This year’s Mackie Memorial Cup, awarded on the 8th of March at Mauku, is considered to be a momentous occasion as it will be 75 years since the trophy was first awarded. This cup has a history based in the celebration of community and pure hard work. Read the following information to learn just what makes it so special!
Mackie Memorial Trophy:
The Mackie Memorial Trophy 50 miles (80 kms) was presented in 1950 by Angus Mackie in honor of his father, who trained him. This Handicap race attracted large fields with participants from Auckland, Taranaki, Waihi, and the lower North Island. A large, covered truck followed the race, collecting both riders and their bicycles as they were dropped or withdrew. At the conclusion of the race, the wives provided freshly baked goods for the presentation ceremony.
A few of the early winners also competed with Angus.
More History:
In the early days, camaraderie among riders flourished as they competed on tracks during the week and on roads over the weekends. Western Springs, which opened on December 30, 1929, with a carnival organised by the Manukau Cycling Club which drew considerable crowds.
The venue also hosted Motor Pacing events on its concrete-banked track. Angus Mackie, an exceptional rider, first gained prominence at the age of 15. He was the youngest rider to win the Christchurch to Timaru 100-mile race and, at 16, triumphed in the South Island Open Three Mile event. In 1929, he won the first floodlit Motor Pacing event at Western Springs before nearly 2,000 spectators, defeating the world-famous Australian Herbert Opperman’s five-mile event time by 54 seconds, finishing in 7 minutes and 32 seconds. Two weeks later, he recorded a time of 6 minutes and 42.6 seconds, and in the same season, he achieved a mile time of 1 minute and 10 seconds.
Elizabeth, Angus Mackie’s daughter, presented the Angus Mackie Memorial Motor Pacing Trophy, which was first contested at the New Lynn Track. Competitors included G. Sullivan, the National Junior Sprint Champion, alongside G. Matheson, H. Gill-Banks, and Jamie and Michael Richards. Sullivan secured victory with a time of 1 minute and 28.8 seconds, approximately 42 miles per hour, on his second attempt.
J Grant Mackie Memorial Trophy presented to Auckland Cycle Club by A G Mackie for Annual Open Competition 50 Miles
Winners since 1950:
1950 – T. Crisp
1951 – B. Bright
1952 – B. Bright
1953 – B. Gilmore
1954 – G. Wright
1955 – G. Papesch
1956 – D. Kingsford
1957 – W. Pratney
1958 – V. Woods
1959 – D. Bradshaw
1960 – M. Russell
1961 – G. Cheeseman
1962 – R. Hinton
1963 – K. Tapper
1964 – W. Hills
1965 – K. Tunnicliff
1966 – W. Gundesen
1967 –
1968 – K. Tapper
1969 – L. Peters
1970 – B. McCarthy
1971 – A. Connell
1972 – W. Anderson
1973 – L. Enright
1974 – T. Hayward
1975 – W. Bennie
1976 – C. Morris
1977 – R. Cossey
1978 – M. Hinton
1979 – D. Charteris
1980 – P. Cox
1981 – D. Charteris
1982 – K. Wood
1983 –
1984 – R. Ennis
1985 – H. Burnham
1986 – P. Walker
1987 – M. Maloney
1988 – W. Bennie
1989 – C. Morris
1990 – L. Gibson
1991 – G. McDonald
1992 – W. Devoy
1993 – J. Lawrence
1994 – K. Baker
1995 – D. McCarthy
1996 – L. Carol
1997 – J. Taylor
1998 – J. Perks
1999 – R. Adams
2000 – R. Hoogenberg
2001 –
2002 – S. Strong
2003 – B. McCarthy
2004 – A. Coker
2005 – S. Strong
2006 –
2007 – M. Webb
2008 – C. Claxton
2009 – R. Simpson
2010 – M. Eccles
2011-2014 –
2015 – C. Fisher
2016 – D. Woods
2017 – B. Thorne-George
2018 –
2019 – A. Harrison
2020 – T. Pawson
2021 – M. Wilson
2022 – K. Holley
2023 – R. Anderson
2024 – R. Dallimore
