Strong sprint field for N.Z. cycling contest

Press, 5 March 1980, Page 14

Strong sprint field for N.Z. cycling contest

By

RAY CAIRNS

A possible . Olympic Games year it may be, but the Healing national hard track cycling championships which start this evening at Denton Park do not carry the significance they normally might with a major international competition only four months away. Surprisingly, part of the reasoning for this is that, •the track cyclists who really matter have already accomplished great things, and, indeed, one of them will not even be at Denton Park. Anthony Cuff, whose kilometre ■ time trials in the region , of 66 and 67 sec placed him squarely -in world class, has- forsaken these championships with his concentration on a road build-up. And while Michael Richards, the individual pursuit specialist, . will be competing in Auckland colotirs. he, too, has done the times that matter over 4000 m and will be looking instead to picking up a few medals with simply respectable times. One event in which Richards must now be stronglv fancied is the time trial, and this is one event in which Mr H. R. Dutton, one Olympic selector who will be present, could take a passing interest. For Richards and Mike Fabish (West CoastNorth Island), in the recent past. and Jacob Schr i e k (Canterbury), much further back and now very ' recently, have shown themselves capable of smart times. The carrot that Cuff has dangled may well be snapped up by one of this trio.

There is keen interest, too, -in the re-emergence of Harrv Kent, 10 years ago the finest kilometre rider, and best-performed international competitor, then produced by New Zealand. Kent is back in Wellington colours and it will arouse some nostalgia. if no real prospect of a medal, to see him in' action again.' The best of -the juniors clearlv appear to be Graham 'Miller, Wellington’s member of the national

pursuit squad, and Canterbury’s Murray Steele.

If the top level of kilometre riders looks pleas.antly strong, the same cannot be said of the tandem teams.

Eric McKenzie (Waikato) now appears to have given this racing away, and the well-per-formed Brian Broad and Barry Tall, of Southland, look likely champions again. Their strongest opposition might- be Gary Sword and Dean Clifford (East Coast-North Island), and Mick Litolff and Kelvin Steele, of Canterbury.

Richards will surely have no real challengers for the individual pursuit title — Blair Stockwell (Canterbury), Chris. Harding (Auckland) and. Kevin. Blackwell (Waikato) will be seeking the minor med-

als — but the sprint is much more open. Fabish, Wayne Palatchie, (Wellington), Ray Knight (Canterbury) and. Schriek are all past champions with a chance again; and McKenzie was a regular winner of the junior title. That series* looks the most entertaining, and all those riders are prospectsfor the 15,000 m. But those who appeal more than most are Blackwell, Wayne Perkinson (Auckland), Richards and Stockwell.

Just the presence of McKenzie and Blackwell, from the prospective Moscow squad, makes the Waikato team, which also includes Steve Cox and Mike Bosomworth, look a likely champion. Canterbury’s team, its leading challenger if all goes well, is Stockwell, Kim Reid, Peter Lewis and Tony Duder.

There is not a great depth to the junior fields, though national championships have a habit of unearthing some fine prospects. Steele looks the best bet for the sprint title but he has Robin Rosselli (Wellington), Michael Mic-

haelis (Auckland) and Blenddyn Wills (Southland) to contend with. And if Miller, who has chosen to retain his junior status, just a shade surprisingly seems to have the 3000 m individual pursuit to himself, someone like Brian Fowler (Canterbury) will not be far away. In the 8000 m, Steele, Miller, Michaelis and Rosselli are the top prospects, but the champion, Tony Strang, can never be overlooked, even if the experienced Canterbury lad has had a mediocre time since New Year. •

Canterbury’s pursuit team of Steele; Fowler, Strang and Kircher is a distinct medal prospect even if, for various reasons, it can not call on Mark Nichols, Shane Smith or Terry Gyde. The major factor working against Wellington is that it has only four juniors and they face full commitments. West Coast-North’ Island, which appears to be taking this event seriously, might spring a surprise. Craig Griffen appeals as having all the boys’ events

at his mercy, and the Kawerau boy has the: form and results which place him a notch above the rest. But Canterbury’s lan Cooper is a short-distance boy of startling speed; Vaughan Harvey, from the same, province, is a skilled 4000 m rider; Otago can provide Del Woodford) and Southland’s' strong group is headed by John Rooney and David Morton.

There remain only the veterans and the fields are thin indeed, with only 10 starters in the 450 m and 4000 m. Last season’s champions, Bruce Bailey and Peter van der Hulst (Waikato), are seeking to retain their titles over the short and long distances respectively, and there appear to be few real challengers.

The only championships being raced this evening are the open kilometre time trial and boys’ 500 m time trial. The main titles are tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, with afternoon and evening sessions in each case ■— unless rain dictates a crowding of the programme — and the points races are on Sunday morning.