Team pursuit record unbroken

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 16

Team pursuit record unbroken

The New Zealand team pursuit record still stands at 4min 41.6 sec, but the riders are in Christchurch foT it to be broken in the next three or four days.

In cool, breezy conditions at English Park last evening, the two squads recorded 4min 50sec and 4min 51.1 sec,

respectively. But these were composite teams and the best four is obviously well equipped to break the 4000 metres record for the third time in less than a month. More startling—and proof that the record is on—was the performance of the squad members in the one-mile group handicap race. D. A. Swanston, off the middle mark won comfortably after a soft ride, but J. A. Dean, the first of the scratch riders to finish, was timed at Imin 52.1 sec. The New Zealand record, held by B. G. Stockwell, another squad member, is Imin 54.2 sec, but the misfortune of Swanston having won the race, means Dean cannot claim a record.

The purpcee of the team pursuit trialists being in Christchurch is to narrow the field. This was accomplished to a degree when P. A. Medhurst, the'

Aucklander, was dropped from the stronger of the two pursuit team* and then could not last the pace in the 10,000 metres scratch for the Harold Vette Memorial Cup. w Further, he finished behind N. R. Lyster in both the quartermile and one-mile, and Lysters place was probably the one he was contending for. Otherwise, the selectors must have been moderately satisfied. “I was impressed with Blair Stockwell’s apparent return to form,” said the convener (Mr C. J. Hollows), “and I was very Impressed with the one-mile time. However, I was not overimpressed with the team pursuit times. _ 4 .., “Naturally, these were a little disappointing, hut the riders had just got off the plane, aud it was Medhurst’s firet ride with them.”

The young rider who continues to impress, however, is R. M. G. A. Heyde, who must now be wishing he had given himself a chance for Munich earlier in the season. He rode comfortably with Stockwell, R. G. Oliver and R. K, Anderson in the team pursuit, and was one of only seven survivors in the 10,000 metres. But his greatest effort was for the Canterbury junior pursuit team, which made an' attempt on the national record, minutes after Heyde had finished his first 4000 metres. With his team having lost J. Schriek, and J. H. Sullivan struggling to stay, Heyde took his team for the last half-mile and it missed the record by only Brydon provided the main highlights of the evening otherwise. He won the memorial cup, from Lyster and a fast-finishing Swanston, and this was appropriate as Brydon, like the late

Mr Vette, Is from Rangior*. Also, he again equalled the Canterbury flying quarter-mlle record in which he already has a share, with a time of 25.65ec. Clearly, though, Brydon would have beaten the time but for hitting a pedal soon after he went through the start. K. L. Day, the leading novice during the season, won the Litolff Cup for the Aces quartermlle series, with 29 points to A. J. Bruce’s 25. Also, on Sunday he will ride I. E. Stace for the Tabak Dulux Cup in the pursuit series. Stace beat S. P. White for the right to meet Day in rather unusual fashion, White sitting up when slightly ahead because he thought Stace had pulled a foot from the toe-clip. AMATEUR Feature events.—Aces quartered 8 ) P. A. Medhurst (10yd) 3. Time: 28.0. 4000-metre team pursuit: North Island squad (Medhurst, Brydon, Lyster, J. A. Deanr), 4:50; South Island squad (B. G. Stockwell, R. G. Oliver, R. M. G. A. Heyde, R. K. Anderson), 4:51.1. Junior team pursuit: Canterbury (Heyde, J. H. Sullivan, J. Schriek. P. T. Radburnd), 5:5.7. Flying quarter-mlle: Brydon, 25.6 (equals Canterbury record). A grade 10,000 metres (Harold Vette Memorial Cup): Brydon L Lyster 2, D. A. Swanston 3. Time; 12:56.8. Scratch.—B grade two-mlle points; J. H. Chemar, 16, 1; G. P. Sword, 9,2; P. A. Jesson, 8, 3. Time: 4:30. A grade devil take the hindmost: A. D. Morris 1, C. J. Tabak 2, M. W. Litolff 3. Time: 2:46.5. Handicap.—A grade half-mile: P. L. Paviell (75yd) 1, C. J. Tabak (80yd) 2, Sword (100 yd 3. Time: 56.5. B grade one-mile groupings: A. J. Howlson (60yd)

1, Jesson (60yd) 2, A. J, Fitzgerald (60yd) 3. Time: 2:5.5. A grade one-mile groupings: Swanston (100 yd 1, Doan (15yd) 2, Lyster (15yd) 3. Time: 1:51.7. B grade quartenmlle: L. Benschop (10yd) 1, Jesson (10yd) 2, Sword (scr.) 3. Time: 30.5. NOVICE Scratch.—Open 1000 metres (Harold Vette Memorial Cup): K. L. Day 1, A. J. Bruce 2, P. D. Basher 3. Time: 1:34.6. Aces quarter-mile: Basher 1, I. R. Steele 2, Day 3. Time: 32.1. Golden helmet four-lap pursuit: - I. E. Stace, 2:22.0, beat S. P. White. A grade three-mile points: Basher, 18. 1; Dav, 12, 2; Bruce, 11, 3. Time: 6:15.2. Handicap.—A grade half-mile: G. R. Sibley (25vd) 1, R. J. Amtman (50yd) 2, P. Yaxley (35yd) 3. Time: 61.0.