Gibbs edged out in upset

Press, 1 October 1983, Page 64

Gibbs edged out in upset

PA Hamilton David King of Auckland pulled off the shock of the New Zealand road cycling championships at Morrinsville yesterday when he won the junior title after only just making the field. King, aged 17, crossed the line centimetres ahead of Philip Gibbs (Canterbury), acknowledging a win he could hardly believe. Earlier in the month, King withdrew from the Auckland junior championship, and was named only as reserve for the nationals. When one of his teammates became ill and withdrew King was back in. With 30km left yesterday King’s hopes looked slim. A break by Andrew Whitford (Waikato) and Scot McMillan, which had lasted for about 50km, had been caught by favourites Alan Miller (Auckland), Steve Swart (Waikato) and Wellington’s Wayne Morgan. King was 30s back. The race changed dramatically in the next 10km. The leaders eased, enabling the others to catch. Gibbs and King grabbed the opportunity to slip clear as the favourites watched each other. Within five kilometres their lead was up to lmin 30s and although King dropped behind Gibbs on one of the hills, the pair were together over the final 10km. Although Alan Hood (Canterbury) lost his veterans title it remained in the family when his brother-in-law, Mick Litolff, won a three-man dash for the line, earlier in the day. Litolff, from Kawerau, turned the tables on Hood who had beaten him into second in last year’s championship for veterans aged 35-45.

The Irish squash team arrived in Auckland yesterday for the world championships, which begin on Thursday. Three of the team, from left, are Paul O’Brian (manager), John Young, and David Otto. The Irish players will compete in the $75,000 individual event from October 6 to 12 and then in the teams’ event, from October 13 to 20.

otto is the captain of the Irish team, which will compete in the same pool as New Zealand, Finland,

Japan, and Egypt. He is the most experienced team member with 75 international caps, but the No. 1, Willy Hosey, is the only fulltime player in the line-up. The Irish have been assisted in their build-up by Ireland’s most famous player and coach, Jonah Barrington, six times winner of the British open. The team is ranked eleventh in the world.

Twenty teams, including a New Zealand youth side, will compete in the Pilking-ton-sponsored event.