Surprises in cycling classic

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 12

Surprises in cycling classic

A virtual unknown and one of the best road riders in New Zealand, shared the honours in the DB Round-the-Harbour cycling classic on Saturday. The unknown was Michael Meharry, who joined the Homby club less than a fortnight ago and crossed the line first after starting in the third bunch off 15 minutes; the other was Brian Fowler (Woolston), who rode off scratch and took fastest time in Ihr 24min 6s. Meharry’s victory was greeted with cheers by the Hornby supporters, for it was the first time in the history of the race, organised by the club, that one of its riders had won. Worthy though Meharry’s victory might have been, it

was the quest amongst the scratch riders for fastest time that provided most interest. By the Gebbies Pass summit, Greg Hume, Aaron Lauder and Darren Rush had felt the strain, leaving Fowler, Blair Stockwell, Phillips Gibbs, John Hughes and Toni Home together. Not long after though, the group was divided again when Fowler broke clear. Reluctant to let Fowler get ahead so early, Home set out in persuit. While some would have expected Stockwell to have helped Horae peg back the gap, the latter was left to do the chasing alone and to his credit he managed to catch Fowler. Hughes fell into the trap of waiting for Stockwell to move, but Stockwell himself

could not find the reserves needed to rejoin Fowler. Horne stuck with Fowler over Evans Pass, but could not match the sprinting abilities of the former over the flat and crossed the line at Ferrymead slightly behind him. Jamie Nisbet, who, until Saturday had not featured on the road this season, produced one of the rides of the day to finish tenth and take third-fastest time behind Fowler and Home. Nisbet (smin) had a few anxious moments midway through the race when he was leading a bunch near the Dyers Pass turnoff. Suddenly he saw two cars, which were turning right to head to Governors Bay, come across his path, but there was enough room for the cyclists to go through.

Wayne Byrne, one of Nisbet’s fellow markers, also produced a creditable ride, being the fastest junior in a time of Ihr 28min. However, the honour of being the first junior to finish fell to John O’Brien who crossed the line in fifth after riding from the 11 minute mark. Les Jones (third) was the first veteran. Saturday’s result was also a tribute to Russel Nant, who took on the role of handicapper. Nant came in for some criticism before the start for reducing the times between bunches (2% minutes separated scratch and break; the same time separated break and the next bunch, and there were 19 minutes between scratch and the front). In fact, Meharry was the third lot to

start, and for the first time in several years scratch riders ended in the first 10. Abbreviations used in results:— Hornby (H), Healing Papanui (H.P.), Woolston (W). DB Harbour race: M Meharry (H), 15min handicap Ihr 36min 525, 1; D. Dennis (H.P.), Ihr 30min 565, 2; L Jones (W), 13min, Ihr 36min 14s, 3 and fastest veteran; M Wild (H.PJ, 13min, 4; J O’Brien (H.P.), llmin and first junior, P. Davies (H.), 9min, 6 B. Fowler (W.), scr, Ihr 24mir 6s and fastest time, 7; T. Horne SP.), scr, Ihr 24min 7s 8; D vett (H.P.), 7min, 9; J. Nisbei (H.P.), scr, Ihr 2min 375, 10 Fastest junior: W. Eyre (W) Ihr 28mm. First woman: M Woods (W.), Starters: 83. Fin ishers: 71.