Top Athletes Honour Luke at Track Opening December 3, 2004 • A huge field of top triathlon athletes (see below) including Gold Coast Olympian Loretta Harrop will take part in a lap of honour and a demonstration event on Thursday to celebrate the official opening of a new cycle training track named after the la Luke Harrop was killed by a hit and run driver while training on the Gold Coast in 2002. The international-standard training track bearing his name will be officially opened at this event by Loretta, Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke and Deputy Premier Terry Mackenroth. The Luke Harrop High Performance Cycle Training Circuit was created out of a Cycle Safety Summit called by the Beattie Government and the Gold Coast City Council, said Mayor Ron Clarke. “As a result Gold Coast City Council and Sport and Recreation Queensland agreed to fund jointly the $1 million purpose-built track that would be named after Luke,” said Cr Clarke. Work on the 1.9km track, which is 8m wide and includes a start/finish area in the vicinity of the Runaway Bay Sports Complex pool and racetrack, was started in April 2004 and completed the same year. Cr Clarke said the new track would be a permanent memorial to Luke Harrop, who was cut down as he approached the peak of his career, while training for the Commonwealth Games with a squad of elite athletes. The track is available free for training by cyclists of all grades, including novices and amateurs, although it may occasionally be booked for specific cycle events. “Luke’s is not the only tragedy involving the death of training cyclists on south-east Queensland roads. Darren Smith, an Olympic hopeful, was killed on the Pacific Highway 12years ago,” said Cr Clarke. “So this new track is more than just a memorial. It is also an important step in making cycle training safe on the Gold Coast. “With this track and the criterium track at Nerang we are able to provide the reassurance and the security for our athletes to enable them to strive for new pinnacles of achievement. We will attract athletes from around the world to use this facility, which will provide modern, purpose-built, purpose-designed — and safe — conditions.” At the same time Cr Clarke urged road users to respect the rights of cyclists to share Gold Coast roads. “While athletes will soon have this new track for practise, they are entitled to use our roads, and they are entitled to feel safe on them. “I urge all road users to remember that cyclists are more vulnerable than other road users. Please give them plenty of clearance as you pass, and don’t pass unless it is safe to do so.” Luke Harrop was killed on Saturday, January 12, 2002, on Bermuda Street, Mermaid Waters. Darren Smith died on the Pacific Highway at Beenleigh on November 17, 1992. This article was originally published on the Gold Coast City Council website. Back to Articles Page

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