Wayne Jack, CEO Napier City Council, was injured when he came off his bike in a Ramblers Cycling Club race at the weekend, on Middle Rd, Havelock North. Photo / Duncan Brown
Wayne Jack, CEO Napier City Council, was injured when he came off his bike in a Ramblers Cycling Club race at the weekend, on Middle Rd, Havelock North. Photo / Duncan Brown
A cycling helmet bought in Australia has been a lifesaver for Napier City Council chief executive officer Wayne Jack who was badly injured in a race crash near Havelock North at the weekend.
Mr Jack spent two nights in Hawke's Bay Hospital as a result of the crash which happenedin Mill Rd while riding in a pack of about 15 in the Ramblers club event on Saturday afternoon.
He broke an elbow, damaged an AC joint, received a head injury and had severe grazes and gashes which he estimates left half the shingle from the road in his arm.
Recuperating at home in Napier last night, soon after being discharged from hospital, and having to miss Mayor Bill Dalton's end-of-year soiree, Mr Jack appeared however to be most "gutted" by now not being able to ride this coming Saturday's Lake Taupo Challenge.
With 40kg shed thanks to his fitness regime, and extra training in a routine of riding on 4-5 days a week with an average 250-300km in a bid to reach his goals, he reckoned he was on target to crack the 160km gutbuster in under five hours.
It would have been his third since moving back from Australia to Napier to take up the city council job two years ago.
Both previous lake tours have taken him about five-and-a-half hours, but he's had an even bigger impact on cycling with a focus on a new events strategy for Napier which led to the city being chosen to stage the Elite Nationals national road cycling championships in January.
Mr Jack said Saturday's crash happened when his bike and another "clipped". Emergency services were called immediately, and he was rushed to hospital, where he yesterday underwent surgery to remove the multiple road chips from his arm.
