Two Canty riders in N.Z. cycling team

Press, 7 March 1983, Page 36

Two Canty riders in N.Z. cycling team

PA Wanganui Three New Zealanders will compete in the world open cycling championships in Switzerland in late August — Craig Adair and Murray Steele, of Canterbury, and Michael Mcßedmond. Palmerston North.

The trio was named by the selectors. Messrs Gordon Sharrock (convener. Wanganui). Jack Broome (Auckland) and Graham Sycamore (Invercargill) after the national hard track championships in Wanganui on Saturday. There was still "a remote chance” that more would make the trip, they indicated. The trio were medallists at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games and top performers at the recent Healing championships and, according to Mr Sharrock, “are constantly improving to justify their trips to the world championships." Mr Sharrock said finance dictated the size of New Zealand’s contingent to Switzerland. but it was important that this trio went because of the Olympics next year. “Getting a good ranking before the Olympics is important."

Mr Sharrock said that there was only a remote chance more would go to Switzerland. Talks would continue on the prospects of nominating a team pursuit squad, and road riders. Adair has been nominated to ride in the kilometre time trial and individual pursuit, Steele in the sprint and kilometre time trial, and Mcßedmond in the sprint.

However, no final decision would be made on events till the team, to be coached by Canterbury’s Wayne Thorpe, settled in Switzerland. One would later be chosen to

compete in the points race. The selection panel named nine track men to prepare for the world junior championships in Wanganui in October.

The cyclists and events in which they have been tentatively selected are; Alan Miller (Wellington), 1000 m time trial, teams' pursuit, sprint: Barry Prior (West Coast North Island), 1000 m time trial teams' pursuit; Russell Clune (Auckland), individual purusit, teams’ pursuit Steven Harcourt (Southland), teams’ pursuit Mitch Carr (Waikato-Bay of Plenty), sprint lan Ellis (Wellington), sprint Darryl Kircher (Canterbury), teams' pursuit sprint Andrew Whitford (Waikato-Bay of Plenty, individual pursuit teams' pursuit and David Moore (WCNI), sprint While all the cyclists would remain in the national squad, to be coached by Chick Ratten, final choices for the team pursuit (four), sprint (three), individual pursuit (two) and time trial and points races (one each) would not be made until a fortnight before the championships, said Mr Sharrock. The road team for the world junior carnival would be named after the national championships in the Waikato in early October. Up to 14 members can be named in the squad but only four can ride the teams’ 70km time trial and six in the individual road race. The selectors also announced that Gary Johnson (Wellington) and Jamie Jisbet (Canterbury) have been added to the national team pursuit training squad, and Greg Fraime (Canterbury), has been added to Ron Cheatley’s road team.

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