Cycling Ryan star at Timaru

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 22

Cycling Ryan star at Timaru

By

RAY CAIRNS

Many a long sigh might have been heaved at Timaru Caledonian Ground on Saturday over the fact that Colin Ryan is not eligible for most New Zealand cycling teams. Once again, Ryan. Timaru’s pride • and joy and well ranked in the world of professional cycling, was generally the master of the amateurs’ challenge he faced. The North and South Island teams reached Timaru after a frustrating start to their South Island tour in Invercargill. The first two evening meetings were called off because of rain, and a "test" - won 31-18 by the South — and carnival meeting were crammed into one day. They had far better conditions at Timaru, and Ryan made hay. He won the 500 m, as expected, and the 8000 m, which is not necessarily a predictable result, coming ' over Brian Fowler's lead-out. though Fowler fought back commendably in the straight. The result that really excited the crowd was not even in a final. A composite Timaru team — the professionals, Colin and

Steve Ryan: the amateurs. Wayne Howes and John Lek — was trailing the North Island after three of the four laps of the Italian pursuit qualifying round. North's final rider, David Dixon, had struggled to hold Craig Griffin’s wheel, even if he still held a 20m lead on Ryan. Then in 200 m, the flying Ryan had turned that into a 15m lead, and he cruised on to crush Dixon.

Things went wrong for Timaru in the eagerly-awaited final against the South Island. Mainly at Ryan’s instigation, the fasterstarting Lek was made first rider, instead of Steve Ryan, and his fast start left Howes behind, and Colin Ryan with him. The team then sat up, with a lot of events still to ride, and the gun sounded a South victory.

Indeed, the South Island won all the Italian pursuits, though composite teams promised to challenge them severely. The makeshift All Stars junior team actually led the North Island quite handsomely after three laps, but David Williams could not hold the advantage won by Dean Harvey, Darrel Kircher

and Tim Clyne. Similarly in the novice event, after Julian Stokes and Craig Cornelius had put their team in a fine lead, even a doughty last lap by Craig Connell could not drag back the ground lost by the North reserve, Daniel Moore. In a full, long programme, perhaps the most interesting facet was the introduction to New Zealand open racing of the kierin events, a partly motor-paced race which now has a place in world championship programmes. Bruce Hoskin (senior B grade) and Darren Rush (junior) had relatively comfortable wins. Results, island team members being indicated NI and SI, WCTe: - OPEN Handicap 3200 m.— C. J. Ryan (scr) 1, B. R, Kircher (60m) 2. P. Leitch (NI scr) 3. Time, 4:8.0. SENIOR 500 m — Ryan 1. B. A. Fowler (SI) 2, W. J. E. Rastrick (SI) 3. Time, 36.8. 8000 m.— Ryan 1, Fowler 2, Rastrick 3. Time, 10:42.1.

Italian pursuit.— South Island (Fowler. Rastrick. A. J. Strang,

S. C. Woods), beat Timaru (Ryan. S. Ryan. G. W. Howes. J. Lek), ride-over.

Keirin.— A grade: Leitch 1, G. J. Fraine (SI) 2. Howes 3. B grade: B. Hoskin 1. Lek 2, M. Woodford 3. JUNIOR 500 m — A. Miller (SI) 1. B. Coe 2. A. Missen (NI) 3. Time. 37.2. 8000 m — Miller 1. S. Harcourt (SI) 2. D. Rush (SI) 3. Tirrie, 10:56.0. Italian pursuit.— South Island (Miller. Rush. C. Jordan. Harcourt). 1:54.70. beat North Island. 1:56.30.

Kierin.— Rush 1. Jordan 2, Coe 3. NOVICE 500 m.— N. Culver (NI) 1, J. Smith (SI) 2. W. Eyre (SI) 3. T’me, 38.1. A grade 4000 m.— Culver 1, G. Brodie (NI) 2. R. Brimer (SI) 3. Time. 5:4.9.

B grade 2000 m.— C. Cornelius 1; J. Stokes 2, D. Moore (NI) 3. Time. 2:58.1.

Italian pursuit.— South Island (Smith. Eyre. A. Clark. Brimer). 2:00.80. beat North Island, 2:01.50. Handicap 3200 m.— Brodie (50m) 1, Brimer (50m) 2. Clark (50m) 3. Time. 4:15.4.