Cliff Hazell would be “very, very proud” of the Dubbo Cycle Club today, according to his widow Margaret.
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Saturday’s senior carnival will see the 19th Cliff Hazell Memorial Wheelrace, in honour of the former stalwart.
The club will be fighting to win the state’s richest wheelrace for the third straight year.
But some of the nation’s best cyclists will be at the Victoria Park Cycle Track to challenge the state’s most successful club, with Dubbo claiming 26 Australian titles in the past two years.
“I can just see him on the day, looking down, watching,” Margaret said.
“I am so proud of every rider down there … It means so much to me [and sons Stephen and Phillip]. Cliff did so much for the club and it’s a wonderful race for them to dedicate that to him every year.
“Cliff would be very, very proud.”
Dubbo Cycle Club president Matthew Gilbert said the memorial “really looks at the heart of the club”.
“He was instrumental in me getting used to the sport back in the 90s and now I’m the president, so we’ve kind of gone full circle,” Gilbert said.
“There’s a lot of things around us that remind us of Cliff.
“There’s a lot of people that are willing to put absolutely everything on the line to keep [the trophy] at the club, but we’ve also had plenty of indication from our visitors that will do whatever it takes to take it from us.”
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Oceania champion, and the second ranked under 19 rider in the world, Kurt Eather is the favourite to win the handicap race for a second year, with four Australian champions and silver medallists – Dylan Eather, Danny Barber, Luke Ensor and Tim Hines – all ready to assist in its defence.
Australian time trial record holder, and ambassador, Darrell Wheeler, who has finished second in the event five times, will also feature.
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“It will be the best display of cycling that we’ve seen in many, many years,” Gilbert said.
“We’ve invited anyone that’s had anything to do with the club to come along and see … some very, very fierce competition.
“I have every faith in Kurt. He’s an extremely strong cyclist.”
Saturday’s senior carnival will commence at 4pm, following day one of the NSW Junior (under 9 to 13) Cycling Championships.
The seniors will be competing for $4000 in prize money on the night, with $1000 on offer in the Cliff Hazell Memorial, donated by son Stephen’s business Northern Region Sample Courier.
The evening will include canteen facilities and a live DJ, with spectators young and old encouraged to attend.
