Wellington Rider New Star Of Cycling

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 14

Wellington Rider New Star Of Cycling

(From Our Cycling Reporter)

AUCKLAND.

Depleted by withdrawals before it left, the Canterbury hard track cycling team was dealt further misfortune in the national championships at Western Springs Stadium yesterday.

J. H. Cleary, the defending champion in the kilometre time trial and the favourite to win the 4000 metres individual pursuit title, was instructed by a doctor not to ride. On Thursday evening, Cleary had a fever and was receiving penicillin injections.

However, Cleary chose to ride against D. R. Thomson (Wellington) in the first round of the pursuit and, looking very unwell and certainly not fit to ride this demanding event, failed to qualify. Cleary then withdrew from the time trial—along with Canterbury’s bronze medalwinner at last year’s national titles, C. B. J. Fitzgerald, who has influenza.

Fitzgerald did ride in the senior pursuit team, however, to avoid scratching the Canterbury team. Even Cleary’s absence, however, could not overshadow the magnificent promise of the powerful Wellington rider, H. J. Kent. Only 19 and in his first year on the track—although he has ridden on the road for three years—Kent won by a second with a tremendous time of Imin 13.3 sec, the likes of Which have not been regularly approached since W. D. H. Dalton was in New Zealand.

Kent thrashed by that very large margin G. F. Wright, another Wellington rider, who performed with distinction at the Jamaica Commonwealth Games. Wright, however, was the strongest finisher in the field, doing his last 500 metres in 36sec.

To complete a Wellington dominance of the event, B. F. Goldsworthy was third in Imin 15sec.

A. J. Hood salvaged some respect for Canterbury with fifth placing, in Imin 15.9 sec. The most satisfying event for Canterbury was the junior individual pursuit and two of the province’s riders, B. G. Stockwell and S. J. Stephen qualified for the final.

Stephen was the fastest qualifier, having a comfortable and important win over the Southland threat to Canterbury dominance, R Maguire. Stockwell beat the Wellington champion, L. Cooper.

Sprinters Do Well Canterbury's sprinters performed with much distinction. All three seniors—M. W. Litolfl, D. A. Swanston and Fitzgerald—are through to the eighth-finals, and S. J. Stephen, A. A. Pavlell and G. w. Wood, the juniora, have made similar progress.

As well, the senior tandem Eair of Swanston snd R. D. lann are In the semi-finals.

Swanston and Mann lost their first round race to the Grace brothers. Max and Peter, of Auckland, but striking the good fortune of a ride-over in the reselections. they are through to the semi-finals.

There was a serious crash in a heat of the Junior five miles, and the Southlander, G. Brotherstone, was bsdly hurt. He was taken to hospital, and waa believed to be suffering a fracture of the skull.

The Southland tandem pair, W. Haggerty and R. J. Robinson, broke the only records so far. With times of U.lsec and 12sec, they beat the New Zealand standard time for a junior tandem of 12.3 sec.

The rain persisted all day but the afternoon cleared sufficiently for the programme to be hurried through. Abbreviations used are: Waikato (Wai.), Auckland (A.), West Coast, North Island (W.C.N.1.). Wellington (W.), Canterbury (C.>, Otago (O.). Southland (S.), Individual (I.), East Coast North Island (E.C.N.1.). SENIOR 4000 Metres Individual Pursuit First Round Qualifiers.—G. F. Wright (W.). 5:19.4; J. Anderson (S.>, 5:24.0; D. F. Stowell (W.C.N.1.). 5:24.2; J. Leamon (Wat). 5:27.3. Semi-finals.—Wright beat Stowell, 5:21.6; Leaman beat Anderson, 5:26.2.

SOO Metres Sprint First Round Qualifiers.—G. Crawford (A.), 13.5; N. F. Joyce (W.C.N.1.), 12.9; P. H. Robinson (S.), 13.4; M. Lltolff (C.). 13.2: B. Leaman (Wat ). 13.2: B. W.

Preston (W.C.N.1.), 13.6; B. Goldsworthy (W.), 13.4; H. Kent (W.), 12.9; D. Swanston (C.), 12.9; G. A. Bing (Wai.), 13.3. 1000 Matra* Tim* Trial Final.—H. Kent (W.) 1. G. Wright (W.) 2, B. Goldsworthy (W.) 3. Time, 1:13.3. 10W Matra* Tandem Flrsa Bound Qualifier*. —P. Cox and E. Chang (W.C.N.1.). N. Joyce and G. Bannister (W.C.N.1.), P. and M. Grace (A.). JUNIOR SW Metres Sprint Championship First Round Qualifiers. W. Haggerty <S.>, 13.8; A. Pavlell (C.). 14.2: P. Humphries (Wai.), 14.4; L. Cooper (W.), 14.5: B. Pascoe (Wai.), 13.3: J. A. Dean (W.C.N.1.), 12.9; G. Brotherion <S.), 13.3; M. F. Vertongen (W.C.N.1.), 13.4; H. Savlmakl (W.C.N.1.), 13.8. 10W Metro* Tandem Qualifiers.—A. Batts and D. McMahon (A.), W. Haggerty and R. Robinson (S.), L. Cooper and M. Collin* (W.). SOW Metre* Indlvlduel Pursuit First Bound Qualifier*. S. suphen (C ), 5:27; B. Stockwell (C. 5. 5:28.7; R. Maguire (S.), 5:20.4; N. B. Rowlands (W.C.N.1.), 5:32.7 Semi-finals. Stephen* beat Rowland*, 5:31; Stockwell beat McGuire, 5:21.1, Five Mlle* Qualifiers. J. A. Dean (W.C.N.1.), S. Stephen (C.>. B. Biddle (A.). G. Clinton (W.). J. Cardwell (A.). B. Robinson (S.). N. Lyster (W.), S. Slater (Wai.). N. Vertongen (W.C.N.1.), B. Stockwell (C.), R. Maguire (S.), L. O. Booth (I.).

ROTS Quarter-mil* Qualifiers.—P. Brydon (C.), E. Cottam (W.C.N.1.). D. McLeod (A.), M. Deas (W.), W. Crafer (W.), A. W. Sharrock (W.C.N.1.). L. D. Mildenhall (W.C.N.1.), R. McDonald (C.), B. Thomson (O.), A. Walker (Wai.), E. Thurlow (S.), G. Carswell (E.C.N.1.).