RIDING FOR CHARITY
THESE ALL BLACK LEGENDS ARE SADDLING UP FOR AN EPIC TRIP
All Black legends reunite
Some have been training hard, while others are relying on muscle memory to get them from Wellington to Auckland on their bikes.
It’s a long haul, but these aren’t fainted-hearted men
– they are some of the toughest All Blacks we have ever produced. Joining them will be four former Lions players who are making the trip from the UK to punish their bodies and raise money for AB assistant coach Wayne Smith’s charity Conductive Education. Also tagging along is a strong contingent of keen local cyclists and potentially half the Barmy Army in their camper vans.
One of the oldest riding is 71-year-old retired Gisborne farmer Ian Kirkpatrick, who says he’s pretty much the same weight and height today as he was when he was playing flanker for the All Blacks between 1967 to 1977. The former AB captain has just returned from a holiday in France, where he took his bike to get in some training – “with some success”, he chuckles.
Frank Bunce (55) admits he hasn’t even got a bike, let alone been out training.
The Cambridge-based small
business owner says he’ll get hold of one eventually but has no intention of getting on it until he absolutely has to.
“Leaving my training so late in the game, it’s best I don’t even start and just grit it out when we are all on the road,” says the former test centre who played for the ABs 55 times during his rugby career.
Then there’s stock truck driver Andy Earl (55), who says he’ll be riding his old bike which hasn’t seen the light of day for more than a decade.
“Last time I was anywhere near a bike was in 2005!” confides the former captain, who wore the jersey in the late ‘80s. “I did a bike ride around New Zealand
– through the 27 provinces I had played against – and “Albie” [Albert]
Anderson joined me for a couple of the legs. I pipped him at the post. He has been sour about it ever since. He wants me to do this ride because he knows he’ll beat me this time.“
Andy’s sometimes training mate and fellow Cantabrian Albert (56) is a cycling veteran. He took up the sport 20 years ago in an effort to strengthen a knee injury he suffered during his six years with the
All Blacks from 1983 to 1988.
Better known as Albie, the Southbridge farmer says he’s never come close to cycling 560km in five consecutive days before, but he’s up for the challenge. The 56-year-old former lock and captain says he’s most concerned about New Zealand drivers on the road, but is otherwise looking forward to catching up with old playing mates and raising money for the charity.
“Being navigationally challenged, I’ll put my head down and my bum up, and follow the person ahead of me until we hit the next beer stop,” he chuckles.
Also joining the group is Auckland chiropractor Dean Kenny, who is no stranger to cycling. The 56-year-old former AB half back has had more than 13 years of experience on the bike – riding the notoriously difficult K2 (Coromandel 200km) ride not once, but twice. He has also conquered the
Lake Taupo Challenge (a 160km-journey!) 10 times, as well as an assortment of long international rides for charity.
“I retired the bike about five years ago and keep fit by having an hour a day at the gym,” he says.
“But thanks to my mate
Buck Shelford, who asked me to join this ride, I am more than happy to dust it off and get back in the saddle.“
Buck says he’s very much of the attitude “the more challenging things are, the better”. Just as well, given the distance of the ride and chilly weather along the way! The 59-year-old Aucklander has been putting in some kilometres but is not getting over-stressed about the mission ahead. “A pedal stroke at a time” will be his mantra, says the trimmed down former New Zealand Maori and All Black No 8.
Ian Jones – The Kamo Kid – is also riding. The 50-year-old mortgage broker says keeping fit has always been a priority for him. He isn’t daunted by the task ahead, having competed in a number of gruelling adventure races and triathlons over the years. Ian says the camaraderie on the road and meeting locals in the regions is what he is looking forward to most.
Rounding out the group, is 10-test veteran Bernie McCahill, who will turn 53 just before the ride takes off. He’s been training with his daughter around the streets of Auckland.
“Happily, I survived an 80km-ride the other day, but I am sore,” admits the business owner. “My aim is to have lots of fun and finish it!”
Locals are encouraged to come ride along, as well as meet the legends as they roll through the North Island. Make sure you say hello!
‘I’ll put my head down and my bum up, and follow the person ahead of me until we hit the next beer stop’