Record Trial Times Likely

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32321, 12 June 1970, Page 13

Record Trial Times Likely

The highest standard of 25-mile teams time-trial riding recorded in Canterbury is expected in the Hope Gibbons Shield races to be held this week-end.

The event is the equivalent of a 25-mile road teams’ pursuit, in which five men form a team and four count to win.

The Papanui A team, winner of the shield for the last two years, is a strong prospect for a third successive win, but it will have to overcome competition from both the Papanui B team and the Avon club to do so. The Timaru A team will also be a keen challenger. The over-all quality of riders in this event is the highest in Canterbury cycling history, and with fierce competition from evenly matched combinations, outstanding times are expected. Avon will be led by N. Litolff, who is in strong form, proof of which he displayed by his win in last week’s 48mile race at Oxford. However, Papanui’s B team will have the assistance of the national 4000 metres pursuit champion, B. Stockwell. He has been relegated to the B team because he will not be I available for the national contest, which will be held while Stockwell is competing

iat the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. The Papanui A team is H. R. Bush, A. Hood, J. Mullan, J. Delore and R. Bush. Avon's team is Litolff, G. Sword, L. Paviell, R. Knight and R. Kennedy. On Sunday, juniors will compete over the same distance for the Grant Cup. Papanui has possibly the strongest junior combination (of any province in New Zealand, comprising J. Mullan, J. Delore, K. Grogan, J. Schriek and C. Tabak. This group is capable of returning a time as good as that of the senior group.