Welsh Rider For N.Z.

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31500, 14 October 1967, Page 15

Welsh Rider For N.Z.

The Welsh international, John Lewis, has agreed to compete in the Australian and New Zealand motocross series. He replaces his fellow countryman, W. Gwynne, as one of the three sponsored riders.

A farmer and expert sheepshearer from Rhayader, Lewis

has been the Welsh scrambles champion since 1965. He will ride a 500 c.c. Matchless Metisse in the series. The other two .sponsored internationals will be a Californian, J. Roberts, and the Swedish rider, G. Lindstrom, who is the only one left of the original trio selected for the series.

A recent disappointment was the withdrawal of the American veteran, B. Ekins. Roberts, about whom little is known, is his replacement. Lewis, the latest recruit, should be able to give a very good account of himself in Australia and New Zealand. He has competed for nine years in moto-cross competition and has been riding under the sponorship of one of the largest motor-cycling firms in the West of England, Westbury’s of. Bristol, for several seasons with considerable success.

But scrambling is not his only forte. Two weeks ago he represented England in the international six-day trial, held in Poland, and is perhaps an even more formidible opponent in this form of motor-cycle competition than he is in scramble racing. Lewis is a big man for a scrambler—6ft and 15st—but Is modest in the extreme. He is frequently called the “Cinderella” of motor-cycling

because after any big event he usually slips away before anybody has a chance to congratulate him. He has a variety of interests. He is a leader in his local Young Farmers* club, a steward at the Royal Welsh Show, he holds a yellow belt in judo, plays top grade football and is a first-class shearer. Lewis will be accompanied on tour by his wife, formerly Miss Patricia Evans, who has won the Welsh beauty queen title on several occasions.

The revised dates and venues of the Australian and New Zealand series .are:—

November 11. Adelaide; November 19. Woolongong; November IS. Melbourne; December 31. New Plymouth: January 7, Hamilton; January 14, Nelaon; January 21, Blenheim; January 28, Timaru; February 4, Christchurch; February 11, Woodville.