Mountain biking: Family ride out in honour of loved one

Clan Wolf team members and supporters Blair Shallard (left), Lynne Shallard, Sam Shallard, Jarod Parker, Jack Shallard and Rachel Shallard. Photo / Stephen Parker

The popular Nzo Moonride took on a special meaning for one local family this year - as they honoured a beloved family member who competed in nearly every Moonride since it started in 1994.

Michael Shallard.

The Shallard family, from Rotorua and Auckland, were out in force on Saturday taking part in the annual event in the Whakarewarewa Forest, which attracted about 150 teams. Poor weather meant proceedings were cut short on Saturday evening but participants still completed plenty of laps in the forest before the event was called off. The Shallards decided to enter the 12-hour endurance event this year in memory of Michael Shallard, who took part in the first 20 Moonrides and sadly died late last year.

The family team, affectionately named Clan Wolf, was made up of Michael's daughter Rachel, 16, son Daniel, 12, Michael's brothers Sam and Blair, and workmate Jarod Parker. His wife Lynne, mum Elizabeth and youngest son Luke, 10, were all on hand to cheer on the team as well, while father Jack put in a few solo supporting laps.

"Michael loved to push himself with anything he did," wife Lynne said. "He got right into these types of events - the endurance riding. He was originally a downhill mountain biker but he got more and more into the longer distances."

The family wore specially designed shirts for the event which featured a wolf's face on the front, designed by his daughter Rachel. "Michael basically founded a group of riders at his work that became known as Wolfpack.KOM," father Jack said.

Jack said two of his sons, Michael and Sam, took part in the inaugural Moonride in 1994 at Agrodome and it had become something of a family tradition since then.

He said while the conditions can be very testing and bitterly cold they kept coming back. "Each year you vow you will never do it again, but you forget that by the next day," Jack said with a laugh.

This year marked the first year Michael's eldest son Daniel has taken part, while daughter Rachel has notched up four appearances. His brother Blair brought up his 20th appearance at the event over the weekend and Jack his 17th.