Canterbury cyclists best again

Press, 18 December 1989, Page 25

Canterbury cyclists best again

From

MALCOLM CONDIE

in Auckland

Once again Canterbury cyclists dominated the glamour events of the national hard track cycling championships, held last week at the Manukau velodrome.

All the senior sprinting, individual' pursuit and teams pursuit titles went Canterbury’s way, and just to make a point the province won the senior 15,000 m race, regarded as a classic event on the track.

Jon Andrews clocked up his fourth consecutive sprinting title, and did not lose one sprint in getting the gold medal.

On Tuesday, the first day of the championships, he recorded the fastest qualifying time. On Thursday, the first round of competition, he easily beat Jerard Stock and Anthony Brown to make the second round. Then he trounced John Rastrick and Gary Smith to get into the quarter-finals. In that event, on Thursday, he met his team-mate, Tim. Carswell, and beat him in two rides. That put him against another team-mate, and last season’s silver medallist in the event, Russell Ownsworth. Once again Andrew’s win took only two rides. Later on Saturday he had to ride last season’s bronze medallist, and yet another team-mate, William Rastrick, in the ride-off for gold.

In familiar fashion it took only two rides. Not once, in all the nine sprints Andrews rode, did he ride slower than 12s, for the final 200 m. In fact, in the semi-final against Russell Ownsworth he recorded his fastest time of the championships — an 11.19, 200 m. That is only some hundredths of a second away from his New Zealand f ecord, of 11.109, set in 1988. Considering the nationals were not vital to Andrews — his main aim is the Commonwealth Games — his form is likely to be even more impressive against some of the world’s best. Canterbury’s other big victory at Saturday’s session of cycling, was in the team’s pursuit. For two members of this team — Nigel Donnelly and Mark Lucas — it was one of their final chances to impress selectors after poor showings in their individual pursuits. It was fortunate that any of Saturday’s racing was held. Torrential rain drenched the concrete velodrome until 4.30 p.m. During the time officials were waiting for the track to dry, there was much reminiscing about the last time a track nationals was held in Auckland. That was in 1987, at Western Springs, and because of rain, not even one race was started.

However, the track did dry, and the Canterbury pursuiting team got its chance to impress, in the final against Auckland’s combination. Lucas, Donnelly, Carlos Marryatt and Jason Smith, the individual pursuit winner, had the intention of attempting a New Zealand record schedule.

Unfortunately the 1988 record, set by an Olympic combination was not within their reach. The record stood at 4:27.195. Canterbury stopped the electronic timing at 4:31.42.

Considering it was a provincial team, and it was not entirely familiar with the track, the time was excellent, and the Auckland combination of Craig Connell, Stu Williams, Graeme Miller and Anthony Brown had no chance of keeping up. It won the silver medal, but was

shattered by the Canterbury assault. If that performance was not enough for Lucas to confirm his place in the Games team, he went out later in the evening and made sure he was noticed in the 15,000 m. Although he was not placed, Lucas helped Andrews in the final laps. The selectors noticed this and the bulky rider has been included for the 15,000 m event at the Games. Donnelly also made the team, in the teams pursuit. Although Canterbury’s attempt at a New Zealand record failed, there was one record broken on Saturday evening. Madonna Harris, riding the women’s 3000 m individual pursuit, took two seconds off her own record, set at Kew Bowl, Invercargill in March. She has been the only rider to have broken a record in the last two national championships. Harris left the record until her final ride for gold, against the Nelson woman, Karen Holliday. In her first, qualifying ride, Harris recorded 4:01.14, and afterwards said it was good to have that ride under her belt. With a bit more confidence in the track, and having ridden her first pursuit for nine months, Harris rode a 4:02.28 in the semi-finals but slowed up in the last lap having lapped her opposition. Even though the track had been soaked earlier in the day, Harris said it was very fast when she rode it. Her time was 3:56.94, compared to her previous record of 3:58.95. There is little wonder cycling selectors have chosen her for the individual pursuit at the Commonwealth Games. Championship results.— Novice 550 m time trial: T. Rold (NM) 1, G. Scott (C) 2, H. Donaldson (C) 3. Junior 1000 m time trial: S. McLean (S) 1, C. Mclntyre (C) 2, M. Moulai (NM) 3. Senior 1000 m time trial: T. Graham (A) 1, G. Anderson (WC) 2, P. Harding (A) 3. Novice 470 m: D. Miller (WBOP) 1, S. Brown (C) 2, D. Beatson (WC) 3. Junior 8000 m: T. Skilling (C) 1, T. Payne (A) 2, G. Thomson (O) 3. Senior 50km points: C. Connell (A) 1, G. Anderson (WC) 2, G. Miller (A) 3. Junior 3000 m pursuit: N. Mclntyre (WBOP) 1, S. Tucker (WC) 2, C. Denny (C) 3. Senior 4000 m pursuit: J. Smith (C) 1, C." Connell (A) 2, G. Anderson (WC) 3. Women’s 3000 m pursuit: M. Harris (WBOP) 1, K. Holliday (NM) 2, J. Nelson (W) 3. Open Tandem sprint: J. Grace/P. Medhurst (A) 1, W. Palatchie/A. Miller (NM) 2, A. Monkley/R. Clark (WBOP) 3. Senior sprint: J. Andrews (C) 1, W. Rastrick (C) 2, R. Ownsworth (C) 3. Junior sprint: J. Craig (NM) 1, S. McLean (S) 2, S. James (A) 3. Novice sprint: D. Miller (WBOP) 1, T. Rodd (NM) 2, B. Vincent (NM) 3. Novice 2000 m pursuit: N. Shattock (WBOP) 1, G. Fallow (NM) 2, D. Cameron (A) 3. Junior women’s sprint: N. Huria (NM) 1, C. Thomson (O) 2, C. Prince (WC) 3. Junior women’s 2000 m pursuit: C. Prince (WC) 1, K. Saunders (NM) 2, N. Huria (NM) 3. Junior 25km points: T. Payne (A) 1, M. Smith (S) 2, S. Tucker (WC) 3. Senior 15,000: J. Andrews (C) 1, G. Miller (A) 2, C. Marryatt (C) 3. Senior 4000 m teams pursuit: Canterbury 1, Auckland 2, Southland 3. Junior 4000 m teams pursuit: Southland 1, Auckland 2, Canterbury 3. Novice Italian pursuit: Waikato, Bay of Plenty 1, Canterbury 2, West Coast. North Island 3.