Warwick Dalton a great cyclist and a bloody nice bloke......

An avid reader of Yacck, has sent us his scrapbook showing us how much he idolised Warwick Dalton, the cyclist.  His love for the sport came from his father and neighbours who were all involved in the administration of cycling, and  remembers well the esteem in which he held this man.  He tells the story that he remembered well the day that he married Gaynor Brazier from Nightcaps.  He was about ten years old and biked to the church where they were married.  When he got home his mother asked where he had been, "to Warwick Dalton's wedding" he replied.

Warwick Dalton competed at two Olympic Games; Melbourne in 1956 and Rome in 1960.  He also won a bronze medal at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in the mens' 1km Time Trial.
Warwick came to Invercargill to compete in the cycling events at Kew Bowl and on the road.  Dalton and Australian, Peter Bartels bought excitement to track riding at  Kew Bowl and road racing in the province.  The crowds gathered in their thousands to watch them.  
They were probably also instrumental in lifting the standard of cycling in Southland, which can be measured by the great talent that has come out of this sport.
The public loved Dalton and no-one more than his new wife, Gaynor Brazier who had come in from Nightcaps to watch the cycling.  She asked for his autograph and there was instant love.  Dalton in return asked for her phone number and the rest is history.
After two years in Invercargill and ten years of amateur riding Dalton went professional.
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