Cycling selectors' task simplified

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32539, 24 February 1971, Page 12

Cycling selectors' task simplified

(By R. M. CAIRNS) rpHE Canterbury hard track cycling championships at the week-end were a great help to the provincial selectors in finalising their team for the national championships at Marton in a fortnight.

The selectors—Messrs B. E. Dawe (convenor), W. W. Thorpe and R. D. Mann—were helped in their deliberations by two or three factors. The definite news from D. A. Swanston that he was not available to travel, disappointing as it was after his tremendous all-round form, made easier the task of choosing the sprinters and 10-mile riders. It appears almost certain now that M. W. Litolff, J. P. Mullan and P. D. Brydon will be the Canterbury representatives in both these events, though Brydon’s will possibly be only a token effort in the sprints as he has the team pursuit to concentrate on as well. Similarly, the misfortune

of M. D. Payne in puncturing during the ten-mile probably spelt the end of his chances. As it was,Payne’s selection would not have been at ail certain, but a placing in the tenmile could have forced his claims. Litolff, Mullan and Brydon finished in that order, however, to simplify the choice. The very good showing of the Avon juniors in the team pursuit was tempered by the news that the strapping young P. T. Radbumd would not be available to travel, either. He apparently felt his chances of making the team at 16 and in his .first season as an amateur were not great, and his coach, Mr R. H. Knight, does not feel he has the background of training for a championship meeting. But there should still be a powerful team, with P. L. Paviell and R. M. G. A.

Heyde, from the same Avon team, and the Papanui juniors, C. J. Tabak and J. F. Delore. A. H. A. Stollman, who is also in the Avon junior team, impresses with his strength, but lacks experience and consistency of performance at present. His chance is likely to come next year.

The senior pursuit team, almost certainly, will be B. G. Stockwell, A. J. Hood, R. K. Anderson and Brydon, and with stories of discontent among the Wellington stars, and the decision by H. D. Kent not to ride in the pursuit team at the national championships, Canterbury’s chances have greatly increased. Stockwell and Hood have both qualified, on times, for the individual pursuit, and Anderson, in spite of his disappointing performance at the Canterbury championships, would probably be worth choosing as the one selected rider. Stockwell and Hood,

again, have both qualified for the kilometre time trial as well, and as three others can be chosen, Mullan and Heyde are likely to be given this event also. Heyde must have a very good chance of winning the trophy for the fastest junior. The only other junior at all certain to be chosen is R. E. Knight, for the fivemile and sprints. Paviell and Tabak seem sure to be chosen for these events as well, unless the selectors take another look at J. Schriek. There will be no problems with the boys for the quarter-mile and one-mile races. P. C. Court, J. H. Sullivan and G. W. Howes, in various orders, were the first three in both races at the Canterbury championships, and P. A. Jesson, fourth in the quarter-mile, is likely to join them to travel north.