Laurie Byers

In 1962 New Zealand cyclist Laurie Byers became the national road race champion and won bronze in the same event at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia. Two years later he finished tenth in the road race at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in a large peloton of riders who were just 11 seconds behind the race winner. He also rode in the team time trial at the Tokyo Games, with New Zealand finishing 18th. He returned to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1964 in Kingston, Jamaica, where again he finished third in the road race.

Outside of cycling Byers worked as a farmer and later became a local councillor and the deputy mayor for the Far North District Council. He was first elected as a councillor in 1991 and remained in the role until 2012. During this time he also served as the deputy mayor from 2006 to 2009. In 2011 Byers was awarded with the Queen’s Service Medal for his work in the community.