‘Tour of the South’ boost for Canterbury

Press, 25 September 1980, Page 34

‘Tour of the South’ boost for Canterbury

By

RAY CAIRNS

Canterbury and New Zealand cycling yesterday received a substantial boost with the announcement of a big sponsorship which will bring tour racing back to Canterbury and Westland. The Healing Tour of the South will bring a greater financial reward to the winner than any other cycling event in New Zealand, The exact timing of the ■tour is still to be confirmed,- but it will almost definitely be in October next year. It seems equally sure it will be a full four days, making it the second-biggest in New

Zealand — or'Australasia, for that matter.. “We have an expanding interest in the development of cycling in New Zealand,” said the branch manager of Healing Industries, Ltd (Mr A. J. McMeeken). From its backing of the national amateur track championships for the last three years, the cycle company has now also embraced the road championships, the top boys’ tour in the South Island, and involvement with national teams. Healing’s made available special lightweight racing.cycles to the abor-

five Olympic Games team and these have now been given to the national association to assist in its . promotion.

“But this is our biggest

thing, and we <are looking for it to go bigger and better still,” said. Mr McMeeken. ■“All going well, I- would ; like-to. think, that the South Island will have a six-day tour in the very near future.” Details of the sponsorship have not been released, but Mr McMeeken

could confirm that the winner would receive four figures — or more than $lOOO — and that subsidiary sponsors would be involved.

The trans-Alps spectacle (raced seven years ago) would form the basis of the tour route, said the race manager (Mr John Morris). “They said then r that 250 km was far too far, what happened?” said Mr Morris. “The field finished virtually in two bunches,

and only about five minutes separated them.” That was on the stage from Christchurch to Greymouth, via Porters and Arthur’s Passes — the longest cycling race in the Southern Hemisphere. “With our timing of the tour, we’ll be looking at a big overseas involvement,” said Mr Morris. “Australian riders frequently support the other tours at much the same time, and I think they will find ours more than attractive enough to persuade them either to stay on or arrive early. “Make no mistake,” said Mr Morris. “We want this

to be the biggest bike race . in-.. New Zealand and, all going well, I think it will be in the very near future. Already, we’ll be making the right start with this race worth more to win than any other cycling event in New Zealand.” The president of the Canterbury Amateur Cycling Centre (Mr Jack Brimton) yesterday welcomed the likely injection of a five-figure sum into Canterbury and New Zealand cycling. “This is long overdue and much needed,” said Mr Brunton, “and I am thrilled that such support has come to fruition.” .