Feb 1st, 10.  Their team won the Trust House Cycle Classic, but Cardno's sponsorship goal wasn't about winning, it was about about supporting the community and having some fun with their staff.

Ray O'Callagan (far right) and his winning Cardno Team ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Being part of the community, they like to support local events and for the second year they sponsored a team in the Trust House Cycle Classic.

Ray O'Callaghan, the Division Manager for the New Zealand Division of Cardno, told RoadCycling.co.nz the event gave them an opportunity to give back to the community and to have some fun with their staff along the way.

Cardno TCB have many cycling enthusiasts among their staff and from Day 1 the Cardno support crew were visible along the cycle route.  At the top of the Rimutakas on the first stage they had a staff breakfast while waiting to cheer their riders.  Some even dressed up for the occasion.

At each start and finish the Cardno team were well supported with staff from the Masterton office to cheer them on, and Cardno clients were privileged to ride in the team car some days.

"We were thinking of ways to get the staff linked in with the event, and today we have a group over at the Occidental [bar]. I really enjoyed it yesterday in the car following the peloton and I thought, yeah this is fun," O'Callaghan said on the tour's final day in central Wellington.

"It's just another way of getting other people to enjoy it as well, whether it be clients, families or friends - just as long as they are cycling enthusiasts they'll get a buzz out of it."

O'Callaghan said Cardno plan to be back sponsoring the team again next year.  He believes from a sponsors point of view, in and out is not enough.  Three years is the minimum, he said.

"We're already thinking about what we can do to improve things next year. How we can help the team more."

As it is in Cardno's core business, planning is the key to success and O'Callaghan believes Team Manager John Lee's approach to creating this team was critical.

"John Lee brought them together as a team rather than a bunch of riders.  This was about saying, Hey this is what Cardno are trying to do and do you want to ride for the Cardno Team, we think you guys will fit together well, and they have.  I think that has been part of their success," he said.

It was great to hear O'Callaghan saying the riders themselves honoured the Cardno crew in recognition of their sponsorship. 

"We are part of the community and that is what sponsorship is all about," said O'Callaghan.  "Events need sponsors and we are happy to be part of it, and this year is a real buzz as our team won!  As a sponsor you can't expect to achieve this goal every year, but this year has been special for us and that's been great."

"You've got to have a bit of fun along the way and cycling is growing, it's a growing sport and this is a good way of having a bit of fun as well."

Cycling in New Zealand needs more companies like Cardno TCB!

Related articles on the Trust House Cycle Classic

• Full results
• Team lists
• Torckler crowned Trust House Tour Champion
• Fast paced stage sets Torckler up for final tour defence
• Sprint Ace wins stage but Kiwi retains yellow
• Attacks expected in Trust House tour today
• Torckler gives Kiwis something to cheer about
• From Tour Down Under to Wellington tour
• Defending champion stakes his claim
• Summit fun on Rimutaka Hill
• Five NZ champions for Trust House tour
• Kiwi Aussie showdown looming
• Defending champion back for Trust House tour

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