All Titles Changed Hands At N.Z. Cycling

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 11

All Titles Changed Hands At N.Z. Cycling

T»Y far the most startling feature of the national amateur track cycling championships last week was the eclipse of every champion. All 14 titles, senior, junior and boys, changed hands: some because they were not defended, others because the title-holders were not good enough, one or two because of bad luck. It is interesting to cast a look over the list of champions. Missing are such names as V. L. Newlove (Auckland), P. H. P. Robinson (Southland) —New Zealand’s greatest two shortdistance men in recent years —and others who have figured very prominently in other track titles, such as the Wellington pair, G. F. Wright and B. Goldsworthy.

In the normal course of things, Newlove and Robinson would have been the first considered for the track team for the Commonwealth Games. But a position, similar to that of four years ago, has cropped up. Then, as now, the best short-distance track men are juniors.

The time trial of J. A. Dean (West Coast-North Island) was far superior to any of the seniors, including the winner, J. H. Cleary (Canterbury). And when it is borne in mind that the defending champion, Newlove, was behind Cleary’s schedule when he withdrew with a puncture and declined another ride. Dean must stand the best of good chances of winning selection. Similarly in the individual pursuit. Neither of the senior finalists, T. J. Tabak (Canterbury) and A. J. Ineson (Southland), or the fourth-placed rider, R. D. Thomson (Auckland), is being considered for the track team but the fastest time of the championships was recorded by a junior anyway, D. A. Comparini (Wellington). Comparini smashed the New Zealand junior record in only reasonable conditions to qualify and. in the final, crushed Dean, who himself is a formidable pursuit rider.

All through the qualifying stages, Robinson looked a certain winner of the 500 metres sprint while N. F. Joyce (West Coast-North Island) was having to

struggle to beat Canterbury's champion, T. R. Weir, who performed better than anyone would have predicted. But Joyce, a rugged individual and a consistent rider, had his measure in the final.

The glamour individual event, the 10 miles, has posed problems. The selectors’ wish is to select a specialist over this event who can double as road reserve and, after his breaking of the New Zealand 10 miles record two or three times recently, J. B. Bigwood (Auckland) would fit the bill. But Bigwood did not

feature in the finish and D. L. Booth (Southland), who retained the title he won two years ago, does not have any sort of reputation on the road, certainly not in national events.

Two other features of the championships were provided by New Plymouth riders. Dean, the holder of the three titles, retained none of these, and the chunky M. F. Vertongen won the 500 metres sprint, although still eligible to compete in the boys under 16 grade. His selection for the final trials is a sound insurance for the future.