Daniel Bennett Development Fund

Danny was born on 2^nd August 1983 in Bulawayo Zimbabwe. He went to Whitestone Primary School and then on to Falcon College where he excelled in swimming, water polo, cross country, hockey and triathlon. As a natural sportsman he had the option to choose whichever sport he wanted but cycling became his passion and at 17 years of age he began to train seriously for road racing.
His first road race was a 100km race from Bulawayo to Matopos. In our ignorance he asked us to provide him with sustenance, which we did - a packet of biscuits that he later informed us was like eating pockets of dry cement! We later learned that bananas and energy bars were the norm. He came first in his age group and 16^th overall, a very encouraging outcome for him but we all had so much to learn.
In 2000 we moved to Australia, to the Gold Coast. Dan was enrolled into AB Paterson High School. He quickly settled in Australia and in no time had developed life long friendships and a courtship that was to span the next six years of his life. Dan met Courtney Simmons at school and from there on in they were inseparable. He embraced life with passion and determination as he did his sport. He began cycling before school, come rain or shine. At 4.30am he was up and on the bike ready to ride up Springbrook Mountain or to New South Wales and back.
Dan joined the Goldstars Cycling Club where he was a staunch club member and a role model for the junior cyclists. He would go down to the Nerang Cycling Centre and help them with their training, techniques and confidence. A big kid at heart, he could relate to the juniors and enjoyed the interaction with them immensely.
Whilst still in high school, Dan was approached by Matt Guile who became his coach, mentor and respected friend. Many valued hours were spent both on and off the bike sharing not only the love of cycling but also their views on world affairs. Dan’s maturity grew.
Weekends were spent at races at Coombabah, Nerang and various other locations. There he began to learn the skills involved in racing, not to mention the rules and etiquette.
Accidents were commonplace as a learner and trips to the Gold Coast Hospital were frequent. Regardless of injury he was back on the bike within a matter of days. A broken arm resulted in a wind trainer. Time waits for no man and he could not sit still for a minute.
His passion was growing stronger. Good friend Mark Brady was now coaching Dan - taking him closer toward his dream.
He began racing around Australia in the years of 2003 and 2004. These races included several trips to both regional and metropolitan Victoria, where he would gain a lot of confidence, fitness and race knowledge from racing against some of Australia’s best road racers.
From Melbourne to Gippsland, Grafton to Inverell, Daniel gave himself the best chance and opportunity to get the most out of his racing. Many were week long tours which were important to do for anyone even thinking about going overseas to race.
While training almost every day of the year and competing in these national classed races, it would give him a good base and set him up for what he wanted and would eventually end up doing - riding overseas in an environment where road racing is culture and not for the faint hearted.
One thing led to another and Daniel would be asked to attend a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in early 2005. He took this opportunity with open arms and rode the best he could - even though he would get hit by a car and break his arm! He did make an impression on the coaches that wouldn’t be forgotten. Most of the time Daniel’s legs did a lot of the talking. Even with a broken arm, his training would not cease on the road, training everyday with his best friend and training mate Joel Davis; Dan’s chance to make it overseas was near.
Mid 2005 he was given the opportunity through the AIS to travel to France to be a member of the Charvieu Chavagneux Team on the European circuit. Unable to speak French the trip was very daunting but the team photographer Evelyne Thirard took Daniel under her wing and welcomed him into their home. Every day tasks were very difficult with the language barrier and many lonely hours in a strange country did not deter him. He acquired a good knowledge of sign language and with the help of a French dictionary, he got through. A visit from Courtney in June lifted his spirits and she remained with him until September and in October he flew back home.
Watching him race after his first season in Europe one could not help but notice how he had improved and how professional he had become.
Dan returned to France in January 2006 to begin a new season. It was an easier year for Dan as he was now able to communicate in French. Courtney once again flew to be with him in June of that year and he was also fortunate to have Joel there with him for a while. He lived and breathed cycling for 8 months in France and loved every second of it. He competed in 76 races in the 2006 season, winning two in France and was consistently in the top 10.
When Daniel came back to Australia at the end of 2006 it had been a long hard season for him and the Christmas break was going to be well deserved. As we were living in Townsville, Dan moved in with close friends and fellow cyclists Kate and Trent Summer who once again provided him with a substitute family, treating him as their own. When not cycling Dan’s time was spent with Trent at his bicycle shop Cycle Surgeon, talking and working on bikes. Dan was once again preparing himself for France and the 2007 season.
But this was not to be. On 5^th January 2007 Dan prepared for his first training ride of the year; ironically it was to be his last. He collapsed on the ride at 6.20am Friday morning from myocarditis, a viral infection causing heart failure. The only comfort that we can draw from this tragedy is that he passed away doing what he loved and I quote Dan:

“He was living the dream”