Cyclists potential medallists—coach

Press, 4 December 1985, Page 80

Cyclists potential medallists—coach

By

KEVIN PAGE

Jack Broome, one of the men behind last week-end’s “rebel” cycling time trial in Wellington, believes his team of non-Oceania Games representatives could win the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games next year. Mr Broome was reacting to claims by the national squad coach, Mr Ron Cheatley, that he had deliberately tried to undermine the Oceania Games preparation of the New Zealand squad. Mr Cheatley had organised a training session for cyclists in Wanganui last week-end, but this had to be cancelled when two riders, Gavin Stevens and David Barnett, pulled out to attend the time trial in Wellington. The trial was organised by Mr Broome, and Mr Bob Pratt, a national cycling association counsellor, as an attempt on the New Zealand 100 km time trial record. Stevens and Barnett are coached by Messrs Broome and Pratt respectively. Mr Cheatley was quite scathing in his attack on Mr Broome, claiming his efforts to prepare the national squad were being disrupted by the pair holding the Wellington trial. With the backing of national selectors co-ordina-tor, Mr Graham Sycamore, he dumped Barnett and Stevens out of the Oceania Games squad. From his Auckland home last evening, Mr Brpome said the whole issue had arisen because of a lack of communication and the conflict in dates. “It’s just a conflict in dates. I found out one weekend ago, and I told Barnett and Stevens to decide whether they wanted to have a go at the record in our time trial or go to Wanganui. “They both said that if they were thrown out of the Oceania Games squad, then so be it, but they wanted to go for the record, and hope-

fully qualify for the Commonwealth Games team,” he said. “I told them it was their decision. I believe I did everything correctly, and I told him to ring Ron Cheatley within 24 hours to tell him. “The Oceania Games don’t really mean a hell of a lot, the Commonwealth Games mean more,” he said. “Our riders thrashed the previous time (set by Mr Cheatley’s N.Z. team earlier this year). We got a result because I believe our guys are better looked after,” he added. The Wellington trialists lopped 2min 21s off the record when they trialled on Sunday. “That’s a fantastic time. This is the Commonwealth Games gold medal team here. All we’re asking for is the opportunity to get them to Edinburgh,” he said. “We gave the riders the opportunity to do what they wanted. There were no heavy tactics and there was no guarantee that they could do the time. “We told them that it may have a detrimental effect on their chances of competing at the Oceania Games, but they were still willing,” he said. Mr Broome did not feel that he should have postponed his trial when he learned that it would coincide with the national squad’s Wanganui event. “We were committed. It was all lined up. The riders gave us their commitment, but we still decided to give them the opportunity to go to Wanganui, and they still decided to go for us,” he said. Mr Broome, who says he has never had a “run in” with Mr Cheatley before, laughed when told Mr Cheatley said there was some suspicion that the Wellington course was not a true 100 km distance. “We started and finished at the same point as his trial earlier in the year. I went over the course and on

my calculations it is 100 km and IVz metres. “That’s very precise I can tell you, I went over them three or four times,” he said. Mr Cheatley had claimed that the Wellington course had not been given a surveyor’s certificate for the distance. A certificate of distance is required should ratification of a record be sought. Mr Broome admitted that he did not have a surveyor’s certificate. “I went over that course every way and I know it is quite precise. It will stand up to any inspection,” he said. “I feel I can justify every move that I’ve made,” he said. “I’m responsible for a lot better cyclists coming to the fore. I see they are subjected to the best possible coaching.” Mr Broome agreed that the conflict was caused because of an “unfortunate lack of communication,” but added that he was not aware of Mr Cheatley’s event, nor was Mr Cheatley aware of his. He disputed Mr Cheatley’s claim that three people, including himself, had resigned from the national coaching executive in the last 12 months because of Mr Broome’s chairmanship. One had resigned for personal reasons and the other had resigned through an entirely different matter, he said. “I suppose we’re guilty of not telling the world that we wanted to get out there and try for the Commonwealth Games. Quite frankly, we didn’t know we had the guys until we went out there and did that good time,” he said. “I’m disappointed that Mr Cheatley feels that my trial undermined his efforts, that’s the last thing I wanted to do. “If he feels that I have undermined his efforts, then I have to apologise, because that’s the last thing I wanted to get across,” he said.