Cambridge resident Ngaire Fisher celebrated her 100th this week by becoming the first centenarian to ride the Velodrome track.
Her record ride happened on Tuesday morning, after celebrating her birthday on Sunday with a family-filled soiree of 85. By all accounts that was an event spliced with pride-filled stories of a much-loved mum, grandmum and friend. A birthday card from King Charles added to the list of well-wishers.
Joining Ngaire on the track on Tuesday were Olympic hopefuls Shaane Fulton and Devon Briggs, and her son and grandsons, William, James and John Fisher.
Tuesday’s ride, on the other hand, was nothing out of the ordinary for Ngaire. She’s been a regular user of the facility’s community trikes programme since 2019, and generally clocks up between 4-5km a session. The News celebrated with her at the track on her 97th birthday. Before Tuesday’s session, she had already clocked up 41km this year.
Around the issue of this significant birthday, she said: “I don’t really feel any different at all … except I’ve noticed a lot more people smiling at me. I’m just going to keep coming here as long as I can. I enjoy it… I like riding with people, especially Louisa.”
That would be Louisa Anderson, who has been the trikes co-ordinator for the past few years, and who regularly does a spin around the track with Ngaire. Numbers of trike users have grown under her watch, and she enjoys the banter they share.
“I think the next most senior to Ngaire is in their 80s… we’ll have a while to wait for another one like her,” Louisa said.
Ngaire has had eight children – three sets of twins among them. At one stage she had eight children under the age of eight at the same time… that’s eye-watering stuff.
Newly-minted centenarian Ngaire Fisher flanked by, from left, trikes co-ordinator Louisa Anderson, sprint cyclist and Olympic hopeful Shaane Fulton, Velodrome general manager Dion Merson, and para-cyclist and gold-medallist Devon Briggs.
Eldest son William Fisher, who lives in Australia, said the entire family was here to mark Ngaire’s centenary … all eight children, 23 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Ngaire grew up in Rata, between Hunterville and Marton. She was always a little sports mad, say the family, winning the MacDonald Rose Bowl prize for all-round sporting achievement when at the then Marton district school. She went on to become a keen golfer and all-round sports enthusiast, and a good bridge player to boot. It’s that ‘all-rounder’ thing that seems to have kept her engaged with life.
She is escorted weekly to the Velodrome by her friend Leslie Storey, who said that Ngaire loves being at the ‘drome.
Ngaire with her eldest son William, right, and two of her grandsons, John and James Fisher.
“Even if she’s a bit unenthusiastic when I get there to pick her up, her demeanour changes once she’s here… she really loves the interaction and the people. It is so good for her.”
Ngaire was given a truly Velodrome welcome on Tuesday, with Olympic prospects and facility hierarchy there to share her moment… and the cake they made for her.
Velodrome general manager Dion Merson described Ngaire as ‘part of the family’.
“Whoever’s around takes turns to ride with her. We love having her here.”
Ngaire loves riding the track, with or without company.
