Bay Harbour: March 20, 2024

Bay Harbour News Wednesday March 20 2024
8
NEWS
Community
chats with
Civil Defence
• By Dylan Smits
AS PART of the next stage of
preparing for disasters, the
Lyttelton Emergency Hub
is hosting the community
conversations series with Civil
Defence.
Civil Defence community
resilience co-ordinator Rachel
Hunt will be the guest speaker
for four events, the first tomorrow
evening at 6.30pm.
The talks will highlight hazards
such as earthquakes and
the Alpine Fault, flooding and
adverse weather, and tsunamis.
Emergency hub facilitator Felicite
Jardine said the talks were
a good way to bring attention to
the hub’s mission of high-level
community preparedness
without the need for immediate
government assistance.
“It’ll be a good way of getting
our message out into the community.
I’d also like to hope that
we get a few more volunteers out
of it.
“Civil Defence have a great
relationship with Lyttelton
Emergency Hub and we will
continue to work together to
improve community resilience
in the area.”
The meetings will be at 40
Winchester St.
Riders eye milestone victory
in 25th edition of Le Race
THE CYCLING community will
be celebrating a special milestone
on Saturday when 600 riders
line up for the 25 th edition of the
Golden Homes Le Race.
Since its inception in 1999,
the 100km race from Cathedral
Square to Akaroa has featured
big names in the sport, as well
as some of the most eccentric
weekend warriors.
The tough climbs over Dyers
Pass, Gebbies Pass, Hilltop and
the Summit Rd over the years
have attracted some top fields,
and the Hall of Fame includes
a long list of world champions,
Olympic medallists and Commonwealth
Games winners like
Brian Fowler, Hayden Roulston
and Kate McIlroy.
Some of those competed in the
heyday of their careers, while
other young New Zealand talents
used Le Race as a stepping stone
to a professional career on the
cycling world tour.
“Those names are a great
reflection of the high regard Le
Race is held in cycling circles,”
said race organiser Sheree Stevens.
“It has been wonderful so
see those same young kids we
first met at the starting line in
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
FIRST: Sharlotte Lucas on her way to win 2023 Golden
Holmes Le Race. Top left – Daniel Whitehouse in 2019.
Cathedral Square later pop up on
the podium in Europe or the US,
and of course makes us incredibly
proud.”
This year’s field will include
defending champions Sharlotte
Lucas and Jonty Harris, as well
as previous two-time winner
Daniel Whitehouse and Australian-turned-Kiwi
pro rider
Matilda Raynolds.
Stevens said her event has
faced the same challenges as
other sports events in recent
years and Le Race was virtually
on life support after the double
cancellation in 2020 and 2022
due to the pandemic.
“Other events organisers may
have pulled the pin, but this is
such a special race and we just
love our cycling community too
much to let this amazing event
die a quiet death. Not on my
watch,” says Stevens, who adds
that increased competition from
other events, notably mountain-bike
competitions has also
challenged the viability of classic
road race.
The race also conflicts with
Sail GP in Lyttelton on this
weekend.
Stevens is grateful for the New
Zealand community for reciprocating
her commitment to Le
Race by again signing up in large
numbers for the gruelling climbs
over the Port Hills.
“That’s what keeps us all
coming back, their love for this
special event. And the big smiles
on everyone’s faces when they
share their battle stories over a
beer in Akaroa.”
STOCKTAKE
CLEARANCE
20- 70% OFF ALL FOOTWEAR & APPAREL
ADULTS AND KID’S FOOTWEAR FROM $50
10 DAYS
ONLY*
NEW BALANCE SPEED DRIFT W
WAS $300 NOW $120
MERRELL MOAB VENT SPICE M
WAS $260 NOW $160
MIZUNO RIDER 25 KNIT M+W
WAS $260 NOW $160
NB SUPERCOMP TRAINER W
WAS $330 NOW $170
NEW BALANCE MSPTMK2 M
WAS $150 NOW $70
NEW BALANCE W068LP W
WAS $120 NOW $50
NEW BALANCE GPTMPCP G
WAS $120 NOW $50
NEW BALANCE MS237LU1 M
WAS $160 NOW $50
–