About Harry Kent
Harry Kent, 74, New Zealand Olympic cyclist (1972).
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Full Biography
|Harry Dale Kent (11 March 1947 – 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. 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.
Career
At the 1970 British Commonwealth Games, Kent won the gold medal in the men's 1 km time trial, with his time of 1:08.69 establishing a new Commonwealth Games record. It was his country's first gold medal in cycling at the Commonwealth Games, 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). 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.
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. This was New Zealand's first medal at the world track championships. In recognition of his achievements that year, Kent was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year, and was conferred the Lonsdale Cup.
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. 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. He was one of the two guests of honour when the Wellington Velodrome was reopened in December 2003, together with Sarah Ulmer.
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. 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.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Kent_(cyclist)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Harry Kent's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which city was Harry Dale Kent born?
- A.Auckland
- B.Dunedin
- C.Christchurch
- D.Upper Huttcorrect
Harry Dale Kent was born in Upper Hutt near Wellington on 11 March 1947.
Source: Early life section
2.Which war did the father of Harry Dale Kent, Huia Jim Kent, fight in?
- A.Vietnam War
- B.World War IIcorrect
- C.Korean War
- D.World War I
Harry Dale Kent's father, Huia Jim Kent, fought during World War II.
Source: Early life section
3.What was the specific event in which Harry Dale Kent won a gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games?
- A.1 km time trialcorrect
- B.Sprint
- C.10 mile scratch race
- D.Road race
At the 1970 British Commonwealth Games, Harry Dale Kent won the gold medal in the men's 1 km time trial.
Source: Career section
4.Who was the cyclist that forced Harry Dale Kent up against the guard rails during the 1970 Commonwealth Games?
- A.Sarah Ulmer
- B.Gordon Johnsoncorrect
- C.Niels Fredborg
- D.Bruce Biddle
During the 1970 Commonwealth Games, Gordon Johnson forced Harry Dale Kent up against the guard rails during the sprint semifinals.
Source: Career section
5.At which location were the UCI Track Cycling World Championships held where Harry Dale Kent secured silver in 1970?
- A.Leicestercorrect
- B.Wellington
- C.Cambridge
- D.Upper Hutt
Several weeks after the Commonwealth Games, Harry Dale Kent competed at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Leicester.
Source: Career section
6.By how many seconds did Harry Dale Kent narrowly miss out on gold to Niels Fredborg in 1970?
- A.0.8 seconds
- B.0.6 seconds
- C.0.4 secondscorrect
- D.0.2 seconds
Harry Dale Kent narrowly missed out on gold to Niels Fredborg by 0.4 seconds.
Source: Career section
7.What honor was conferred upon Harry Dale Kent in recognition of his 1970 achievements?
- A.The Lonsdale Cupcorrect
- B.The Velodrome Trophy
- C.The Olympic Shield
- D.The Commonwealth Medal
In recognition of his achievements that year, Harry Dale Kent was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year and was conferred the Lonsdale Cup.
Source: Career section
8.At which Summer Olympic Games did Harry Dale Kent compete in the 1 km time trial?
- A.1980
- B.1976
- C.1972correct
- D.1968
Harry Dale Kent competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in the men's 1 km time trial.
Source: Career section
9.What nickname did Harry Dale Kent acquire while running his fruit and vegetable market?
- A.The Track Terror
- B.The Garden Giant
- C.The Cycling Councilman
- D.The Flying Floristcorrect
Harry Dale Kent ran a fruit and vegetable market, named Trentham Village Market, and acquired the nickname of the 'Flying Florist'.
Source: Later life section
10.For how many years did Harry Dale Kent serve on the Upper Hutt City Council during the 1970s and 1980s?
- A.Eleven years
- B.Nine yearscorrect
- C.Five years
- D.Seven years
Harry Dale Kent was elected to the Upper Hutt City Council and served for nine years during the 1970s and 1980s.
Source: Later life section
11.Who was the other guest of honour alongside Harry Dale Kent at the reopening of the Wellington Velodrome in 2003?
- A.Niels Fredborg
- B.Sarah Ulmercorrect
- C.Gordon Johnson
- D.Bruce Biddle
Harry Dale Kent was one of the two guests of honour when the Wellington Velodrome was reopened in December 2003, together with Sarah Ulmer.
Source: Later life section
12.How many candidates were vying for the ten seats that Harry Dale Kent ran for in 2016?
- A.Twenty-five
- B.Twentycorrect
- C.Fifteen
- D.Ten
Harry Dale Kent finished last among twenty candidates who were vying for ten seats in 2016.
Source: Later life section
13.Where was the Cycling New Zealand Wall of Fame located where Harry Dale Kent was honoured in 2016?
- A.Trentham Village Market
- B.Cambridge Avantidromecorrect
- C.Wellington Velodrome
- D.Upper Hutt City Hall
Harry Dale Kent was honoured by Cycling New Zealand that same year on its Wall of Fame at the Cambridge Avantidrome.
Source: Later life section
14.What is the name of one of the four children of Harry Dale Kent?
- A.Heidicorrect
- B.Susan
- C.James
- D.Robert
Harry Dale Kent had four children: Heidi, Harry James Dale, Josephine and Michelle.
Source: Personal life section
15.In which suburb of Upper Hutt did Harry Dale Kent spend his entire life?
- A.Wellington
- B.Cambridge
- C.Trenthamcorrect
- D.Leicester
Harry Dale Kent spent his entire life in the suburb of Trentham in Upper Hutt.
Source: Personal life section
16.What was the cause of the poor health that led to the death of Harry Dale Kent?
- A.A heart attack
- B.A cycling accident
- C.Cancer
- D.Two strokescorrect
Harry Dale Kent was in poor health as a result of two strokes he suffered in the years leading up to his death.
Source: Personal life section
People who died on August 24
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