Frank John Grose (16 November 1909 – 11 August 1952) was a New Zealand road and track cyclist who represented his country at the 1934 and 1938 British Empire Games.

Frank Grose
Grose in 1934
Personal information
Full nameFrank John Grose
Born(1909-11-16)16 November 1909
Christchurch, New Zealand
Died11 August 1952(1952-08-11) (aged 42)
Spouse
Elvira May Loose
(m. 1935)
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportCycling

Early life and family

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Born in Christchurch on 16 November 1909, Grose was the son of Theodore Aldolphus Grose and Evelyn Maria Grose (née Hill).[1][2][3] On 7 September 1935, he married Elvira May Loose at St Luke's Anglican Church, Christchurch.[4]

Cycling

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He won the Round-the-Gorges race nine times, and was a champion over almost every distance from half a mile to 100 miles. In 1928 while in a training race with three other cyclists, they all crashed and Grose was seriously injured, breaking his pelvic bone and chipping his hip bone. While he overcame medical advice that his cycling career was ended, he was out of consideration for the 1928 Olympics.[5]

At the 1934 British Empire Games in London, Grose competed in the 10 mile scratch race, 1 km time trial and 1000 yard championship; finishing fourth in each event.[1] Four years later at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, he competed in the 100 km road race but was forced to withdraw because of equipment failure,[6] and was captain of the cycling team.[7]

Death

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Grose died on 11 August 1952, and was buried at the Ruru Lawn Cemetery, Christchurch.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Frank Grose". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Birth search: registration number 1910/5204". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Marriage search: registration number 1909/2175". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Weddings: Grose–Loose". The Press. 9 September 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  5. ^ Des Williams (2006). Born to Thunder: Champions of New Zealand Cycling. Last Side Publishing, Hamilton. p. 8,9. ISBN 0-473-10929-8.
  6. ^ "Empire Games ended". The Press. 14 February 1938. p. 9. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Team of cyclists". Evening Post. 13 January 1938. p. 24. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Cemeteries database". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 20 June 2017.