Canterbury Has Fine Junior Cyclists

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30496, 18 July 1964, Page 11

Canterbury Has Fine Junior Cyclists

r rHE high standard reached by many young cyclists in Canterbury should bring the province into national prominence very soon, according to Mr W. S. Williams. a vice-president of the New Zealand Cycling Association and secretary of the Avon Cycling Club. Although the actual number of competitors in cycling in Canterbury has not increased in recent years there was a far higher proportion of junior riders than ever before, he said. Already some of these juniors had stood out in open events and in a few years’ time could be competing successfully in national events. Prominent among the current junior riders are T. Tabak. J. Cleary and W. Kendall, all of whom have

New Riding School

Miss Denise Sandford has started a riding school near her home in Marshland road where she will be catering for all ages of riders. Miss Sandford will be remembered by her meritorious performances on Fleetwing in Pony Club events and at A. and P. shows. At the Christchurch show, last year, this young combination won the F.E.I. event for A and C grade horses against much more experienced opposition and was second in the puissance event, jumping over sft 6in. Horse Society At the annual meting of the Canterbury area of the New Zealand Horse Society held on June 28, Mr D. B. C. Allin was re-elected chairman. Messrs K. F. Mcßride and A. Ward-Smith, vicechairmen, and D. Broadway secretary. Two committees were elected, an executive of 12 and, for the first time, a general committee of 21

performed well at the national junior championships and Canterbury championships. '

Tabak became a scratch rider while still a junior and has represented Canterbury both at track and road events. Last year he was fourth in the New Zealand junior 50 mile event.

Cleary, whose best successes have been on the track, set a. new national five-mile record at English Park this year. Kendall also is a national junior record holder—in the 4000 metres pursuit race—and was second at the national championships at Invercargill. Other young riders who are making good showings in club events are G. Sword, W. Janus. P. Skilling. G. Stanley, P. Wildermoth. D. Savage and M. Litolff.

Mr Williams said that the encouragement given by clubs to their novice riders had much to do with the improved standard of junior riders. Most of the good juniors had come through the novice grade and so had a good background of riding in competitive events.

Last year, and already this year, junior riders had completed successfully against older and more experienced riders and by the time the major events of the road cycling season, junior riders could easily dominate some of these events, said Mr Williams.

members. The society hopes this will stimulate more interest among members and make it possible to hold more events in the incoming year. Concern was expressed over the number of broken bottles on the roadsides, constituting a danger to both horses and riders. It was felt that the public should take more care. The annual cocktail party will be held at the Riccarton racecourse tea kiosk after the Grand National races on August 1. Pony Breeders

A meeting will be held of the New Zealand Pony Breeders’ Association at the Caroline Bay tea kiosk, Timaru, on Thursday, July 23, at 1.30 p.m. All interested are welcome.

Personality Retire#

Mr Clarrio James, of Opawa, who retired to Takaka with his family this month, will be missed by many for his helpfulness and cheery manner. Well known as the breeder of some good jumpers, including the North Island horse Black Watch, at present an Olympic reserve horse, Jim Hamilton and Robbie Burns, two younger full brothers, Mr James intends to take his brood mares and some of his young stock with him. and the recently sold spring, Sad Loss

King Willow, who for the last 11 years has carried Mr David Gould, Master of the Christchurch Hunt, broke his neck in an unfortunate fall in the hunting field. A big, handsome 14-year-old chestnut gelding, standing 17 hands, he was a type of thoroughbred not often seen today. By Sun King out of Straight Bat, he was raced lightly on the flat as a three-year-old and then put aside to develop. During his versatile and active life he steeplechased successfully, winning two steeplechases under his owner’s colours. He was seldom out of the money in the show rings, winning championship awards as well as competing in dressage competitions. He was a half-brother to the good race horse Declare, which won £lO,OOO stake money. Always a gentleman. King Willow will be missed by his many friends.