New body proposed to link cash, amateur cyclists

Press, 8 March 1978, Page 32

New body proposed to link cash, amateur cyclists

By

RAY CAIRNS

The way is now nearly open for cash and amateur cyclists to race together in open promotions, A meeting of specially appointed administrators from both codes in Christchurch this week drew up a draft constitution to form a New Zealand Cycling Federation, and reached points of agreement on races involving cyclists from the separate codes.

The ideas and the formation of the federation have still to receive formal approval for national bodies, but there seems no reason why they should reject the moves! made by the sub-committee The principle of the federation is, it ms, that all cyclists in New Zea!a: J — and not just racing cyclists! if a separate proposal receives support — should] belong to it and thu have a! common meeting ground. The additional suggestion of the national amateur president (Mr Bill Main, of Wanganui) is that everyone] who buys a cycle in Newj Zealand should receive -m--bership of the federation. Both national bodies — the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association, and the! New Zealand League of Wheelmen — would remain m existence, retain their separate identities ar members and conduct their own affairs.

But the meeting of Messrs Main, Matt Snackman (amateur), Tom Flett, Herb Stewart, and John Archer (cash)

I has opened the way to promotion of open races, said Mr Archer yesterday. “Ek :ir body could hold a race and invite the other I code to participate under the [conditions of the promoter,” said Mr Archer. “That is, cash riders would compete under amateur rules, or the amateurs under ours as the [ case may be. There are [slight points of difference: I under cash rules, riders may I wear advertising apparel, and are not required wear crash helmets, both contrary rules to those of the amateurs.

“Similarly, the prize money limit for a singlestage race is $2OB for amateurs; we have no limit though in fact it is not necessarily much more, if indeed it is any more. But Mr Main advises us this is no major problem because of the elasticity of the F.I.A.C. rules.”

Mr Archer said one major point in favour of the form of merger is that any racing cyclists in New Zealand would be eligible for consideration for selection in a

New Zealand Games — Olympic or Commonwealth —team.

“We would still be cash cyclists, but not professionals and not belonging to any world body — our present situation."

Whether the first races under the proposed new setup will be seen this year remains conjecture. A degree of trading would probably be demanded: an open cash race would be responded to by an open amateur race. Nor would the move to a full programme of open races be a speedy process — it would probably have to evolve steadily over a few seasons.

The development of such a programme will not be easy. There are many cyclists and officials, cash and amateur, who oppose ’’ •> ideas for mainly selfish reasons.

It would be sad if they carried the day, for the proposals are aimed, as Mr Archer puts it, “at the betterment of cyclists and cycling in New Zealand.”