Pro. cycling on grass track

Press, 31 December 1980, Page 14

Pro. cycling on grass track

Though grass track racing is something of an anachronism in this day and age, there will be more than a passing interest in the New Zealand professional championships at Tinwald on Sunday. By common consent, this is the finest grass track in the country: gently and suitably banked, it is rock-hard at present, and only really heavy rain near the weekend would mar the preparation. it has undergone. But this splendid surface has not been the venue for the grass track championships since 1975. a long break indeed, and on “this occasion, it appears they will be confined to South Island cyclists. Because of the uncertainties of cyclists’ movements in the holiday period, entries have not yet closed, and the Dunedin entry is unknown. But the likely competition from the three, areas of professional cycling in Canterbury will ensure very keen competition. Team Bascik’s Terry Gyde and Clayton Yaxley have enjoyed some startling successes ’ in this early part of the track season and appeal as likely to extend those records. But they will not be short of strenuous competition.

Steve Doherty certainly has a point to make, and it

is in favour of those down the track so far this season that the South Canterbury circuit racing will have brought many of them into form.

The championships being raced on their home track will certainly not be a disadvantage to the Wylie brothers, and the Timaru contingent should be worthily led by John Reid and Grant Scott.

If a Dunedin entry does eventuate, it would not be without quality: Wayne Hillary, and the Thomson brothers would ensure that. And there could be surprise results from the likes of John Cleary ' and Tony Morris, of Christchurch, should they compete. The seniors race over 1600 m and 3200 m, but the juniors only over the shorter distance. There is not quite the same depth in quality in the under-19 grade, but Bevan Gyde, also of the Christchurchbased Bascik team, Tony Ward and Simon McDonnell (Mid Canterbury) and perhaps Matthew Miller (Timaru) will be wellmatched.

And they will be most anxious to know if Robert van de Loo, of Dunedin, is to compete, for he would probably earn top favouritism.

There will also be two cadets’ championships, both over 1600 m, and for the under-14 and under-16-year-olds.