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Letter: Port Coquitlam races in 1970s, too

The Editor, Re. "One week ’til PoCo’s big bike race" (The Tri-City News, July 8).
race

The Editor,

Re. "One week ’til PoCo’s big bike race" (The Tri-City News, July 8).

Your articles on the PoCo Grand Prix this Friday is not accurate in stating that this will be the first road bike race to be held in Port Coquitlam.

In the early 1970s, my husband, Keith Walker and a team of volunteers, myself included, organized four road bike races in the city. Not only were they a success but they also helped to launch the cycling career of a PoCo teenager, Brian Keast, who went on to make quite a name for himself in the cycling world, including the Olympics.

Several attempts by my husband to make the present committee aware that we have a local cycling hero have met with not a flick of interest. My husband contacted Mr. Keast, who now is a successful businessman in the Okanagan, about presenting Brian's achievements and somehow having him be a part of the celebration and was met with great enthusiasm.

Just as a footnote, the 1970s races were organized and put on by a group of volunteers — no $200,000 grant from anyone.

Dorothea Walker, Port Coquitlam