Canterbury showed strong hand in road cycling

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 9

Canterbury showed strong hand in road cycling

TTNDOUBTEDLY, the v highlight of the Canterbury cycling team's efforts at the recent national road championships held in New Plymouth, was the third consecutive win recorded by the provincial team in the 100 kilometres time trial. The four Canterbury

riders—H. R. Bush, R. E. Bush, I. D. McLean and A. J. Hood constituted a solid, experienced quartet but it faced strong opposition from the highlyfancied Wellington team, which included two New Zealand representatives in D. Gee and H. D. Kent. The Canterbury team

decided beforehand that the last 15 miles would be the crucial part of the race and that they would have to “punish” themselves on this stage. On this section of the race there were several steep hills and a stiff head wind. At the turn, Wellington held a Imin lOsec advantage over Canterbury and was still leading when it reached the vital part of the race. After one of the long hill climbs, Canterbury had reduced the deficit to five seconds, and, although H. R. Bush dropped out with 12 miles to go, the remaining trio, sensing victory, relentlessly increased the pace. Canterbury was 45sec up with eight miles remaining and increased this lead to Imin when five miles from the finish. Although Wellington picked up a few seconds over the latter stages, it was still 51sec down at the end of the race. Hood and McLean deserve special praise for their part in Canterbury’s surprise win. During the season they have been a little inconsistent, but on the day both cyclists' showed they were equal to the occasion and thoroughly deserved their medals. The senior 100-mile race, over 14 laps, was held on a circuit that would be as difficult as any course used previously for the national road championship. Adding to the cyclists’ problems was a strong head wind that they had to contend with on the most arduous stretches. With the pace applied from the outset, the race soon developed into a true stayers’ test. B. G. Stockwell, the present provincial champion, and I. D. McLean were the only Canterbury riders to figure prominently in the leading bunch. Many of the top contenders, including Gee, R. Hogan, M. Vertogen and the eventual winner, N. Lyster, appeared content to remain "unsighted” in the front group and wait for the action to start. On the tenth lap, Lyster led a three-man breakaway which quickly established a Imin lead. It was left to Stockwell and McLean, who had already done more than their share of the “donkey work,” to try to overhaul the front trio. However, their earlier exertions began to tell, and after 80 miles Stockwell retired, McLean following suit shortly afterwards. The sole survivor of Canterbury’s nine senior riders was R. E. Bush, who seemed more concerned with finishing the race than gaining a high placing. Of the 48 starters, Bush was placed tenth—a satisfying reward for a steady ride. Although he had no show with the winner in the #

junior 50-mile event, Canterbury’s leading junior cyclist, J. Mullan, provided the feature of the race with a devastating sprint that left eight other top juniors stretched down the road. “I have had harder sprints in club races at Clarkville,” Mullan said afterwards. Last year he finished third in the race and his second placing this year represents the best performance by a Canterbury rider in this event. The field split up more than usual, the two leading bunches soon establishing an unassailable lead over the rest of the field. Mullan was always with the front group, while Ms team-mates—K. Grogan and L. Paviell—seemed content

to remain in the second bunch and prevent any prominent riders from catching the leaders. About three miles from the finish, the slightly-built Paviell joined the front group and he was one of seven riders who contested the sprint for the minor medals. Paviell gained eighth place, and his performance in slipping away from the second bunch and rejoining the leaders was a courageous one. He fully deserved his high placing, as did Grogan, who was the next rider across the line. In the 15-mile novice race, the South Island and Canterbury champion, P. Jesson, attempted a breakaway about four miles from the finish. Jesson is not a noted sprinter and he has adopted these tactics with success throughout the present season. However, on this occasion, R. Knuckey (West Coast, North Island) went with him and in the final sprint the latter narrowly prevailed. Both boys recorded the same time. Two seconds later the main bunch, including Canterbury’s W. Howes and P. Radbumd, sprinted furiously for the minor placings. Howes, on the inside of the road, led out, but Radbumd’s good positioning was rewarded when he gained fourth place in a photo-finish.