Vern Hanaray

During the 1970s Vern Hanaray was one of the best road cyclists in New Zealand, winning three national road titles (1971, 1973, 1977), in addition to being named the Road Cyclist of the Year on three occasions (1970, 1972, 1974). Hanaray initially began his career in road skating, winning the national five miles road race back-to-back in 1968 and 1969. From there he moved to cycling, placing third in the road race at the New Zealand championships in 1970. The following year he won the Dulux 6 Day race, winning the King of the Mountains classification along the way. These performances earned Hanaray a place on the New Zealand Olympic team for the 1972 München Games, where he competed in the road race.

Hanaray had more success in New Zealand, again winning the Dulux 6 Day race in 1973, as well as the Archer Grand Prix one-day race in England. He enjoyed racing in England, winning several stages of the Milk Race during his career. In 1976 he earned another place on the Olympic team, placing 52nd in the road race at the Montréal Games. Hanaray also represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in 1974 and 1978, just missing out on a medal in 1974 after finishing fourth in the road race. Towards the end of his career he won two more King of the Mountains titles at the Dulux 6 Day race in 1979 and 1980.

Hanaray latter moved to England where he started the APS Group company in Stoke-on-Trent with the business dealing with building, property letting, and home improvements.