Medhurst deserved top cycling award

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32613, 22 May 1971, Page 14

Medhurst deserved top cycling award

(By

R. M. CAIRNS)

The image of H. D. Kent, New Zealand’s outstanding track cyclist and "Sportsman of the Year”, took a battering at the national championships in March. Now, the regard in which he is held by many of the public will have taken a steep downward plunge. Last week, Kent complained at the brilliant Auckland 16-year-old, P. A. Medhurst, being awarded the “track cyclist of the year” award. As a result, his Wellington centre is to ask the national council for an explanation. For an .individual centre to query a national body’s rulings is acceptable and democratic; for an individual—and one concerned as heavily as Kent—smacks of greed. Rightly, Kent had honours heaped upon him after last year winning a gold medal (Commonwealth Games) and silver medal (world championships) in his specialist event, the kilometre time trial. New Zealand and Wellington sportsman of the year, Lonsdale Cup winner, track cyclist of the year for 1970: these were some of the measures of recognition

paid to Kent. Now it seems he is not satisfied; he wants, like Oliver, more. Medhurst was an extremely deserving winner. He not only won the open tandem title with P. J. Harland—which is most unusual for one so young—but also the junior sprint and five mile championships. Further, he was not beaten, even once, in die qualifying rounds of these events. Kent, at the same championships, won two gold medals and lost a tremendous amount of dignity and the respect of other cyclists and officials. Twice he exhibited astonishing displays of hotheadedness which caused many to comment, darkly, that maybe he was not truly “sportsman” of the year. The first was when Kent tried to punch a prostrate J. P. Mullan (Canterbury), after the two had crashed in the sprint semi-finals. Then, after a Wellington junior crashed, also in a sprint, Kent tried to pull his opponent from the track. These were not the actions of a sportsman,

and if they were considered « with Kent’s claim for the;’ “track cyclist of the year”.award, then they rightly;' counted against him. Nor should cognisance be?; given to Kent’s having-', twice broken the kilo-’; metre record since his re-.’ turn to the country, as well -* as his having set national Z records for the five miles.* flying ouarter-mile, and« standing half-mile. In the 1968-69 track.season, B. G. Stockwell " (Canterbury) set seven?. New Zealand records yet -1 did not win the award—J because he won "only” • two gold medals and a I silver to the three gold -*> medals of B. W. Preston?. (West Coast-North Island) ■! at the national champion-« ships. Stockwell, in fact, could ‘ claim that he has as much ■ at stake in this year’s honour as Kent. This year . he won gold medals in both ; the individual and team • pursuit events, and in each ; case, for the third sue- - cessive year. Kent should realise that** he is not going to win everything, nor that cycling honours on the track are his sole preserve.