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Harry Kent (cyclist)

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Harry Kent
Personal information
Birth nameHarry Dale Kent
Born(1947-03-11)11 March 1947
Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Died24 August 2021(2021-08-24) (aged 74)
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportCycling
Medal record
Men's cycling
Representing  New Zealand
British Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1970 Edinburgh 1 km time trial

Harry Dale Kent (11 March 1947 – 24 August 2021) was a New Zealand track cyclist. He was the first New Zealander to win a gold medal in cycling at the Commonwealth Games, as well as the first cyclist from the country to medal at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.

Early life

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Kent was born in Upper Hutt near Wellington on 11 March 1947.[1][2] He was of Waitaha descent, and his family lived in Upper Hutt from the time his grandfather settled there. His father, Huia Jim Kent, fought during World War II.[3]

Career

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At the 1970 British Commonwealth Games, Kent won the gold medal in the men's 1 km time trial,[4] with his time of 1:08.69 establishing a new Commonwealth Games record.[5][6] It was his country's first gold medal in cycling at the Commonwealth Games,[6][7] and was one of two golds that New Zealand won at that year's Games (the other was by Bruce Biddle in the road race).[6][8] He finished in fourth place in the sprint and sixth in the 10 mile scratch race.[4] Although Kent won Match A in the semifinals of the former event, he lost the next two matches against Gordon Johnson, who at one point forced Kent up against the guard rails.[9][10]

Several weeks later, Kent competed at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Leicester. He secured silver in the men's 1 km time trial,[8] narrowly missing out on gold to Niels Fredborg by 0.4 seconds.[11] This was New Zealand's first medal at the world track championships.[12][13] In recognition of his achievements that year, Kent was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year,[8] and was conferred the Lonsdale Cup.[14]

Kent competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in the men's 1 km time trial but did not start in the men's sprint.[4] He finished 16th in the former event with a time of 1:09.10.[1]

Later life

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After retiring from professional cycling, Kent returned to Upper Hutt and managed his family's garden nursery.[15] He ran a fruit and vegetable market,[16] named Trentham Village Market,[3] and acquired the nickname of the "Flying Florist".[15] Kent was elected to the Upper Hutt City Council and served for nine years during the 1970s and 1980s.[16] He was one of the two guests of honour when the Wellington Velodrome was reopened in December 2003, together with Sarah Ulmer.[17]

Kent ran again as city councillor in 2016, after engaging in a protracted legal dispute with the council over the commercial assessment of his business.[16] He ultimately finished last among twenty candidates who were vying for ten seats.[18] He was honoured by Cycling New Zealand that same year on its Wall of Fame at the Cambridge Avantidrome.[8]

Personal life

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Kent had four children: Heidi,[8] Harry James Dale,[3] Josephine and Michelle.[2] Harry James helped his father manage Trentham Village Market.[3] Kent spent his entire life in the suburb of Trentham in Upper Hutt.[8][16]

Kent died on 24 August 2021. He was 74, and was in poor health as a result of two strokes he suffered in the years leading up to his death.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Harry Kent Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Harry Kent death notice". The Dominion Post. Wellington. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Kopp, Michael (18 November 2010). "The Harrys plan a community garden". Stuff. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Harry Kent". Auckland: New Zealand Olympic Committee. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  5. ^ Todd, Sydney P. (1976). Sporting Records of New Zealand. Moa Publications. p. 277. ISBN 9780908570003.
  6. ^ a b c New Zealand News. Vol. 25. Washington, D.C.: Embassy of New Zealand. 1970. p. 5.
  7. ^ Kennett, Simon (5 September 2013). "Cycle racing – Road and track: from the mid-20th century (Harry Kent)". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Boyack, Nicholas (28 August 2021). "Harry Kent, pioneering track cyclist, dies aged 74". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  9. ^ Hanson, Ian (24 July 2020). "John Trevorrow's life in the saddle kickstarted in Edinburgh". Commonwealth Games Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  10. ^ Annable, Brian (14 July 2010). "Feature: Meadowbank History Lesson". British Cycling. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  11. ^ Wadley, J. B. (1975). Cycling. Crowell. p. 85. ISBN 9780690007794.
  12. ^ "Track Cycling World Champs – Day 2 Wrap". Auckland: New Zealand Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Cycling: Ellis grabs silver in Denmark". Otago Daily Times. Dunedin. 29 March 2010. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  14. ^ "NZOC Awards". Auckland: New Zealand Olympic Committee. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  15. ^ a b Kennett, Jonathan (2004). Ride: The Story of Cycling in New Zealand. Kennett Brothers. p. 104. ISBN 9780958349079.
  16. ^ a b c d "Harry Kent". Upper Hutt Leader. 21 September 2016. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  17. ^ Smith, Kevin (10 December 2003). "Wellington Velodrome Grand Re-opening". Cycling New Zealand. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  18. ^ "2016 Triennial Elections – Declaration of Result" (PDF). Upper Hutt City Council. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
Awards
Preceded by Lonsdale Cup of the New Zealand Olympic Committee
1970 		Succeeded by
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