Historic Cycling Win

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31543, 4 December 1967, Page 6

Historic Cycling Win

(From Our Cycling Reporter)

WANGANUI. New Zealand cycling history was created by the big, strong Taranaki 19-year-old, J; A. Dean, in the national 100mile senior championship at Springvale, Wanganui, on Saturday.

The winner of the title after one of the finest races in the history of the championship, Dean became the first to win the senior title the year after a success in the junior race.

What is more, he has now completed an unprecedented triplet of successes. Dean won the boys’ championship in 1963 and the junior title last year. In the sprint of 14—four each from Auckland. Wellington and West Coast-North Island, and two from Southland —the 1964 Olympic Games rider, M. W. Grace (Auckland), was second. Third, officially only two inches back, was the unfancied West Coast-North Island rider, B. Preston, and the 1963 champion, A. G. Ineson (Southland), was

,<,urth ’ The race was packed with action, from as early as seven miles, when the first breakaway was made, and the former national selector. Mr H. R. Dutton, for one, could remember no national championship race quite as spirited—and he has teen them all.

First Move The Brat move of importance came as a shock, and was delivered by the defending champion, G. R. Hill (Southland). Just after the Held had completed one of its 14 laps, each of seven miles, Hill rode away

and was quickly joined by B. G. t Bate (W.C.N.1.) and A. W. Summere (Waikato). They stayed with him for two or. three miles before dropping back to the bunch. After 14 miles, Hill was still alone and a minute ahead of the field, but five miles later, N. R. Lyster (Wellington) gave chase and caught Hill. With a quarter of the journey covered, these two were llmin aheaq but Hill was soon dropped caught by the bunch. At 35 miles, Lyster’s lead was Imin 20sec, and a team-mate, W. K. Cornish, was giving chase, closely followed by Dean. W. Q. Kendal (Canterbury), C. Hibberd (Auckland), and Hill. Cornish caught Lyster and the two stayed clear to 50 miles before being gathered in. Then another group of five took off. with Dean again prominent, chased by another five-man bunch. This latter group consisted of Kendall, ’lneson, B. W. Beeston, 5. J. Stephen (both Auckland) and D. Brown, and within 10 miles, it had. caught the front. But the main bunch, working rather better, gathered them in by 66 miles, only* for Ineson to counter-attack. M. W. Phillips (Auckland) and J. S. Cummings (Wellington) joined him briefly but again it was Cornish who went away with Ineson. For 16 miles they were away, with Cornish towing Ineson for miles on end frequently, until a group of Auckland and w.c.N.L riders, mainly, worked Brown. Rig Shack There was a big *hock when Thomson (Auekltnd) was dropped at 82 miles, when B. R. Cornish (Wellington) caught the bunch, but with 14 miles to go. Auckland still held a strong hand with three in the leading bunch of nine. Three miles later, they had another as a - flrst-year rlder. fi. Martin, came, up with a bunch of six. .Ttho

others were Bate, Gee, Preston, P. J. Cox (W.C.N.L) and J. R. Atkinson (Southland), and, thus; with 11 miles from the finish the race revolved round 15 riders. , \ Cot* went off but, in spite of Atkinson’s rathex mild attacking the rest stayed together with Cummings, a veteran now, the revelation of the race. Ineson had : Dean’s wheel in the sprint and Grace was on Prestou but the latter' two squeezed Iffeson but 'when he went with Dean. Deah’s power took him to a half-length win, and .an utterly■■ deserved win it was too. Gracfe”fode an intejigent race, conserving himself carefully, and keeping with the breaks that mattered although he did have to give chase to catch the bunch of 10 which had grouped in front at 60 miles. Preston, too, thrust himself into the national picture although, like Bate, he was very inconspicuous during the race. Abbreviations used in the results are West Coast-North Island (W.N.CX), Auckland (A.), Southland (S.), and Wellington (W.). •- . - r New Zealand 100-mile championship.—J. A. Dean (W.C.NX). 1, M. W. Grace (A.) 2, B. Preston (W.C.NJ.) 3, A. G. Ineson (S.) 4, D. J. Gee .(Wil 5, D. Brown B C -®.B< s Ar8 eB B!