Obituary: Robbie Robinson

Robbie Robinson

Norman (Robbie) Robinson,
Former president and chairman of the NZ Cycling Association.
Died aged 102.

Robbie Robinson was one of the country's leading cyclists in the 1920 and 30s.

When the Wellington builder gave up competitive cycling, he lent his experience to the administration of the sport, becoming a selector for Olympic and Empire (now Commonwealth) Games.

He travelled to Vancouver as assistant team manager in 1954 and was on the selection panel for the cycling team at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.

A difference of opinion between the selectors in 1956 led to an uproar in the New Zealand cycling world. Robinson disagreed with the team chosen for the Games, and said so. He immediately resigned from the selection panel. Factions formed within the provincial cycling associations, with some demanding Robinson's resignation from all positions of authority and others supporting his right to express his opinion.

The disagreement died down and Robinson was subsequently appointed patron of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association. He sat on the selection panel for the 1960 Olympics in Rome, but again criticised the cycling team nominations and called the trials "a jack-up".

The next 20 years entailed Games involvement of a different sort. Robinson convened the outfitting committee, which decides on uniforms for each event.

His work was recognised when he was awarded the New Zealand Olympic Order, which bestows life membership of the NZ Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.

When Robinson retired from building, aged 75, he moved his family to Auckland, where they settled in St Heliers. He became part of a group that swam at Kohimarama Beach every day, summer and winter, and he did so until he was 96.

He is survived by a son and three daughters.