One nominee for cycling post

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33250, 13 June 1973, Page 36

One nominee for cycling post

(By

R. M. CAIRNS)

It seems certain Mr W. W. Thorpe, a Christchurch cycling coach, administrator, and national selector, will 1 manage a New Zealand team at the world championships in Montreal next year. Mr Thorpe is the only person nominated for the position, and, if normal policy is followed, he will be appointed at the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association on Saturday. Mr Thorpe is also one of five men, three from Canterbury, who are vying for choice as the coaches (probably three) for the Commonwealth Games team. The others are Messrs D. B. Smith, R. H. Knight, both of

Christchurch, L. R. B. Mildon (Auckland), and B. H. Goldsworthy (Wellington). Mr Smith, with Messrs Mildon and L. D. Payne, is also ja contender for team manager, and the same three men are in line to manage the 1974 Air New Zealand team. The others nominated for this position are Messrs A. A. Hewitt and I. R. Hoare. In most cases, the officers of the association will be re-elected, but there is the usual scrambling for the position of selectors, though the three incumbents—Messrs C. J. Hollows (Marton), Thorpe and J. E. Ludlam (Auckland) —will remain in office until ’after the Commonwealth Games. Their opposition will come from Messrs Hoare, Knight, R. J. C. Peoples, M. J. Scott and G. Sharrock. There will be ballots for the delegates’ positions on the Commonwealth Games Asso-

ciation. The long-serving executive member, Mr H. R. Dutton, will be opposed by a former secretary of the association, Mr M. E. Spackman; and the councillors, Messrs R. Carruthers and A. G. Haslett, face a challenge from Mr Payne. RULES FROZEN A number of notices of motion have not been placed on the order paper because they require rule changes, and the rules are frozen until 1975. However, the Canterbury suggestions involving changes to boys’ events at the hardtrack championships will be considered, and so will an East Coast-North Island move for the boys’ road championship to be changed to August, and to be raced over 40 kilometres instead of the present 15 miles, an increase of about 10 miles. One move which is probably too radical to meet

approval is from Wellington, and presses for all cycling to be held in the spring, summer and autumn as in Europe. SEVERE WINTERS The Continent, however, has severe winters—a problem not facing New Zealand —and greater numbers of talented cyclists, with consequent specialisation. The annual report reveals that New Zealand’s riding strength is 983. This is the highest since the 1102 recorded in 1969, mainly because of Canterbury (80, compared with 45), and Wellington (73, compared with 31), making more accurate returns lof boys’ cycling than those that have been estimated in the past. Very few top-level New Zealand cyclists do not ride on both track and road, and any move which encouraged far greater specialisation ; would lead to a lowering of quality and quantity.