TITLE TO P. ANNAN

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32568, 30 March 1971, Page 18

TITLE TO P. ANNAN

P. Annan, who won the South Island title a fortnight ago, added the national title when he won the first official New Zealand super modified rod championship at the Templeton speedway last evening. Taking fuU advantage of a mishap which forced his brother, J. Annan, to withdraw from the re-run of the vital third race when only one point separated the Annan brothers and D. Cameron on the points table, P. Annan completed the series with 29 points. J. Annan, in brilliant form, had led the championship after the first two races with 20 points, with P. Annan and Cameron each having scored 19. However, a three-car pile-up in the second lap of the third race put paid to his chances. Earlier, in the first race, J. Annan had slashed an amazing 18.4 sec off his own 10-lap course record with a time of 3min 26.1 sec. In the second race, J. Annan and J. Erickson, who had been placed second in front of Cameron in the earlier race, were off the back marks and were unable to catch P. Annan. The consistent Cameron gained second place in this race with J. Annan third. J. Annan was still protesting vehemently to the course officials as his car was towed away and the remaining six laps of the re-run was begun In the third race. Erickson won this race, with P. Annan second and H. Pierson third. After P. Annan’s 29 points, Cameron was next with 25, followed by Pierson (24) and Erickson, who did not finish the second race, with 21. Some of the best riding of the evening was seen in the three solo motor-cycle match races between F. Shuter, A. Brown and R; Wright, all of whom have had overseas experience. Shuter was the superior rider on the night, finishing with two wins and a second placing, but he was forced into fierce duels in each of the races.

G. J. Stapleton, who will travel to England to attempt to break into top-class British speedway this winter, provided some thrilling riding. In the final motor-cycle handicap of the evening, he rode off the back mark with a 40-yard handicap and was involved in a spectacular four-bike pile-up in the first lap. S. Foster fell first, with B. Valentine behind him and Stapleton and T. Nesbitt also involved. Unperturbed, Stapleton went on to win the re-run by half the straight with another prominent scrambles exponent. D. Slncock, in second place. The Rex Russell sidecar scratch series was not decided until the final race, when L. Dwight, sen., with his passenger, S. Unwin, edged out L. Dwight, jun., and G. Cox, to win the R. Burt took the John Morris T. challenge scratch series wtin a good win In the final race last evening. Only one point had separated Burt and A. Palmer, who had already won the South Island T.Q. championship, before the race. However. K. Stephens and D. Harper followed Burt home in the six-lap race, with Palmer finishing in fourth position. MOTOR-CYCLES Solo handicap events (four laps).—First race: S. Foster (go) 1, G. Stapleton (40yd) 2, M. Salt (20yd) 3. Time: 85.8. Second race: B. Hunter (go) 1. R. Hall (10yd) 2, G. Jemmett (20yd) 3. Time: 89.2. Race three: S. Foster (go) 1, T. Nesbitt (30yd) 2. K. Burt (go) 3. Time: 83.6. Race four: R. Hall (10yd) 1, G. Jemmett (20vd) 2. B. Turner (go) 3. Time: 89.0. Race five 'three laps): K. Burt (go) 1, B. Valentine (go) 2, R. Herdman «o.vd' 3. Time: 61.4: Race six 'A tirade): G. Stapleton (40yd) 1, T. Nesbitt (30vd) 2. R. Herdman (30vd) S. Time: 85.0. Race seven: G. Stapleton <4oyd) 1. D. .Slncock (eo) 2, T. Nesbitt (20yd) 3. Time: Solo match race events (four laps).—Race one: F. Shuter 1, A Brown 2. R. Wright 3. Time: 80.5. Race two: Wright 1, Shuter

12. Brown 3. Time: 80.9. Race • tnree: Shuter 1, Brown 2, Wright i 3. Time: 81.0. Solo novice handicap events ' (four laps).—Race one: L. Ross (30yd) 1. M. Brown (20yd) 2, <l. Kirby (go) 3. Time: 92.0. Race two: M. Brown (20yd) 1, M. Johns (10yd) 2, L. Russell (10yd) *3. Time: 91.5. Sidecar handicap events (fohr laps).—Race one: L. Dwight jun. and G. Cox (60yd) 1, I. Begbie and B. Counsel! (20yd) 2, T Dwight sen. and S. Unwin (80yd) 3. Time: 91.8. Rex , Russell scratch—First race: ,L. Dwight jun. and .G. Cox 1, # I. Begbie and B. Counsel] 2, jL. Dwight sen. and S. Unwin 3. Second race: Dwight sen. and Unwin 1. Dwight jun. and Cpx 2, Begbie and B. Counsel! 3. Time: 87.7. Race two: Dwight jun. and Cox (60yd) 1, Dwight sen. and Unwin (80yd) 2. Begfiie and Counsell (20yd) 3. Tinje; 90.7. MIDGET CARS * Three-quarter midget cars.— First handicap race (six laps); R. Whiting (go) 1, D. Packer (70yd) 2, A. Palmer (130 yd ,3. Time: 2:12.2. South Island points feature race (eight laps): JK. Stephens 1, A. Palmer 2, R. Burt 3. Time: 2:48.2 Second handicap race: R. Clive (50yd) 1, ,E. Robinson (30yd) 2, L. Millar (40yd) 3. Time: 2:7.6. Midget car scratch (eight laps): R. Clive 1, L. Millar 2, G. Roxburgh* 3. Time: 2:49.5. John Morris challenge scratch (six laps): R. Burt 1, K. Stephens 2, D. Harper* 3. Time: 2:9.5. Rothmans feature (eight laps): R. Clive 1, G. Roxburgh 2. L. Millar 3. Time: 2:49.5. STOCK RODS Super-modified cars.—New Zealand championship (10 laps): Race one: J. Annan 1. J. F»irk son 2, D. Cameron 3. Time 3:26.1 (record). Race two: »P. Annan 1, D. Cameron 2 •J. Annan 3. Time: 2:39.8. TMrd race: J. Erickson 1. P. Annan 2, H. Pierson 3. Handicap (eight laps): S. Everett 1, H. Pierson 2, P. Annan 3. Time: 2:52.0.