Rain Threatening To Disrupt Cycling

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31315, 10 March 1967, Page 15

Rain Threatening To Disrupt Cycling

(From Our Cycling Reporter) AUCKLAND. Persistent rain during the afternoon and evening allowed only two junior sprint heats to be completed on the first day of the national hard track championships at Western Springs yesterday.

In a special longrange forecast, the Auckland weather bureau predicted similar conditions for the next two days: unsettled, regular light drizzle and occasional heavy rain.

Yesterday, cloud-laden skies at regular intervals opened out to soak the track with thick drizzles and occasional downpours.

The rain was only intermittent in the afternoon but at 5 p.m. it settled in and continued most of the evening. Early Start, Late Finish It is planned to start racing at 9 a.m. this morning, in an effort to bring the programme up to schedule. However, a morning start will probably be needed on Saturdays as well, and late finishes, perhaps to 11.30 p.m., to complete the programme. If by Saturday it is obvious the championships Would not

be completed, consideration will probably be given to their abandonment.

It is unlikely they will be extended into Sunday because of the travelling arrangements made by most teams. Yesterday’s abandonment of racing, however, could be a blessing in disguise for Canterbury.

J. H. Cleary, the defending champion, and C. B. Fitzgerald, the team captain and bronze medal winner at last year’s titles, were both unwell yesterday evening and not completely fit to race in the kilometre time trial. Cleary, who was also to ride

in the first round of the 4000 metres individual pursuit, has a fever and has been advised by a doctor not to race today. However, he will make a decision this morning and is likely to compete. The only Canterbury rider to have raced so far is A. A. Paviell, who won his heat of the junior 500 metres sprint easily, against G. Penny (Otago), and A. Bourke (Auckland), but in the slow time of 14.9 sec. In the other heat, W. Haggerty (Southland) beat N. Lyster (Wellington) and G. Lovell (West Coast, North Island), in 13.8 sec.