‘Growing old disgracefully’

Hundreds of bikers from around New Zealand and across the ditch have cruised into Marlborough for a rally celebrating motorbikes, mates and ‘‘growing old disgracefully’’.

About 280 riders, members of the Ulysses Club which is for people aged over 40, convened in Blenheim for the 2020 national rally in the weekend.

Events included their annual meeting, scenic rides through the Marlborough Sounds and a big party themed ‘‘Pirates of the Marlborough Sounds’’.

While motorcycles were the underlying ‘‘glue’’, the club was more about ‘‘friendship, camaraderie’’ and reconnecting, members said.

The Marlborough branch had been organising the rally for the past 18 months, local co-ordinator Kelvin Watson said.

New Zealand national club president Tim ‘‘Tiny’’ Stewart said the weekend gave people the chance to rekindle old friendships, make new ones, and ‘‘misbehave a little bit’’.

The bikes were diverse, as were the people, he said.

Riders were on adventure bikes, cruisers, sports bikes and road bikes, and the ages of members ranged from 40 through to 97 in occupations from diggers to barristers.

‘‘All ages, all races, sexual orientation. That’s the thing about motorcycle riding, it’s nondiscriminatory.’’

Marlborough and national committee member Jane Laing said the weekend was about meeting ‘‘Ulyssesians’’ from all over the country.

‘‘It’s a celebration of who we are, and what we’re about, and we are a little bit disgraceful. Our motto is growing old disgracefully. It’s a really nice feeling here this weekend.’’

While they weren’t ‘‘supposed to’’ amid fears of coronavirus, there had been a lot of hugs, handshakes and laughs, she said.