Cycling's master still rides bike at 79

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 17

Cycling's master still rides bike at 79

TN his eightieth year, Phil O’Shea, a living legend in New Zealand cycling, frequently rides a bicycle From 1909 to 1932 O’Shea established a record of consistently high-class performances in New Zealand cycling that is unmatched.He retired from his shop only two or three years ago, and his main interests now are playing golf once a week for exercise and watching cricket and cycling- He is still remarkably fit for a man who will be 80 in April. Although he admits to not liking the garden, he keeps his extremely neat and he painted his house at the end of last summer. “I like the beautiful ride through Hagley Park to town,” he said with a smile. “I still feel as if a bike is part of me.” He once played golf off a handicap of 10 and was a member of the Waitikiri Club. Although he still plays there on occasions he

has recently become a midweek member at Russley. O’Shea’s 23-year racing career was astonishing. He won titles in every race from a quarter of a mile to 165 miles—on both road and track—won three times in succession the blue riband event of cycling, in Australia and New Zealand, the 165-mlle Warrnambool-Mel-bourne event; and won every New Zealand road and track title. In his career be beat Australian and American sprint champions on the track and he left in the dust the best road cyclists in the South Pacific.

Even after his long association with cycling, O’Shea has no axe to grind. However, he feels that if it is not possible to bring the best cyclists to Christchurch because of lack of finance the programme at English Park should be diversified to attract larger crowds.

“When I rode, there were cash sprinters and whippet races to brighten the programme,” he said. “The idea of cycle race after cycle race is not good. Even I get tired of seeing the same thing all the time. The organisers should be able to drag in something else.” The sft 7in O’Shea now weighs 10st 71b but when he was riding he was over list. He attributes his continuing good health to his long, hard cycling career and the avoidance of fatty foods. If the sport was to improve it would have to ah tract more riders but because it was a “hard sport,” in the physical demands it made on competitors, it would be difficult to swell the numbers now, he said. “If a hundred more riders compete the sport is bound to get some good ones,” he said. “The Mairehau Novice Wheelman was bringing them on well.” He feels that some of the riders today are inclined to do too much training. They did not know when to ease off. “I did not do the training that some of the boys do now.” Of the leading riders in

Canterbury he considers the amateur, B. G. Stockwell, the novice, R. E. Knight, and the cash rider, D. N. McEvoy, have the best futures. “Stockwell should go places,” he said.

When, it came to the top road rider in New Zealand O’Shea unreservedly rated the Dunedin cash rider, C. McNaught, as the best. “He would beat any other rider in the country. “Unfortunately McNaught suffers because he is generally far superior to the other cash riders. When O’Shea was competing cycling was booming and most of the top riders raced for cash. “English Park would be packed for feature races and in my day big money could be made,” Mr O’Shea said with a touch of nostalgia. As a patron and life member of the Christchurch cash cycling club Mr O’Shea retains a keen interest in the development of the sport but it is-his willingness to help .riders, whether they be in the cash, novice or amateur ranks, that has endeared him to the cycling community.