Police News August 09.indd - New Zealand Police Association

POLICE COUNCIL OF SPORTTo contact the Police Council of Sport, call Alison Murray at the RNZPC. Ph: (04) 238-3139CyclingBob Scott shows the youngsters how itsdone in Graperide Ultimate cycle raceBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsChristchurch-based Bob Scott is a man whoknows how to stay the distance – 42 yearsas a police officer is testimony to that - andthat endurance spills over into his passion forcycling too.Bob belies his 62 years when he races ashe showed when he won the GraperideUltimate (505 kilometres) road race recentlyin Marlborough – showing the youngstershow it is done by leaving them in his wake.Included in the field were two former Olympicrepresentatives. He cut the distance out injust over 17 hours.After two hours rest he was back out theresupporting his Police colleagues who wereriding in the other events, cheering manyon to personal bests. Among them was thewomen’s winner of the 202 kilometres race,Shelley Pemberton, a fellow Christchurchpolice officer.Bob’s partner Virginia Le Bas won the firstwoman's Graperide race last year. Virginia isa Detective Senior Sergeant in Christchurch.MultisportBob’s love of cycling actually came out ofan original interest in multisport, which wasfostered by competing in the 1985 Coastto Coast race – one of the most gruelingendurance events anywhere. Bob Ealam (nowretired) fostered Bob’s early interest, teamingwith him to register a first-up victory in theveteran teams’ race. Bob Scott was hooked.Since then, Bob has completed the event afurther seven times, including the one-dayevent on five occasions and in 1999 he wonthe "Classic Vets" Longest Day in 1999.Bob, who is a very modest bloke andsomething of a legend in cycling circles, hashad some memorable races along the way- the Zerox Challenge (a 22-day multi sportrace from Cape Reinga to Bluff), the NewZealand Ironman and an amazing ride of 4days and 19 hours to cycle the length of New• The loneliness of the long distance cyclist: Bob Scott has cycled from Christchurch to theWest Coast and back on more than 40 occasions as part of his training for rides like theGraperide Ultimate, which he won earlier this year.August 2009183