I’ve known Nikki Kaye for about a decade. But not well enough.
On budget night she challenged me to race around Taupo during the Challenge in November.
I do a bit of biking. I’ve done Taupo four times mostly taking between 5.31 and 5.36. Over 6.20 first attempt. Ok for my age.
I looked at Nikki. She’s young, looks pretty good but didn’t impress me as a finely tuned athlete. I accepted her challenge.
How wrong I was. Nikki did the coast to coast last year. Not as part of a team but as an individual. And she was only one off a top 50 finish.
Experts tell me that it is the equivalent of a 4.45 Taupo. My limit would be around 5.15 if training went well and conditions on the day were great.
I haven’t quite given up but I think I am relying on Nikki understanding that to retain her seat she is going to have to use all her spare time door knocking starting now and only getting the bike out in late November.
In fact I think the chances of me beating her and her retaining the seat are about the same. So if iPredict offers odds on me that are below 10c then I might have a flutter.
Silly silly old man Trevor
Although I’m picking a Mallard victory on the basis that you have at least 4 spare hours a day in opposition to train for the event and Nikki’s addicted to her bloody Blackberry.
From the link you provided Trevor, I see Nikki has great Qualifications to be an MP. So how would be more Qualified to be a better MP?
Kate – I’ve certainly got a lot more time now that I’m not a Minister. But government backbenchers possibly have even more time. They are tied up in Select Committees a bit more but don’t seem to do the policy development work and caucus group travel that we do.
Doug I agree that Nikki has done well to date. Getting the selection over Jackie Blue was impressive. The important thing for her, and a bit of a sign for the Nats is that she is ranked high enough to protect her from a swing to Labour.
Trevor
You haven’t seen Nikki working have you? She’s flying to and from Auckland at least one other time a week attending a “Tizard” (aka – attending opening of an envelope), fussing about some minor unnecessary detail and worrying about some of codger in Freemans Bay who is complaining about his State House.
I’m not sure that is the sort of activity likely to create the status needed to leapfrog up the list. Then again I’m not sure what drives those who negotiate the lists either. But with Worth gone, Lee exposed during Mt Albert campaign, Blue looking past her use by date and Lotuainga looking pretty selfish trying to do two jobs it shouldn’t be too hard for Nikki to get a “safe” slot.
Please try and reserve this thread for how the hell I can beat her round Taupo rather than one to improve her place on the list.
Trevor, join a church and pray she punctures. Or if you were truly evil get in her bunch and cause a crash. Apart from those two suck it up, suck it up.
[...] Mallard blogs: I’ve known Nikki Kaye for about a decade. But not well [...]
Trev, running up the Wainui Hill 3x a week, no more pies and spin clases at the Gym.
Just over my line tonight. Please try and be sensible Doug – deleted. Trevor
Mr Mallard, good on you for taking up the challenge.
It seems the Labour Party have a history of misunderestimating Nikki Kaye. Ms Tizard certainly did at the last election. It seems you did when you took up the challenge to race her. It seems you are still doing so to think her odds of retaining Auckland Central are so small.
Good luck Mr Mallard, I think you know what you would need to do to move your time into the sub 5 our range already (Focus your training more on this single event, get professional advise on how to peak for one event, watch the diet, and get enough sleep).
On the other hand, I’m sure you have commitments already which take up a lot of time, so if you can’t do the above: work to put in a respectable time so it is not a complete walk over, and; graciously congratulate Ms Kaye on her victory should she win.
And maybe get someone in the National party, who you know you can beat, to challenge you: because coming second is better than coming third.
In fact I think the chances of me beating her and her retaining the seat are about the same. So if iPredict offers odds on me that are below 10c then I might have a flutter.
Nikki’s going to lose her seat to the Greens?
Damn, Trev, that’s a big call.
Phil – I think after Mt Albert the Greens will flag away the chance of winning an electorate seat again – what seats have they come second in recently? – but I’m not going to follow your attempt to threadjack.
Sean if you are my mate from Wanganui you are only allowed to be a smartarse if you beat me in a race or if you promise to get me to the top of the Kurutau hill. And if its not Sean from Wanganui then thank you for your advice but even I can not summon that optimism.
Your mate from Wanganui sounds like a top bloke, but I’m not him. I live in Wellington myself, and have an abiding fondness for the Waikato.
As for the optimism, well, anything is possible – including my plan for you to find someone who will come in third, saving you from the wooden spoon.
You got to admit, it’s an idea…
Cheers Sean. I’m pretty sure Chippie will do it so unlikely to be last MP. I gather there are also a few greens who in their caring sharing way will do the relay. Metiria has in the past. I think Wayne Mapp has too.
[...] the leader
[...] Nikki Kaye challenged me to beat her in the Taupo Cycle Challenge. It is on the last Saturday in November. I’m sure we have both had lots of advice. Most people have told me I don’t have a chance of beating a woman about half my age who did the Coast to Coast solo last year. The essence of
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Go tear up that road Trevor
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[...] today’s the day for Trevor. He’s written about it enough, now he has to do it. 160km cycle challenge in Taupo. He’s up against [...]