Fast times on new Denton track

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33380, 12 November 1973, Page 26

Fast times on new Denton track

I'By

R. M. CAIRNS)

The remodelled Denton Park cycling track had a fitting baptism in the Canterbury trials yesterday.

J. P. S. Mullan equalled the provincial sprint record, and B. G. Stockwell rode a tremendously impressive 4000 metres individual pursuit in smin 13.8 sec.

Denton Park has long been regarded as a graveyard for pursuit riders, but the new track may herald a new era of fast times. Stockwell did his time in blustery conditions; in calm weather, and in this form, he would surely threaten his New Zealand record of smin 3.4 sec. Four other pursuiters—including all the members of the prospective Commonwealth Games team squad—also broke the national championships qualifying standard for the event.

Then, the squad riders advanced to the finals in the individual race, with Stock-

well and R. D. Nant, a narrow winner over the national champion, R. M. G. A. Heyde, qualifying to meet in the final.

The extremely high standard of the senior sprinting was reflected in the quarterfinal eliminations of E. W. J. Thurlow, twice a winner of national medals in the last two years, and Nant.

There were further surmises to come in the semifinals when R. E. Knight, widely fancied for a Commonwealth Games place a year ago, was beaten in straight heats by Mullan. Then, M. W. Litolff, in the course of an impressive return to top form, lost to J, Schriek. Litolff, however, was more than a match for Knight in the ride-off for third place. Mullan produced his record-equalling performance in the first final race against Schriek, and he had a slice of good luck in the second. Schriek jumped clear and Mullan was giving fruitless chase when his chain broke just before the final 200: metres. He had Schriek’si

measure easily in the re-ride and has probably won top seeding for the national championships as a result. Stockwell completed a fine day when he won the 10 miles by nearly a lap from the remains of a shattered bunch. He and Thurlow rode away at six miles, and with Stockwell taking the headwind laps, they steadily increased their lead. With 1000 metres to ride, Stockwell dropped Thurlow and won comfortably. There will be further trials, and the Canterbury team for the national championships will not be announced until after next week-end. Results:— OPEN 4000 metres individual pursuit. —Qualifying: L. C. Bishop, 6:2.4, M. R. Woolford, 6:18.4; P. L. Paviell, 5:33.0, J. F. Delore, 5:42.5; P. A. Jesson, 5:33.3, K. J. Weir, 5:54.8; R. D. Nant, 5:22.1, D. A. Swanston, 5:55.9; P. D. Brvdon, 5:22.6, J. P. MuUan, 5:38.2; G. McG. Strahl, 5:24.6, A. D. Morris, 5:38.1; B. G. Stockwell, 5:13.8, R. M. G. A. Heyde, 5(19.3; P. T. P. Radburnd, 5:56.7, S. P. White. 6:3.8, M. E. Tolhurst, 16:13.9.

Quarter-finals.—Stockwell beat Morris in a ride-over; Heyde, 5:28.6, beat Jesson, 5:37.9; Nant, 5:39.6, beat Paviell, 5:43.1; Brvdon, 5:27.55, beat Strahl, 5:27.6. Semi-finals.—Nant, 5:29.4, beat Heyde, 5:29.7; Stockwell, 5:35.4, beat Brydon. 5:43.5. 2000 metres tandem.—E. W. J. Thurlow and M. W. Litolff beat R. E. Knight and J. Schriek, 12.5. SENIOR 1000 metres sprint.—J. P S. Mullan beat R. D. Nant, 13.8. M. W. Litolff beat P. G. Robinson. 13.4. J. Schriek beat P L. Paviell. 13.2. R. E. Knight beat P. T. P. Radburnd, 13.5. E. W. J. Thurlow beat D. A. Swanston, 13,1. Nant beat Robinson and Paviell. 13.4. Swanston beat Radburnd, 14.8. Paviell beat Robinson and Radburnd. 13.3.

Quarter-finals.—Mullan beat Thurlow, 12.4. Litolff beat Nant, 13.5. Schriek beat Swanston, 12.5. Knight beat Paviell, 13.8. Semi-finals. — Litolff beat Schriek. 12.6; Schriek beat Litolff, 12.4, 12.3. Mullan beat Knight, 16.8, 12.5. Finals.—First place: MuUan beat Schriek. 12.0 (equals Canterbury record), 13.3. Third place: Litolff beat Knight, 13.6, 13.0.

JUNIOR 500 metres sprint.—G. P. Sword beat P. E. DonneUy. 14.4. I. R. Steele beat L. A. Sword, 13.4. A. J. Bruce beat L. C. Bishop, 14.4. K. L. Day beat M. J. Horne, 14.4. Donnelly beat Bishop. 14.7. L. Sword beat Home, 14.6

Second round.—G. Sword beat Bpuce and L. Sword, 14.1. Steele beat Day and DonneUy, 14.1. Bruce beat Donnelly, 17.8. Day beat L. Sword, 16.5. Semi-finals.—G. Sword beat Day, 24.5. Day beat Sword, 18.4. Sword beat Day 17.8. Steele beat Bruce, 13.9. Bruce beat Steele, 14.2. Steele beat Bruce, 16.0. Finals.—First place: Sword beat Steele, 14.1, 14.0. Third place: Day beat Bruce, 14.9, 14.0. 4000 metres team pursuit.—No. 1 team (Day, Bruce S. P. White, L. Sword), 5.50.8, beat No. 2 team (Steele. G. Sword, Donnelly, Home), 5:57.6. BOYS 450 metres.—Heat one: F. M. Schaapveld 1, K. P. Basher 2. Time: 42.7. Heat two: K. W. Reid 1, P. M. Law 2. Time: 40.3. Heat three: G. R. Sibley 1’ J. K. Fowler 2. Time: 37.8. Re-selections—Heat one: S. J. Craig 1, L. Slade 2. Time: 42.1. Heat two: J. Tabak 1, T. R. Home 2. Time: 40.1. Semi-finals.—Heat one: Craig 1, Schaapveld 2, Reid 3. Time: 40.8. Heat two: Fowler 1, Basher 2, Tabak 3. Time: 38.6. Final.—Schaapveld 1, Fowler 2, Craig 3. Time: 36.5. 2000 metres.—Heat 1, Reid 1, Schaapveld 2 Craig 3. Slade 4. Time: 3:23.2. Heat two: Sibley 1, Basher 2, Fowler 3, Lewis 4. Time: 3:47.5. Final.—Schaapveld 1, Reid 2, Sibley 3. Time: 3:18.5. Italian pursuit.—No. 2 team (Basher, Reid, Craig, Slade), 2:12.2, beat No. 1 team (Sibley, Schaapveld. Fowler, Lewis), 2:13.