Dayle Cheatley had a couple of ambitions when he was a young fella.
Well, to tell you the truth, he only turned 31 yesterday ...
One, says wife Catherine Cheatley, was to be Mayor Of Wanganui by the time he was 30.
Well, he's missed that one.
But on Saturday night he became Wanganui
Sportsperson Of The Year - something, ironically, he couldn't do when he was a highly competitive cyclist. But now, teaching the younger ones how to make themselves better, he's found his niche - and that's what was recognised with his selection at Saturday night's Sport Wanganui 2009 Regional Sports Awards.
He couldn't be there to accept the award - he was in Copenhagen with the New Zealand team at the world championships, where his women's pursuit team won bronze - and set a world record. last year.
What won the award was his work last year with the New Zealand women and juniors, culminating in Alison Shanks' gold medal at the track worlds.
Catherine Cheatley. a top professional rider in her own right and a contestant on Saturday night, knows Dayle's strengths.
"He's really found his calling - he's just got this natural talent for it. He understands the cycling thing, having done it, and he can get the best out of people. He's willing to take risks in teams with tactics etc."
Dayle Cheatley has obviously also been influenced by beinbg the son of New Zealand's track-breaking cycle coach Ron Cheatley. His first coaching job was in 2008, as Southland regional coach based at Invercargill's velodrome (roofed), and he led Southland to its first national teams points win in 30 years.
Sparc picked him as one of their coach accelerator programme members and he's never looked back.
Catherine talks of the effect father Ron has had:
"Dayle used to go to training sessions and watch Ron as a young kid. He used to ride his bike while Ron was coaching - he's grown up with it and he's definitely learnt a lot from his dad."
Track cycling coaching has become very scientific - "and that's what Dayle enjoys. He may not have the university degrees in coaching, but he has the things you can't teach a coach, like motivation, enthusiasm and tactics.
"But he's learning all about the science of it. Right now, with power data etc, they could have told you the time that (NZ women's pursuit) team was capable of doing on that day, given the conditions, temperature etc."
Dayle Cheatley won Saturday night's Strong Electrical Coach of the Year award to go into the Wanganui Chronicle Supreme Award - where he was joined by the other winners:
OVERALL
- Sports Edge - Administrator of the Year: Chris Back, rugby.
- Meteor Design & Print House - Club of the Year: Wanganui Boys & Girls Gym Club, gymnastics.
- Strong Electrical - Coach of the Year: Dayle Cheatley, cycling.
- Cycling: Infusion Catering - Fair Play Award: Taihape Area School Junior A, netball.
- Trek Bicycles - Junior Sportsperson: Nick Berry, triathlon.
- Treadwell Gordon - Junior Team of the Year: Wanganui Collegiate School girls double sculls, rowing (Esther Austin/Paparangi Hipango.
- Watkins Motors - Masters Award: Trevor Rush, rowing.
- Eides Sports - Senior Sportsperson: Rebecca Scown, rowing.
- Ali Arc - Senior Team: Steelform Wanganui Heartland Team, rugby union.
- MARS Petcare - Volunteer of the Year: Andrew Lock, cricket.
- More FM - Whistlers Award: Diane Limbrey, judo.
- Wanganui Chronicle - Supreme Award: Dayle Cheatley, cycling.