B. Dyer Will Miss Canterbury Titles

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 13

B. Dyer Will Miss Canterbury Titles

One of Canterbury’s finest middle-dis-tance prospects, B. Dyer, aged 20, will not compete in this season’s provincial championships in February.

He is one of 12 radio and television technicians chosen from throughout New Zealand to attend a two-month training course in Wellington, He will leave Christchurch on February 7 and will not return after the New Zealand track and field titles in March. Dyer, who lives in Rangiora, is the present holder of the Canterbury senior two-mile record of Bmin 57sec, which he recorded only a few weeks ago at a special evening meeting when he provided the sur-

prise of the season by defeating a high-class field. On Saturday he held off the Russian champion, O. Raiko, for a lap and a half in the international half-mile. He finished third, but his time of 56.65ec was his fastest and one of the best recorded by a Canterbury athlete for some time.

While in Wellington, Qyer will continue his athletic career. He has already made application to compete in the Wellington championships, although there is a chance he will not be eligible for titles. His two-months absence could seriously handicap his chances of gaining selection for the Canterbury team to the New Zealand championships, but the selectors have agreed to consider any of his Wellington performances. He plans to send a list of all his times and performances to the selectors while he is away. Although Dyer holds the Canterbury record for two miles he does not intend concentrating on the longer distances for “a couple of years.” He said last evening that his main events for this season would be the 880 yards and the mile.