Fitting farewell for Canterbury cyclist

Press, 12 June 1989, Page 22

Fitting farewell for Canterbury cyclist

By

MALCOLM CONDIE

John Morrison’s victory in the Canterbury 100 km scratch cycling championships was a fitting farewell to his racing in New Zealand for some weeks. Morrison heads to Europe and several tours there early this week. Morrison, of the Papanui Cycling Club, featured little in the two hour 16 minute race, until the final 3km. Constant attacking in the final 50km of the race left much of the 45 strong bunch tired, and he timed his break well, making a clean, solo break and riding the final stages of the race on what strength he had reserved. At the finish, his break was 12 seconds clear of Jason Smith, of Woolston, and the rest of the bunch. The 100 km race was held on a 50km block along the Old West Coast Road and

back along the main West Coast Road. The star rider of the field was not the winner. Aaron Lauder, of Hornby, looked to be the strongest. Only 15km in the race, he and Stuart Lowe, also of Hornby, made a good break and rode well to lead by 25 seconds at one stage. The two maintained that lead until the first sprint prime, 25km from the start.

Lauder took his turn after a strong lap from Lowe just before that sprint, and took the $lO for the sprint. Only skm later the bunch caught the couple and, while on the return journey to the West Coast Roads’ junction they had plenty of time to rest. The second sprint, on the start/finish line after the first lap of the two-lap race, was again won by Lauder who mate a small break. IjJ the second lap of the

race, no one rider dominated until Morrison’s break. Many attempted a break, from as early as only 60km into the race.

Some breaks stayed away for several minutes, but, more often than not, those away could not keep up the pace and the bunch swallowed them up.

Michael McLister, of Papanui, rode well, clearing off the front several times, but never with company strong enough to keep him from the bunch.

Brendon Hart, Scott Millar, Richard Scott, George Stewart, and at times Nigel Donnelly made good showings at the head of the bunch, but the calm, cool, and unchanging weather conditions gave nobody an advantage. The pace of the race varied from under 40km/h to more than

DUKm/n. Morrison’s win, in 2hr 16min 4s will set him up well for his European trip. The opportunity to break away at such a late stage in the race was the only chance he had of winning, because of his lack of sprinting ability against cyclists such as Darrell Kircher, of Hornby, Smith, of Woolston, and Donnelly, of Papanui.

Kircher was second in the bunch sprint, only a tyre’s tread behind Smith. Chris Barnsley, of Papanui. was fourth, followed by Donnelly and lan Dickie, of Papanui. The B grade scratch championships, over 70km was soured by two crashes, one serious. Only 15km into’ the race, about eight riders came, down. A couple returned to the race, but four were taken by ambulance to hospital. Others suffered bruising, bad cuts and grazes.

Robert Scott, Murray Cameron and Simon Beyer suffered broken collar bones. Sally Fraser, who promoted herself from the C grade to B grade for the race was also injured. Geoff Shaw is still in hospital with facial injuries. Dave Pratt won the grade.

The C grade race, of 50km, was one circuit of the block the A grade riders used. Thirty three riders were entered in this grade, including 15 women. Because of the large entry of women, separate results were taken for their placings, and separate prizes issued. Gael Jans rode well, finishing fourth over all in the C grade, winning the women's section from Rosalind Reekie, Lisa Kristiansen and Rachael Lumb. Jans also won the women's sprint. Geoff McLeod won the C grade mgti’s race.

Results: — A grade: J. Morrison (Papanui) 1. J. M. Smith (Woolston) 2, D. Kircher (Hornby) 3, C. Barnsley (Papanui) 4. N. Donnelly (Papanui) 5. I. Dickie (Papanui) 5. Time: 2:16.04. Sprints: A. Lauder (Hornby) 2. C Barnsley. B grade: D. Pratt (Papanui' I, T. Skilling (Woolston) 2. M. Deller (Woolston) 3, A. Swarbrick (Woolston) 4. J. Anderson (Woolston) 5. Time 1:45.46. Sprints: D Wildermoth (Papanui). D. Pratt. C grade men: G. McLeod (Woolston) 1, D. Jacobsen (Woolston) 2. J. Topp (Hornby) 3, A. Bower (Woolston) 4. Time: 1:15.45. Sprint J. Topp. C grade, women: G. Jans (Woolston) 1, R. Reekie (Hornby) 2, L. Kristiansen (Papanui) 3, R. Lumb (Papanui) 4. Time: 1:15.45. Sprint G. 31ns. ?