Race in a race

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33965, 4 October 1975, Page 48

Race in a race

(By

RAY CAIRNS)

In a radical departure from his usual policy, the Canterbury cycling centre handicapper (Mr B. E. Dawe) has created a junior scratch mark for the Harry Saundercock Memorial race at Waikari today.

“It is not something I usually do, or like doing,” said Mr Dawe yesterday, “but with the evenness of the back marks, and various difficulties I faced, it seemed a worth-while departure from the usual.”

The seven juniors will ride as the break mark off smin, and while the strict categorising of the two back marks according to age has created some anomalies — some on scratch should be on break and vice versa — it adds an interesting race within a race. The Ross Bates Memorial Cup is at stake for junior fastest time, and as with many trophies for this honour, is frequently won by the junior furthest back on the marks. Today, the seven juniors will know they are riding the other six for a handsome trophy. There is probably a higher standard among juniors this season than at any time for years. Their numbers include the South Island open champion, Frank Schaapveld, and Toni Horne, who was second to him; Kevin Basher, a member of Papanui’s national champion club side; James Sampson, the B grade winner of the Queenstown tour; and three other very likely types in Peter Lewis, Robert Pine, and Craig Hawtin.

Sadly, for the first time since its inception in 1951, the race will not have as an official the. late Mr J. H. Cattermole, recently the patron o fthe promoting Papanui club. Mr Cattermole had officiated in each of the 24 previous races and would have been the only official surviving from the inaugural 1951 race. However, two starters in | that field of 24 years ago will take their places again, (They are Trevor Gibbs, still (riding from just behind the

middle mark, and Jim Spencer, much further out. Another long-standing participant is Roger Fowler, an entrant for the first of the 100 km classics but a withdrawal on the day. And the likely winner of the silver jubilee of the “Waikari” face is Dave Hewson, probably riding as well as most of the back markers but out on lOmin today.