Fine cycling by Bamford

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 19

Fine cycling by Bamford

I Ste\e Bamford (Wool st on W M C.) almost stole Hue honours in the Christchurch to Akaroa and return cycling classic last year when in his first year of road racing. i On that occasion he “blew up" at Tai Tapu on the return after a long solo ride and was gath •red in with victory in sight to eventually finish ninth. Bamford, only 17. made no mistake in the classic race on Saturda) and scored easily his best victory in his limited career. The short and stocky Bamford, riding off the 16min mark, rode a heady race on the way to Akaroa and also on the route back. He appears to be following in the footsteps of his father, a prominent scratch rider in his time. A new system of finding the over-ail winner was adopted this year and it did not seem to be popular with some competitors and officials. Points were awarded to riders as they crossed the line at Akaroa — the winner receiving one, the second placegetter two, with points cones ponding to placings. The same method applied to the return journey and many riders who crossed at the back on the first stage did not bother competing on the return, knowing they had no chance of featuring in the major placings. Bamford was third to finish at Akaroa and he maintained a prominent place on the return to Christchurch. The riders grouped at Tai Tapu and an unusually large bunch of 15 contested the mass sprint to the finishing line at Halswell. There were one or tw’o riders in that group on whom. Bamford admitted, he had to keep an eye on and outsprint in the finish, especially the Invercargill ridvi. Wayne McLellan, the second place-getter into Akaroa. The four scratch riders dominated the sprint finish, but Bamford crossed eighth — five posi Hons ahead of McLellan — to claim the over-all aggregate bv tour points. Tiie riders who elected to compete back to Christchurch were gradually overhauled bv the scratch cyclists and after the exhausting climb to lhe Hilltop it was apparent that the scratch men Jim Ryder, Paul Flatten, loni Horne. Bruce Brunton and Brvan Stenning, were going to ride through to the front. Aggressive riding by the scratch men and those who stayed with that group enabled Uiem to catch the pace-setters, ißobert Forrest and McLellan, be jfore Tai Tapu. I Not unexpectedly, the very able sprinter, Horne, was too strong at the finish although his jo-n’ ar kers. Ryder. Stenning and Flattery were right with him at the finish. Horne and Ryder, members of the national team for the tour of Tasmania later this month, will be pleased with their strong performances on both stages. Abbreviations used in the results are: Woolston W.M.C (W > 1 *J? rnb L W.M.C. «H.». Papanui • (I ’?* TlmarU lnv ® rcar k il l Christchurch - Akaroa - Christ. . church 160 km.-—S. Bamford (W., IBminJ, 4:29.25.7, 11 points, 1; W. McLellan (1., 16min), 4:26 46.2. 2; T. Fuller (P., J9min>, 4:38:35.8, 16, 3; T. Horne (P., scr) and D. Johnson (W., l»min). 17. equal 4 W. Meggett (T.. 9min) and P. layior (P., smin), 21, equal 6 B. Hulbert (W.. 16mim, 22, 8; J. Ryder (P.. scr) and B. Stenning <P., scr) 25. equal 9. Fastest times: Horne, 4:02:66, 1: Ryder and Stenning, 4:5:32.2, equal 2. Christchurch-Akaroa placings: Burdon. 2:6:56. 1; McLellan. 2:8:35, 2; Banford, 2:9:15. 3- B Chamberlain (W.). 2:9:59, 4; Johnson, 2:14:4. 5; G. Hannan (T.». 2:14:50. 6; Fuller, 2:15:25, 7; Hulbert 2:12:33. 8: K. Gilcrest <T.i, 246:21, 9; J. Stace (H.), 2:17:0, Fastest times: Horne, 1:58:46. 1; Stenning. 2:1:22, 2; Ryder. 2:1:22.1, 3. * Akaroa-Christchurch placings Horne, 2:4:10, 1 and fastest time. Ryder. 2:4:10,1, 2; Stenning, 2:4:10.2, 3; P Flattery (P * 2:4:10.3. 4; R. Fulton (W ). 2:9:10 4 5: B. Brunton (H.), 2:4:10 5. 6Meggett, 2:13:10.6, 7: Bamford, 2:20:10.7, «; Fuller. 2:23:10.8. 9; Taylor. 2:9:10.9, 10.