Edgar climbs into charitable ride

NZ Cricket administrator Bruce Edgar who will be cycling the length of the North Island to raise money for charity. Photo / Supplied

Black Caps selector Bruce Edgar deserves a break.

After spending countless months preparing for the Cricket World Cup, and then working through the emotional tidal wave of the tournament itself, you'd think he'd want to put his feet up for a bit. Instead, the 58-year-old is attempting to cycle the length of the North Island in the space of a week.

It's all in the name of charity, specifically for the benefit of TEAR Fund, an organisation with projects throughout the developing world.

"Last year, I did a charity walk and the organiser, Beth Harper of TEAR Fund, knew I was a keen cyclist," says Edgar, who also played cricket for New Zealand in the 1970s and '80s. "She said, 'I have an event next year I'd like you to get involved in.'"

What he agreed to was a charity cycling race called the Tour of New Zealand, and he soon
learned his participation would be arduous in the extreme.

The race involves teams starting at the top of the North Island or bottom of the South Island at the same time to meet in Wellington seven days later.

Around 5am yesterday, Edgar and his three team-mates left from Cape Reinga to ride the 700km to the Parliament buildings.

Edgar has been a keen cyclist since he retired from cricket but the scale of this assignment has him slightly concerned.

"[When] I checked the terrain and how many climbing metres we're doing and the distances we're covering, I gulped. It's a lot of climbing," he laughs.

Edgar maintained a regular training schedule by taking his bike around the country as he went to each of New Zealand's games during summer, including the World Cup matches.
"Even on the day of a game, I would get up and go for a ride."

While he thinks he's a "wee bit underdone" fitness-wise, Edgar is confident he'll have the staying power to go the distance.

Edgar has become a master at discerning what will work and what won't, as his Black Caps selections have shown in recent times. He says the World Cup was like nothing he'd ever experienced.

"Each game was a statement," he says. "Seeing everyone step up at different stages was just fantastic. That game against South Africa at Eden Park - I've never seen such excitement and passion. [The] man hugs and cheering.

"It just brought out what everybody was feeling towards the team, that they'd done something special."

He's quick to downplay his role in the team's run to the World Cup final but there's no denying a degree of satisfaction at the way things turned out.

"I started this selection role in August 2013 and since that time, the World Cup clock at the office was on a countdown.

"I had an involvement in getting the final 15-man squad together and then obviously the combinations on the day. You can look at it and say, 'I had some input into this'."

To support Edgar's fundraising efforts, visit: http://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/supportbruceedgar