Schools’ cycling event

Press, 24 February 1984, Page 8

Schools’ cycling event

Young cyclists who have yet to complete a circuit of the Dentou Park track will be able to compete against riders who have already had a taste of the sport this week-end in the third annual schools’ cycle racing programme.

Pupils from 28 high schools from Christchurch to Dunedin are to take part in track races tomorrow and road races on Sunday in the series, sponsored chiefly by Healing Industries.

The series was started three years ago, largely the result of the enthusiasm of one Christchurch man, Mr Harold Sutherland, for youth cycling. It began as a fill-in during the lunch break at a regular track meeting, and developed to lhe point where road races have been added to the programme.

Unlike track meetings run by the Canterbury centre of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association, riders will be able to use ordinary 10-speed cycles — the only restriction on the bikes themselves is that the gears be limited to a maximum of 82.8 inches. Riders will be required to wear helmets, but other than that there will be relatively few rules, and the emphasis will be getting as many newcomers as possible interested.

The majority of girls in the six teams do not race regularly, although their ranks are swelling at club level in Christchurch. Perhaps Ashburton will lose its grip on the girls’ teain pursuit title it has held so far.

While some of the province’s top novices will take part, the emphasis will be on encouraging new faces into cycling and promoting competition between the schools.