Bush Unfortunate To Miss Tour

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32361, 29 July 1970, Page 19

Bush Unfortunate To Miss Tour

(By Our Cycling Reporter)

Although no Canterbury cyclist gained a place in the New Zealand team for the Tasmania and New Caledonian tours, named after the completion of the two-day Air New Zealand cycling grand prix at the week-end, two members of the team—B. R. Chisholm and H. R. Bush—rode good races.

The first five riders in the t general classification were 1 chosen for the Tasmania tour, ; and Bush, who was sixth < over all, should have been a certainty for the New Cale- j donia race. ; However, Bush was passed 1 over in preference to the ' Waikato rider, B. Fleck, ] whom he beat in all four | stage and sprint finishes as well as the general classifica- • tion; Fleck finished eighth. Only on hill climbing did Fleck have the edge, and it Is hard to justify his selection ahead of the Canterbury cyclist. Hopes Dashed Coming to the final stage, Chisholm and Bush were two of about 12 riders who still had prospects of finishing in the first five over-all placings —but both had their hopes dashed on the 16-mile stretch over the Akatarawas. These hills are virtually for oneway traffic, annd not knowing the road was a problem the Canterbury riders faced on the steep 10-mile downhill run. In fact, Chisholm started the ascent 300 yards before the main bunch, but it soon picked him up and he steadily fell back. At the summit Bush had also failed to stay with the leading group, losing valuable bonus points and his chance of being in the New Zealand team for Tasmania. Sporting Gesture The other three members of Canterbury’s team —R. E. Bush, J. Ryder and 16-year-old C. Tabak—all suffered from inexperience and did not figure among the top con-

tenders, although Ryder improved as the tour progressed and was in the leading group on the Akatarawas climb. Realising Bush was slipping behind the field, Ryder sportingly dropped back to help him complete the climb. Tabak rode strongly in the bunches he stayed with, but failed to keep with the leading divisions.