Stephen Leads Grand Prix Race Cyclists

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 11

Stephen Leads Grand Prix Race Cyclists

S. J. Stephen (Avon), a new Zealand representative last year in the same event, demonstrated his superiority over Canterbury’s other cyclists when he won, by 2min, the Canterbury centre final of the Air New Zealand Grand Prix on Saturday.

The 116-mile, threestage event was one of the hardest single day’s racing held in Canterbury.

Of the 32 eventual starters, only 10 completed all three stages, two defections in the final stage being J. H. Cleary (Papanui) and P. A. Skilling, who were lying second and third respectively after the second stage and were favourites to win a place in the Canterbury team for the New Zealand final. This was decided on the first four across the line and two chosen by the selectors. The selectors (Messrs B. E. Dawe, L. Frew and R. J. F. Hooker) announced after the final stage that their team was Stephen, J. S. Danielson, K. D. Mann, R. J. Hogan (Papanui), the four automatic choices, and C. B. Fitzgerald (Christchurch) and D. Jones (Avon).

Fitzgerald was fifth and Jones seventh on over-all times.

Mann F*ught Back

The 16-mile time trial, the second etage, aa expected gave the good time trlaltet* a tremendous advantage—Stephen winning this by Hmin from Cleary—but the gruelling third »tage evened things out. Mann was only ninth in the time trial but featured in a breakaway in the third stage, finishing with a twisted wheel and third over-all placing. in faet, the third stage was the deciding race because Danielson. Mann and Hogan broke away with 20 miles to go and only Stephen, a mile er so later, went after them. These four kept together for a time until Hogan was dropped and the remainder kept on to beat the fifth rider (Fitzgerald) by more than Smin. The withdrawals of Cleary and Skilling were disappointments for Cleary, especially, had been a dominant figure to that stage. He won the first stage with a breakaway about a mile from the finish —after a fairly quiet race—and also took two of the three primes in that stage, 41 miles from Northcote to Waikari. Crashed Twice On* of the unluckiest competitor* was G. R. Sword (Avon). Sword, who wa» in last year’s Canterbury team, crashed in th* first stag* and again, more seriously, in the final, and was forced to withdraw. Stephen else crashed with Sword in the final race, badly skinning one foot, but got back with the bunch in short time.

On* of th* most promising performance* was by the Papanui junior. I. D. McLean. Although only tenth in the time trial in a fairly disappointing time. McLean finished in the bunch in the first stage and sixth in the final stage. Results: First stage, 41miles NorthcoteWalkarl: J. H. Cleary (Papanui), 1:52:12, 1: R. D. Mann (Papanui), 1:52:17. 2: C. B. Fitzgerald (Christchurch). 1:52:18, 3; 3. S. Danielson (Papanui), 1:52:19, 4; D. J. Savage (Avon), 1:52:20 . 5; P. A. Skilling (Avon), 1:52:21. 6. Handicap: R. Hogarth (Avon). 18 min, 1; M. J. Fortune (Avon). lOmln. 2: D. H. J. Kirdy (Papanui). 12mln. 3: G. McLeod (Avon). 14min, 4.

Second stage. 18-tnile time trial. Waikari-Hawarden-Waikari: S. J. Stephen (Avon). 37:56. 1: Cleary. 39:29. 2; Skilling, 39:37, 3; D. Jones (Avon), 39:45, 4; R. J. Hogan Papanui). 39:48, 5: Danielson, 39:58, 6. Handicap: T. D. Day (Papanui), Smin, 1; G. J. Day (Papanui), smin, 2: D. Flowers (Papanui), lOmln, 3: Stephen, scr, 4. Third stage, 59-mile Waikari-Scargtll-Leithfield: Stephen, 2:35:55, 1: Danielson, 2:35:56, 2; Mann, 2:35:57, 3; Hogan, 2:40:6, 4: Fitzgerald, 2:41:20, 5: I. D. McLean (Papanui), 2:41:26. 6. Handicap: P. R. Wildermoth (Avon), 15min, 1: G, Day, 18min. 2; Mann, Imin, 3; T. Day, 25min, 4. Over-all: Stephen, 5:6:14, 1: Danielson. 5:8:13, 2: Mann, 5:10:21, 3; Hogan, 5:12:23, 4; Fitzgerald, 5:15:9, 5; McLean. 5:16:22, 6. BROTHERS TRIUMPH

The Yaxley brothers shared a notable double when they won the senior and junior titles in the Christchurch cash club’s 30mil* Crofts Memorial. B. W. Yaxley, who has been on the receiving end from his co-scratch marker, K. B. Jeffery, for most of the season, reversed the or-

der of things with a narrow victory in the sprint for fastest time.

C. D. Yaxley, who has been most consistent this year, including winning the South Island 25-mile championship, took the junior championship off the break mark of limin. For the first two laps, the field raced much as it started but on the third circuit, it was tending to merge into three groups. The veterans at the front, L. H. Arns't and C. A. Willcox, still lead at the last lap but were caught by a strong bunch of middle-markers about a mile from the finish. J. H. Willcox won the sprint for first. The break and scratch riders, then together, were only threequarters of a minute behind at the finish. Results:

30-mile Crofts Memorial. Christchurch club championship: J. H. Willcox (4imin) 1, F. J. Chapman (3fmln) 2. T. C. Gibbs (4Jmin) 3, W. Cook (Simin) 4. Winner's time 1:25:45. Fastest time: B. W. Yaxley (scr), 1:21:50, 1: K. R. Jeffery (scr), 1:21:50.1, 2. Junior: C. D. Yaxley (limin), 1:24:0.