CYCLING L. J. Byers Wins 323-mile Race

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30219, 26 August 1963, Page 15

CYCLING L. J. Byers Wins 323-mile Race

The Auckland cyclist, L. J. Byers, won the 323-mile "Tour of Canterbury” which ended at New Brighton on Saturday afternoon. During the six stages, Byers won two, was second twice, third once, and also won the Evans Pass hill climb on the first day.

At no stage of the tour did Byers lose his lead. He donned the tour leader's yellow jersey on the first day and kept it for the next five stages. L. O’Reilly (Auckland) and B. Manning 'Blenheim) filled second and third places. Byers was holding a slender lead of Imin 56sec over O’Reilly at the start of the last day but he consolidated his position when he won the fifth stage and then finished in fourth position in the sixth stage. Byers' position could have been in jeopardy in the first stage on Saturday when two Invercargill riders, A. Ineson, and R. Marshall, J. Kuiper (Auckland) and D. Herroond (Wanganui) made a break

from the field at Omihi. Had this break been successful the overall positions could probably have changed; but R. Johnstone (Auckland) brought tip the rest of the field to catch the breakaways at Spye.

This stage of 69 miles was from New Brighton up the Main North road to Motunau then across to Waikari.

.fitter a stop at Waikari. the riders set off on the last stage of the tour beck to New Brighton. L. Payne 'Palmerston North) made a break right from the start and held a good lead until Waipara, when he was caught.

Only a good break could have kept the leaders in the general classification out of the finish of the final stage. Remembering how K. Kilmartin (Australia) broke away to win the fourth stage on FYiday, E. Warren (Dunedin) and W. Brocklebank (Palmerston North) tried the same tactics and raced away to a 20sec lead on Marshland road, but they were gradually being gathered in by a very strong bunch chasing them. Determined riding by these two enabled them to maintain the lead, with Warren doing the best to take the decision by half a length. In a desperate sprint B. Goldsworthy (Invercargill) led the rest and took third place from Byers.

Results:— Fifth Stage—L. Byers (Auckland) 1, R. Mann (Papanui) 2. R. Johnstone (Auckland) 3, A. Ineson (Invercargill) 4, B Goldsworthy (Invercargill) 5, K. Kilmartin (Australia) S. Sixth and Final Stage.—E. Warren (Dunedin) 1. W. Brocklebank (Palmerston North) 2. B. Goldsworthy (Invercargill) 3, L. Byers (Auckland) 4. G. Painter (Avon) 5. K. Manning (Palmerston North) General Classification. L. Byers (Auckland). 13:18:5, 1; L. O’Reilly (Auckland). 13:21:7, 2; B. Manning (Blenheim). 132132. 3; R. Bush (Papanui), 1322:14, 4: R. Marm (Papanui), 1324:31, 5; B. Harcourt (Auckland). 13:253. 8: B. Goldsworthy (Invercargill). 1325:5. 7; J. Kuiper (Invercargill), 13:25:35, 8: R. Marshall (Invercargill), 13:2535. 9: G. Stanley (Papanui), 13353, 10.