Fowler sprints to line

Press, 1 June 1981, Page 15

Fowler sprints to line

Brian Fowler was a clear winner of the Queenstown amateur cycling tour at the weekend. and he earned the win with his sprinting powers. For the first time the tour did not have any big breaks. He also suffered from an absence of a willing attacker, and the cyclists had to contend against "headwinds for most of the five-stages. Fowler had a handsome record. however. He was beaten home by a B grade rider. Eric Malcolm, of Southland, in the first stage from Winton to Lumsden, in which Barry Tall (Southland) was third, but thereafter held control. Fowler had too much finish for Murray Steele and Toni Horne (both "of Christchurch) in stage two, from Lumsden to Kingston, and was second to Bruce Brunton (another Christchurch rider) in the third stage, to Arthurs Point.

Both the 40km stage to Queenstown, and the criterium in the resort, were won by Fowler vesterday. Home and" Wayne Beckett "(Southland), then Brunton and Tall filling the minor placings. Road works in the first stage brought disaster for 10 riders, including the fancied Steele. Brunton. Brent Kircher and Paul Clare, all of Christchurch. Thejlost the best part of 20min oh that stage and 'thereafter had only stage placings for which to ride.

So Fowler’s real opposition was Home, 22s down, with Tall third at 265; Peter Goding (Dunedin) was fourth equal with Beckett, 28s down; while Canterbury junior, Greg Fraine, was sixth, at 38s.

Michael Leahy beat Stephen Kennedy by 12s"in a Southlanddominated B grade section. A Canterbury rider. Tony Salole. was third; at 16s; Malcolm and Greg Tump (Canterbury) fourth equal, 18s down.