Stephen To Ride For Auckland

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31152, 31 August 1966, Page 15

Stephen To Ride For Auckland

"The Press’’ Special Service AUCKLAND. S. J. Stephen, the outstanding, young Avon cyclist, is seeking a clearance from the Canterbury centre and, if successful, will ride for Auckland in the national junior road championship at Napier on September 30. Stephen is now residing permanently in Papatoetoe. An offer of excellent employment with an electrical

firm by his coach, the former top professional rider, C. Herbert, plus the thought that he could gain greater experience in his sport in the north, prompted Stephen to move. He is particularly interested in racing in the longer track Madison races which are frequently held in Auckland, as he and his coach consider these events good conditioning for his special event, the 4000 metres individual pursuit.

Stephen was one of the Commonwealth Games track trialists last April and ran the eventual representative, D. A. Comparini, very close in both the pursuit trials held in Auckland just prior to the selections.

At 17 years, Stephen is considered among the best allround cycling prospects New Zealand has had for some time. He will not turn senior until the beginning of the 1967-68 track season. In the Auckland 25-mile championship last Saturday Stephen finished third behind B. Beeston and P. Nicholson, but was unable to take an official placing as he started by invitation and was not an Auckland rider.