Classic to Ross Bush

Press, 22 September 1980, Page 18

Classic to Ross Bush

By

RAY CAIRNS

If he had been a racehorse, there is a fair chance that lioss Bush would not have returned a profitable dividend in the Hertz Tiinaru-to-Christchurch 160 km cash cycling classic on Saturday. This 45-year-old, with such a handsome record in the amateur event between the two cities, heralded his debut in the 50 years older cash race with an overwhelming win. Not that there was any surprise about that because from the time tlie handicaps were announced. showing that Bush was, amazingly, out as far as the 44min mark, only one person was spoken of as being a likely winner.

Nor did the conditions intervene to make the task of Bush difficult. The nor’-wester brought side-to-tall winds and that was enough encouragement to keep Bush comfortably clear of the outstanding pair of scratch men, Steve Doherty and Neil Wylie. Not since the late Phil O’Shea, 67 years ago, has a scratch rider won the Timaru (though five times since then break markers have been first and fastest) and for tha redoubtable Doherty it was a case of again just missing the notable double. Just out of Doyleston he attacked the scratch bunch, which by then had gathered around it the remnants of the break, second breaki and 20min bunches, and only Wylie could flash up tp him. Then it was the start of the long and .hopeless pursuit of Bush, who then had as his only company the gallant Frank Paviell, the latest of a family with a long background in The sport and just trying it out after a road-running career. Paviell

had been picked up by Bush just after Ashburton, where he had dropped the rest of his own bunch, and it seemed that Payiell would hang on for at least second.

But there was a storming ride coming from Doherty and Wylio as they picked up and then discarded all that they caught, with the exception of Grant .Kingsford. .

Bush had too much in hand, however. He and Paviell caught the twice-winner, Ron Clayton, just out of Leeston. by which time they still enjoyed a lOmin advantage over the scratch riders, . and at Sprlngston the lead was still 6min. ?

Then came Bush’s unloading of Paviell, the catching of the middle-markers by Doherty and Wylie, and Bush’s unhurried, unworried cruise to the Shands Road finish. As .much- as 2.smin later there was a rather more hectic finish, but there was no questioning the superiority of Doherty, both hands aloft in triumph as he burst clear of the bunch", with Wylie slipping back to sixth with the fastest time eluding him. Abbreviations used in the results are: Hornby (H.), Tinwald (T.), Auckland (A.). Timaru Tu) Timaru to Christchurch, 160 km: H. R. Bush (H„ 44min), 4:33:8. 1; S. P. Doherty (H., scr.) 3:51:39, 2 and fastest time; S. McDonnell (T., 26min) 3; R. Ris-. don (11.. 38min) 4; G. Kingsford (A., 13min) 5; N.-Wylie (T-. scr.) 3:51:40. 6 and second fastest time; E. Ward (T.. 32rifln) .7; W." McCarthy (Tu, 38min) 9; K. Paviell (H.. 58min). 9; K. : Stephens (H:. 26minl ■ 10. '■ : «■■ .... Junior fastest time:;: ; A’i 'VVahd: (T„ 7mtn) 3-58:40. Veteran; R. Craig (H.) 4:13:06. .