Both my parents came from big families. My mum was one of five sisters who all married Sandhurst footballers.

I learnt to swim and did little athletics while growing up in Bendigo before we moved to Belmont when I was 11 years old.

Dad was a school teacher and taught at Ocean Grove. I've got fond memories of growing up in Bendigo and Belmont.

But one thing always stayed in my mind when we were living in Belmont and that was the Melbourne to Warrnambool cycling race.

The road through Belmont used to be blocked off to allow the cyclists to ride up the highway to Warrnambool when the race was to be staged.

The event used to be a handicap back then. I've got fond memories of seeing this bloke riding in the race with a bandaged knee.

I was staggered to think he had ridden from Melbourne and now was heading to Warrnambool.

I decided then and there to put it on my bucket list that I would ride in the Melbourne to Warrnambool one year.

Did that become reality? Did you get to live out your Melbourne to Warrnambool dream?

Yes. I was 40 years old when I rode in the event in 2001. We had a young family and moved to Warrnambool with my job in the police force in 2001.

I thought this is my opportunity to ride in the race as I had always loved cycling.

I put in a lot of training before riding in the Melbourne to Warrnambool.

I would train up to six hours some days riding in the wind and rain and I will never forget the winter gale-force winds I had to encounter on those lonely training rides.

Chris, what are your memories of riding in the 2001 event? The honour roll tells us David McKenzie won that year, in just over seven hours.

The race started at Williamstown. We rode into a strong head wind for the early part of the event. There were 200 riders.

I decided I wanted to be as close to the front group as I could so I used up a lot of energy in the first 30 kilometres but I recovered after that initial onslaught to find myself in a pretty good position.

The further we got up the highway the weather turned really bad.

I finished the race in seven hours and 30 minutes, which meant I ended up in 35th position and was the first rider home in D grade.

I was pretty happy with my result.

Have you competed in any other Melbourne to Warrnambool cycling races?

No. I only rode in 2001. Cycling is really tough. It's a gut-busting sport because you spend so many hours training whether it's for events or just against a few mates.

It really sorts people out mentally and physically. My wife Jenny and I were in the French Alps this year to see a stage of the Tour de France.

I always watch the event on the television but just to be there this year to capture the atmosphere was really special.

I still love riding around the district roads, I usually ride three days a week but there are no more Melbourne to Warrnambool bike rides for me.

I love watching the Melbourne to Warrnambool. I'll be on the highway watching the end of this year's race.

It's a truly amazing bike race which is recognised on the world cycling stage so we're really lucky that it finishes in Warrnambool.

Chris, away from cycling have you played many other sports?

I've played a lot of footy over the years. My career started with Grovedale juniors going through the grades to the seniors.

I was 17 years old when I made my senior debut with Grovedale before going up to Geelong to play in the under 19s and reserves.

I did a pre-season with Geelong's senior side which was coached by Billy Goggin back then.

I knew I was never going to get a game in the seniors so after I played with Geelong's reserves side I went and played with Geelong West in the old Victoria Football Association.

Did you play with Geelong West for many seasons?

I played there for nearly two years before going back to Grovedale for a few years.

Warwick Yeates, who was the playing coach at Portarlington, then asked me to join them. I stayed there for three years before joining Belmont in 1986.

Chris, you've played a bit of footy during your career. Did you stay with Belmont for very long?

For three years. I was playing in the reserves but in my last year, which would have been in 1988, I had problems with my groin which needed an operation.

I ended up coming back and playing in the winning grand final side against Lara.

The funny thing is Lara beat us by nine goals in the last home-and-away game but we won the grand final.

There was an all-in fight after half time - every player on the ground was in the fight.

Was that the end of your career when you played at Belmont?

No. I played with Newtown in 1989 but I only played a few games as I got broken ribs.

I ended up playing in all the footy leagues around Geelong before getting the transfer to Warrnambool with work in 2001.

I had a season playing with Russells Creek’s reserves side before my body said I had played enough footy. My footy career ended as a 38-year-old.

I've got no complaints regarding my footy. I loved playing the game. I still follow the footy as my sons play at South Warrnambool.

I had a stint playing cricket in the lower grades at Grovedale but I had limited ability.