Denton track praised

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33434, 16 January 1974, Page 1

Denton track praised

Unqualified praise for the track and technical facilities at Denton Park for the Commonwealth Games cycling events was expressed yesterday by visiting officials.

Mr T. Pinnington, manager of the English cycling team, which practised at Denton Park yesterday, said that its members were delighted with the track. “There are a few bumps, but they are minor ones, and the world championship track at Leicester has a lot more bumps,” he said.

The Australian team manager (Mr L. Dunn) said that 'he could see no problems

with the track. Its banking was ideal for pursuit races, and the angles made for good changing. The track struck him as being ideal for race tactics and Christchurch should be proud to have such a facility. Mr R. Dutton, of Paraparaurnu, director of technical officials for the Games cycling events, said he was delighted with the track. He was aware that there had been criticism, but so far as he was concerned, this was trivial and hair-splitting.

He said that there had been a meeting of the technical committee — representing officials from the competing countries — last evening, and complete approval had

been given to the technical arrangements for Denton Park. “This was in decided contrast to the meeting that preceded the Edinburgh Games,” he said. “It was a complete shambles.” Mr Dutton said that the confidence shown by competitors and officials in the track was illustrated by a decision to run the 10-mile event as one race, rather than in two heats. "There could have been problems with the 34 starters if the track had not been just right,” said Mr Dutton. “The English team, which has had experience all over Europe, had no hesitation in agreeing to the race being run as one event.”