Coast North Island), Karen McIntosh (Auckland), Tony Ineson (Southland), Tony Hartley (East Coast North Island), Roy van Panhuys (East Coast North Island).

Volunteer of the Year, newcomer– Sue Lyttle (Wellington). Nominees: Shannon Rafferty (Mid South Canterbury), Ben Christian & Sarah Christian (Wellington), Chris Henderson (Otago), Matthijs van Wagtendonk (Manawatu), Waine Harding (Southland), Sue Lyttle (Masterton/Wellington).

Paracyclist of the Year, male – Nathan Smith (West Coast North Island).  Nominee: Jono Nelson (Mid South Canterbury)

Paracyclist of the Year, female – Jayne Parsons (Canterbury)

Malayan Cup – Graham Sycamore (Cycling Southland). Nominees: Bill Main (West Coast North Island), Colin Ryan (Canterbury), Alison Shanks (Otago), Jesse Sergent (WCNI).