Staples Rodway graduate clocks up numbers on the road

Media release

Monday, March 28, 2011

Staples Rodway graduate clocks up numbers on the road

Many Kiwis struggle to understand the sport of cycling and it’s easy to see why – there’s the excessive hours of training, the intricate racing tactics and etiquette, the quirky European terms like ‘peloton’, not to mention those funny shorts and tiny bike seats.

The team at the Staples Rodway Auckland office has undergone a crash course in the sport since Matt Hinton started as a graduate almost a year ago. While most of his colleagues are still asleep at 5.30am, Matt is out peddling the streets rain, hail or shine, training about 14 hours a week and cycling up to 400km.

Although still training hard, this year Matt is putting aside his cycling goal of once again completing the Tour of Southland in favour of a full year of workshops and study, not to mention working five days a week, culminating in his PCE2 final accounting exam in November.

“The firm has a great way of delivering a work/life balance and understanding the wide range of commitments staff have outside their job. I have learnt an incredible amount about business over the last twelve months while having the support to pursue my cycling goals,” says Matt.

Staples Rodway Director David Searle, who is also for Human Resources in the Auckland office, agrees with Matt about the firm’s focus in this area.

“We do encourage all our staff to have a work/life balance, and see sport as very important for reducing stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We also commend Matt for his ability to work hard and compete at such a high level,” he says.

Cycling is in the Hinton family blood, with Matt being the third generation to take up the sport. He cycled during high school but it wasn’t until he started studying for his Bachelor of Commerce at Auckland University that he really got into it seriously.

“In my early cycling days, I participated in a fun-run alongside my granddad and dad, and that was pretty special. There aren’t many sports where that is possible, and learning to balance study with training has played a huge part in the effective time management skills I need for my career,” he says.

Before he embarked on his career he did achieve one of his major cycling goals, to complete the grueling Tour of Southland, the six-day, 880km race infamous for its wet weather, biting southerlies and field packed with riders from around the country and the world.

With coaching from Gordon McCauley, one of New Zealand’s top cyclists, Matt managed to complete the race, even winning one of the stages, ahead of controversial Tour de France winner Floyd Landis. Last year he competed in the elite section of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, setting a personal best of 3 hours and 54 minutes for the 160km race.

Matt’s enthusiasm has helped some of the others around the Staples Rodway office indulge in their cycling passion too, with a team also competing in last year’s Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, complete with branded kit.

“It’s a great way to meet different people in your own office and from offices around the country, and for me it’s a great way to keep everything in balance. If I have a couple of days off cycling I really notice that I’m not as relaxed,” says Matt.

“While I know this year will be more about study and work than cycling, it’s going to be a great learning experience.”

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