Rain spur to chilly cyclists

Press, 22 May 1978, Page 20

Rain spur to chilly cyclists

.not aware that Dooley was even; further up the road. They failed, by a mere second, and so Blair Stockwell was not; able to repeat his first and fastest success of last season. But he still won fastest time, by only a length or so. It always looked a possibility that the scratch bunch would go through the field. After only 25km, at Kirwee, the backmarkers were a mere from the front, and even the solidly-working llmin group, reduced by then to Phillip Tay- , lor, Steve Burdon. Shane Smith and Barry Hulbert, all juniors, had lost a little too much to stay :, clear. But Dooley had been kindly treated by the handicapper—with 28min—and his form this season has been such as to suggest he will not stay out on the virtual front mark.

By RAY CAIRNS , The finish of the Syd Poore Memorial 100 km cycling race; could hardly, have been better ] stage-managed, nor could the riders have been more fortunate with the weather on Saturday. As Paul Dooley battled to the line less than a minute clear of the scratch bunch and others ; for his first victory, in the sea- ■ son’s initial open race, .so the heavens finally opened and the rain—the threat of which had persuaded some of the 18 scratchings not to start—poured down. It was in these conditions that the veteran, Trevor Gibbs, had an even greater battle on his hands, for the scratch riders and those around them were bearing down on him at a great rate, spurred on by the thought that I they were chasing first place,

; Still, the scratch riders made heavy inroads into the handicaps of the rest, picking up the break) bunch, off 3min after 45km and I shedding al] of them except the : youngest, ' Mark Nichols. Its task was accentuated by the. losses of Bryan Stenning, with! a puncture, and Kim Reid,; dropped. Although Nichols was! a worthy member of the group; that was left — <f he went as well as any of us,” said Stockwell—i Dooley, comfortably, and Gibbs,; by the skin of his teeth, stayed t just out of reach in the tail-wind return journey down the Main West Road. Though the rain held off for most of the race, the biting wind: and the snow in the air the fur-’ ther west the race went, left ai frozen finishing field. Stockwell, Stenning, Chris Hogan and Nichols were among! the leading riders who did not ;

contest the open hill climb— 3min), 2:21:7, 9 and 4 fastest timt; from Hackthorne Road to the S. Hunt (P.. 19min) 10. Sign of the Kiwi—won by Horne Open hill climb.—Amateur; yesterday morning. Horne won Horne, 15:11, 1; Flattery <P. by a handsome margin of 49sec 16:00, 2; Burdon (H.), 16:46, 3; from Paul Plattery. A first year B. Brunton (H.h 16:58, 4; D. Frae junior, Burdon, was third. man (W.), 17:13, 3; S. M. Smith Brian Fowler won the novice »P.), 17:14, 6; G. Tump (P.’, time trial, which started at the 17:23.5, 7; A. Korenhof (K ), Sign of the Takahe, but only by 17:27.5, 8; Prince, 17;31, 9; G. ! 12sec from Craig Adair. Cumming <HJ, 17:44, 10, HantliAbbreviations used in the re- cap: Korenhof 1, C. A. P. Deller suits are: Hornby W.M.C. (H.l, (W4, 2, D. R. Johnson (W.) *3. Papanui (P.), Woolston W.M.C. Novice: B. Fowler <W.), 7:46.5. 1; (\Y), Mairehau (M.l, Kaiapoi (K.l. C. Adair (M.l. 7:58.5, 2; T. Julftn Syd Poore Memorial 100 km.— (M.), 8:09, 3; K. G. Bishop <HJ, P. Dooley (H., 28min... 2:45:7. 8:19. 4; B. P. Gyde (H.l, 8:31,.5; 1; T. C. Gibbs (P., 19min ), 2; D. Patterson (H.». 8:33.5, 6: B. B. G. Stockwell (P.. scr.), 2:18:5. Bargot (Mj, 8:39.5, 7; D. Ross3, and fastest time; P. H. Taylor (Smith (M.), 8:42, 8; G. Shepherd (P.. 11 min J. 4. T. R. Horne (P., (M.l, 8:52, 9; S. Bachelor cH.)» scr>, 2:18:5.3, 5 and 2nd fastest 18:53.5, 10. Handicap: H. Walton . H ? ga . n sc S’|iK., 3min> 1; M. Johnson IK., 2:18:0.4, 6 and 3 tastes! time; R.; ’ , „ „ _ ... . . Prince (P.. ISmin), 7; J. T. Hughes! Jmtn) 2; C. P. Nichols (K., 2min) <P„ 15min) 8, M. P. Nichols (H.. 13.