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Bad start for race

By

MALCOLM CONDIE

The Canterbury road cycling championships had a bad start on Saturday with only five placings recorded in the senior race because of a crash and strong winds. Thirty cyclists started the 160 km race in tough conditions that worsened as the race progressed. By the end of eight laps of the 20km circuit, seven riders had made it across the finish line. Two were disqualified. Only half-way round the first lap an error in judgment in the leading bunch produced a ten-cycle crash. It was reported afterwards that a competitor had swerved and braked in the middle of the bunch and other riders had nowhere to go.

All those who crashed pulled out of the race. Craig Scott (Hornby) and Tony Coggan (Woolston) both broke collarbones. Several others could not continue because of bad bruising and grazing or because of bike damage. Probably the worst affected rider was Michael Leahy (Woolston). Being one of the first riders to fall, several riders crashed on top of him. He injured both his legs, his arm and received stitches to his chin.

Apart from the injuries, Leahy had to suffer the pain of not travelling to the tour of Tasmania last evening. Leahy was to race tomorrow in Tasmania. Now Stuart Lowe has taken his place in the New Zealand team. Peter Cox (Papanui) managed to pull out of the race with no significant injuries and was still able to fly out of Christchurch last evening. Canterbury’s other entry in the Tasmanian race, Chris Nicholson, has flown from racing in New Caledonia to Tasmania, via Auckland. After the crash, which downed many top contenders, it was up to the strongest riders to make it to the end. North-west wind which became blustery, hampered riders coming along the startfinish straight and in the end the first four riders sprinted together. Hornby filled first, second and third places with Darrell Kircher, Aaron Lauder and Carlos Marryatt. Carl Crowe (Papanui) was fourth. Nine mimutes later Richard Scott (Hornby) limped home.

Canterbury championship results. —

Senior, 160 km: D. Kircher (Hornby) 1, A. Lauder (Hornby) 2, C. Marryatt (Hornby) 3, C. Crowe (Papanui) 4, R-. Scott (Hornby) 5, time 4hr 7min 265.

Junior, 80km: S. Hollander (Hornby) 1, M. Flack (Woolston) 2, R. Ownsworth (Hornby) 3, T. Carswell (Papanui) 4, C. Gosser (Papanui) 5, time 2hr smin 3s. Women, 60km: G. Ashby (Woolston) 1, A. Mitchell (Woolston) 2, K. Stewart (Hornby) 3, L. O’Brien (Papanui) 4, W. Duder (Papanui) 5, time Ihr 49min 16s. Veteran'll, 60km: P. Kristiansen (Papanui) 1, R. Kennedy, (Papanui) 2, R. Bush (Papanui) 3, A. Perry (Hornby) 4, R. Pemberton (Woolston) 5, time Ihr 40min 31s.

Veteran I, 100 km: A. Hood (Papanui) 1, R. Hogarth (Papanui) 2, J. Ryder (Timaru) 3, R. Scott (Hornby) 4, J. Gibson (Papanui) 5, time 2hr 34min 41s.

Senior novice, 40km: M. Ogle (Mairehau) 1, D. Wildermoth (Mairehau) 2, T. Skilling (Woolston) 3, P. Smith (Timaru) 4, J. Tyack (Hornby) 5, time Ihr smin 475.

Junior novice, 15km: G. Scott (Woolston) 1, M. Lumb (Mairehau) 2, A. Lumb (Mairehau) 3, K. Barnsley (Mairehau) 4 (relegated from third), K. Gorrie (Woolston) 5, time 29min. Novice girls, 15km: R. Reekie (Hornby) 1, J. Healey (Mairehau) 2, A. Emms (Mairehau) 3, N. Thorne (Hornby) 4, M. Vercoe (Timaru) 5, time 31 min 40s.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19880912.2.99.27

Bibliographic details

Press, 12 September 1988, Page 19

Word Count
559

Bad start for race Press, 12 September 1988, Page 19

Bad start for race Press, 12 September 1988, Page 19