Harry Kent (cyclist)
{{Short description|New Zealand cyclist (1947–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| birth_name = Harry Dale Kent
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|03|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Upper Hutt, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|08|24|1947|03|11|df=y}}
| death_place =
| country = New Zealand
| sport = Cycling
| event =
| nationals =
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates ={{MedalSport|Men's cycling}}
{{MedalCountry|{{NZL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|British Commonwealth Games}}
{{MedalGold|1970 Edinburgh|1 km time trial}}
}}
Harry Dale Kent (11 March 1947{{spnd}}24 August 2021) was a New Zealand track cyclist. He was the first New Zealander to win a gold medal in cycling at the Commonwealth Games, as well as the first cyclist from the country to medal at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
Early life
Kent was born in Upper Hutt near Wellington on 11 March 1947.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ke/harry-kent-1.html|title=Harry Kent Bio, Stats, and Results|work=Sports-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=27 August 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418080929/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ke/harry-kent-1.html|archivedate=18 April 2020|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Harry Kent death notice|url=https://deaths.dompost.co.nz/obituaries/dominion-post-nz/obituary.aspx?n=harry-kent&pid=199945272|date=28 August 2021|newspaper=The Dominion Post|location=Wellington|access-date=28 August 2021}} He was of Waitaha descent, and his family lived in Upper Hutt from the time his grandfather settled there. His father, Huia Jim Kent, fought during World War II.{{cite news|title=The Harrys plan a community garden|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/upper-hutt-leader/4359361/The-Harrys-plan-a-community-garden|first=Michael|last=Kopp|date=18 November 2010|publisher=Stuff|access-date=27 August 2021}}
Career
At the 1970 British Commonwealth Games, Kent won the gold medal in the men's 1 km time trial,{{cite web|title=Harry Kent|date=9 February 2016|url=https://olympic.org.nz/athletes/harry-kent|access-date=28 August 2021|publisher=New Zealand Olympic Committee|location=Auckland}} with his time of 1:08.69 establishing a new Commonwealth Games record.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jhTwAAAAMAAJ&q=%22harry+kent%22+cycling|title=Sporting Records of New Zealand|publisher=Moa Publications|year=1976|last=Todd|first=Sydney P.|page=277|isbn=9780908570003}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r7HiAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA5-PA5|title=New Zealand News|volume=25|publisher=Embassy of New Zealand|location=Washington, D.C.|year=1970|page=5|isbn=}} It was his country's first gold medal in cycling at the Commonwealth Games,{{cite encyclopedia |last=Kennett|first=Simon |author-link=Simon Kennett |editor-last=|editor-first=|encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |title=Cycle racing – Road and track: from the mid-20th century (Harry Kent)|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/40275/harry-kent|date=5 September 2013|access-date=28 August 2021|publisher=}} and was one of two golds that New Zealand won at that year's Games (the other was by Bruce Biddle in the road race).{{cite news|title=Harry Kent, pioneering track cyclist, dies aged 74|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/126189403/harry-kent-pioneering-track-cyclist-dies-aged-74|first=Nicholas|last=Boyack|date=28 August 2021|publisher=Stuff|access-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828063858/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/126189403/harry-kent-pioneering-track-cyclist-dies-aged-74|archive-date=28 August 2021|url-status=live}} He finished in fourth place in the sprint and sixth in the 10 mile scratch race. Although Kent won Match A in the semifinals of the former event, he lost the next two matches against Gordon Johnson, who at one point forced Kent up against the guard rails.{{cite news|title=John Trevorrow's life in the saddle kickstarted in Edinburgh|url=https://commonwealthgames.com.au/john-trevorrows-life-in-the-saddle-kickstarted-in-edinburgh/|first=Ian|last=Hanson|date=24 July 2020|access-date=28 August 2021|publisher=Commonwealth Games Australia}}{{cite news|title=Feature: Meadowbank History Lesson|url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/scotland/article/tra20100714-track-Feature--Meadowbank-History-Lesson-0|first=Brian|last=Annable|date=14 July 2010|access-date=28 August 2021|publisher=British Cycling|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828105839/https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/scotland/article/tra20100714-track-Feature--Meadowbank-History-Lesson-0|archivedate=28 August 2021|url-status=live}}
Several weeks later, Kent competed at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Leicester. He secured silver in the men's 1 km time trial, narrowly missing out on gold to Niels Fredborg by 0.4 seconds.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrUAqlV-XIkC&q=%22harry+kent%22+cycling|title=Cycling|publisher=Crowell|year=1975|last=Wadley|first=J. B.|page=85|isbn=9780690007794}} This was New Zealand's first medal at the world track championships.{{cite news|title=Track Cycling World Champs – Day 2 Wrap|url=https://www.olympic.org.nz/news/track-cycling-world-champs-day-2-wrap/|access-date=28 August 2021|publisher=New Zealand Olympic Committee|location=Auckland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828084923/https://www.olympic.org.nz/news/track-cycling-world-champs-day-2-wrap/|archive-date=28 August 2021|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Cycling: Ellis grabs silver in Denmark|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/other-sport/cycling-ellis-grabs-silver-denmark|date=29 March 2010|newspaper=Otago Daily Times |location=Dunedin|access-date=28 August 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828085723/https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/other-sport/cycling-ellis-grabs-silver-denmark|archivedate=28 August 2021|url-status=live}} In recognition of his achievements that year, Kent was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year, and was conferred the Lonsdale Cup.{{cite web|title=NZOC Awards|date=9 February 2016|url=https://www.olympic.org.nz/about-the-nzoc/nzoc-awards/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215111204/http://www.olympic.org.nz/about-the-nzoc/nzoc-awards/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 February 2016|access-date=28 August 2021|publisher=New Zealand Olympic Committee|location=Auckland}}
Kent competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in the men's 1 km time trial but did not start in the men's sprint. He finished 16th in the former event with a time of 1:09.10.
Later life
After retiring from professional cycling, Kent returned to Upper Hutt and managed his family's garden nursery.{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2D3GrbB131cC&pg=PA104|title=Ride: The Story of Cycling in New Zealand |publisher=Kennett Brothers |year=2004|last=Kennett|first=Jonathan|page=104|isbn=9780958349079}} He ran a fruit and vegetable market, named Trentham Village Market, and acquired the nickname of the "Flying Florist". Kent was elected to the Upper Hutt City Council and served for nine years during the 1970s and 1980s.{{cite news|title=Harry Kent|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/upper-hutt-leader/20160921/281560880265133|date=21 September 2016|newspaper=Upper Hutt Leader|access-date=27 August 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921000247/https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/upper-hutt-leader/20160921/281560880265133|archivedate=21 September 2017|url-status=dead}} He was one of the two guests of honour when the Wellington Velodrome was reopened in December 2003, together with Sarah Ulmer.{{cite news|title=Wellington Velodrome Grand Re-opening|url=http://cyclingnz.com/cnz5_news.php?t=c&i=32&n=528|first=Kevin|last=Smith|date=10 December 2003|access-date=28 August 2021|publisher=Cycling New Zealand}}
Kent ran again as city councillor in 2016, after engaging in a protracted legal dispute with the council over the commercial assessment of his business. He ultimately finished last among twenty candidates who were vying for ten seats.{{cite web|title=2016 Triennial Elections – Declaration of Result|url=https://www.upperhuttcity.com/files/assets/public/yourcouncil/uhcc-2016-triennial-elections-final-fpp-result.pdf|date=13 October 2016|access-date=28 August 2021|publisher=Upper Hutt City Council}} He was honoured by Cycling New Zealand that same year on its Wall of Fame at the Cambridge Avantidrome.
Personal life
Kent had four children: Heidi, Harry James Dale, Josephine and Michelle. Harry James helped his father manage Trentham Village Market. Kent spent his entire life in the suburb of Trentham in Upper Hutt.
Kent died on 24 August 2021. He was 74, and was in poor health as a result of two strokes he suffered in the years leading up to his death.
References
{{reflist}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-bef | before = Jeff Julian}}
{{s-ttl | title = Lonsdale Cup of the New Zealand Olympic Committee | years=1970}}
{{s-aft | after = Les Mills}}
{{s-end}}
{{1970 New Zealand British Commonwealth Games team}}
{{1972 New Zealand Olympic team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kent, Harry}}
Category:New Zealand male cyclists
Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for New Zealand
Category:Cyclists at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games
Category:Cyclists at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic cyclists for New Zealand
Category:Sportspeople from Upper Hutt
Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in cycling
Category:Waitaha (South Island iwi)
Category:Medallists at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games