The very successful Port Pirie Cycling Club was established in 1897 with its former club rooms built by its members on the Port Germein Road. While rich in track and road racing history, the club currently confines its activities to social riding and gatherings.
A number of road races were organised and run by the club with riders participating from all over the state. The ‘Annual Tour of the North’ commenced in the mid 1930’s, the ‘Higgins’ road race in the mid-1940’s, and the ‘Mannix’ in the early 1970’s.
The Port Pirie Cycle Club currently has 40 ‘life’ members and has had many ‘notable’ cyclists as members with some of those names still prominent in the club today.
In 1996, club rider, Matthew Meaney achieved the title of ‘junior 3km team pursuit world champion’. A remarkable feat that the club is still proud of today. Without doubt the talented Bairstow family features in the clubs history with Clem excelling in the sport and winning many championships.
The list of talented riders from the Port Pirie Club is extensive with many ‘local’ riders’ names listed on its honour boards. The Bairstow Family, John Whitehead, Billy Shepherd, Don McVickar, Brian Rutgers, Lionel Knibbs, Kevin Murphy, Matthew Meaney, John Malycha, Alan Markham, Graham Cockshell, Cliff Talbot, Peter Northcott and of course a World Champion amongst them.
Current club member, John Malycha along with Frank McHugh from the South Australian Athletic League successfully established and coordinated the Port Pirie Cycling and Athletics Carnival at Port Pirie’s Memorial Oval from 1987 to 1999.
Olympic and world champion’s cyclists were attending the carnival each year under the guidance of Charlie Walsh. ‘Champions’ such as Stuart O’Grady, Mike Turtur, Gary Niewand, Steven Pate, Brett Aitken and Port Pirie’s most acclaimed sports persons World Champion Matthew Meaney were among some of the greats that took to the cycling track to showcase their cycling skills. One year former World and Olympic champion Sid Patterson attended as an invited guest.
The PPCC currently has riders in the club with various experience levels and it welcomes the opportunity to introduce anyone interested in exploring the great benefits that cycling can offer.
PORT PIRIE ATHLETIC AND CYCLING CARNIVAL INC.
(Content Supplied by John Malycha)
How it started: John Malycha (Port Pirie Cycle Club) and Frack McHugh (South Australian Athletic League) expressed interest in forming a committee to commence holding an annual event in Port Pirie. A committee was formed, consisting of local athletic and cycling identities. The committee at a later date became an Incorporated club with their own newly formed constitution, with their first AGM being held on 18th Feb 1990. A variety of community personalities joined the committee which included members of the local service clubs and all these members played a very important part in the success of the carnivals 13 years that followed.
The Carnival: The first carnival was held on 29th November 1987. The carnival was held at the Memorial Oval with both Cycling and Athletics events taking place from 1:30pm and concluding at 10:30pm under lights. The carnival program included:- •Cycling: Senior and junior riders •Athletics: Senior and Amateur runners Bill and Moyra Buchanan (Port Pirie Amateur Athletics Association) coordinated the junior athletic events, giving the local little athletic enthusiast the platform to participate in a local carnival.
Both John and Frank worked hard to secure $8,000 sponsorship money to be used as prize money for the first carnival. The event was well attended by about 2500 spectators on the day.
Due to the success of the carnival the carnival was added to both the Cycling and Athletic state programs of events. This meant that the carnival would then be held the last weekend of November every year. The carnival became a highly attractive event, the sports persons appreciate the manner that the carnival was organised and the prize money had become a big attraction. The carnivals that followed grew in grandeur, every year over the next 13 years more and more competitors entered the event both in Cycling and Athletics. One of the most successful years was in 1989, 250 nominations were taken, this included 10 world champions. The Australian Institute of Sport included the carnival as part of their program and both Olympic and world champions were attending the carnival each year under the guidance of Charlie Walsh. Champions like Stuart O’Grady, Mike Turtur, Gary Niewand, Steven Pate, Brett Aitken and one of Port Pirie’s most acclaimed sports persons World Champion Matthew Meaney were among some of the greats that took to the cycling track to showcase their cycling skills. One year former World and Olympic champion Sid Patterson attend as an invited guest much to the pleasure of locals that were able to secure an autograph or two. The carnival also introduced many World and Olympic Athletic champions to the locals. This carnival was attended by up to 4000 spectators .
John and Frank continued to secure sponsorship up to $20,000 from local business to keep the prize money high which in toe kept the high calibre of both cyclist and athletes attending.
Between 1990 to 1995 the carnival became a weekend event by the introduction of the Port Pirie Triathlon. The Triathlon took place on the Sunday morning, with some very early starts at the Solomontown Beach with a 600m swim followed by the 30km cycling leg and 7km running leg being conducted around the streets of Port Pirie. The triathlon attracted over 150 competitors either individuals or team categories which included State and National competitors and the event became part of the State Triathlon series TASA.
The last carnival was held in the year of 1999 after a very long and successful duration.