Swart ahead of cycling controversy

Press, 1 October 1979, Page 29

Swart ahead of cycling controversy

1-rom

RAY CAIRNS

Long after it has been forgotten that Jack Swart retained his national road cycling championship at Auckland on Saturday, the fallibility of the human eye, and the failings of the photo-finish, will be remembered. There was no question that Swart put behind him a comparatively sub-standard road season to win, after one of the shortest sprints imaginable, the senior title. But it will take many months for the controversy to die down over just who should have received the minor place medals. They were awarded to Steve Cox. Swart’s WaikatoBay of Plenty team-mate, and the race favourite, Vem Hanaray, of Hastings. Toni Horne. Canterbury’s sole survivor, was given fourth place. However, these were visual placings from a despera-tely-close battle for second, I half a length behind Swart. It would take a brave person to put his hand on his heart and swear that one or other of the three contenders beat the other. On one topic there appeared certain agreement — th t Horne beat Hanaray. immediately on Horne’s left. Indeed, Hanaray’s first reaction was that both Home and Cox had overwhelmed him, but he could not be sure for he was head-down and sprinting. Still, Hanaray seemed sure enough to change out of his cycling gear before the medal presentation. Horne maintained that any cyclist knows whether or not he has beaten a challenger, and he was sure he had beaten Hanaray and Cox. There was no photo to support his assertion. Just as with the veterans’ chant-

! pionship the day before, no 1 pictorial record of the finish I was available — this time, 1 i because a car and motor’- ‘ I cycle had flashed through in f the way. 1 I So on that unsatisfactory) note ended a most energy- 1 ' sapping championship, one that saw Blair Stockwell put in a major individual effort ‘ which floundered because 1 no-one could join him, and 1 one which also saw eight r men left at the finish, the J others, after the four chas- ' ing the medals, were Wayne ' Perkinson and Kevin Lucas. ;t of Auckland, and two other) 5 Waikato riders. Gary Belli c and the noted track-man. Eric McKenzie. i' Until two laps, or 18km to i ride, Stockwell and Trevor R:c were handy too. and It

Stockwell had been the race's dominant figure. He rode away after only six of moved out to a lead of 3jmin on the bunch. In the gap, half-way through the race, were a team-mate, Chris Hogan, and Bruce Watson (West Coast-North Island), but they were gathered in, and Hogan was a withdrawal after two-thirds of the race. Then Paul Flattery went as well, but only after crashing over the top of Anthiny Cuff and Kevin Rosemergy. Finally Stockwell had had enough, bemoaning the lack of company he had i desperately sought in that [long solo ride. I Even then, the race was 'not over, for Horne and Cox made a brave bid in the final two kilometres, and slipped out to a 60m lead. But Hanaray, a majestic figure on the road this day, did most to bring them back, but he did not do enough to beat Swart. He waited and waited, and Swart was quite content. He finally jumped [within the final 75m and nolone could match that bid. ) The winner of the boys’ 137 km championship was Ge-

rard Golder (Auckland). After a very willing first three laps from the Canterbury riders, Craig Nichols and Peter Turnbull. Golder made his bid on the long, slow climb through Parnell and was never caught. The closest challenger was a game Wellington boy, David Barnett, originally only a reserve, and he managed to stay clear of his provincial champion, Greg Cundy, a good winner of the sprint for third. The placings behind him were filled by Southland's Murray Hewitt. Paul Kelly of Waikato, and the best of the Canterbury team, Vaughan Harvey.