Ross Kendall
The Byron Bay Cycling Club has not returned to competitive racing on the Cavanbah Centre criterium circuit since the death of former Olympic cyclist and veteran athlete, Cliff Burvill, in mid-January.
The 83-year old died after a fall, while riding on the Cavanbah cycle track that was opened less than a month earlier.
Byron Shire Council say it is currently working with relevant parties, including Cycling NSW and the Byron Bay Cycle Club, to gain a full understanding of how the incident occurred.
‘Until Council has gained that understanding, it has closed the facility to the public,’ a Council spokesperson said.
Cliff contested the 4,000-metre team pursuit at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, and won the Australian team pursuit title in the same year, at 18 years of age.
In 1958, Burvill recorded the fastest time in the Goulburn to Liverpool Cycle Classic, starting from scratch. He won many open events before moving away from Sydney.
Burvill became a member of Byron Bay Surf Club as a paddler, and in 1988 won two silver medals in the Australian Marathon Canoe Championships. He still competed prominently in marathon canoe championships throughout the 1990s.
Graham Seers, chief executive officer of Cycling NSW, and close friend said, ‘We have lost a great man; a champion in every way, and a very special mate’.
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