Canterbury Cycling Title To J. Cleary

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31108, 11 July 1966, Page 14

Canterbury Cycling Title To J. Cleary

“The Press" Special Service

GREYMOUTH. J. H. Cleary (Papanui) achieved his first major success since he won his club’s 25-mile championship nearly two months ago, when he won the Canterbury 100-kilometre cycling championship at Westport yesterday.

Cleary easily outsprinted a five-man finishing bunch after the surprisingly gruelling course from Westport to Seddonville, reinforced by a buffeting easterly wind, occasional torrential rain and a rough half-mile strip of unsealed road had taken its toll of the field.

Mann (Papanui), who had the misfortune to get two punc. tures, both times in the unsealed road. D. Jones (Avon) another favoured rider, also had a puncture on the way out.

A feature of the race was the surprising performance by G. Nelli, a Westport Junior. Neill stuck w-lth the main bunch until about 15 miles from the finish and came in eighth, as well as taking second place in the declared handicap, 38sec behind P. H. C. Bedford (Papanui). Bedford’s was another unusually good performance. He coasted in a few yards behind the winning bunch for sixth place.

Only 15 of the 30-odd starters finished, the defections, including the favourite, R. D.

The most action came from .1. S. Danielson (Papanui), who was sprinted by Oleary for first place. Danielson made repealed attempts to break away, and got out as far as 200 yards but each time the bunch gathered him in.

Apart from Danielson, the hardest laps were taken by R. J. Hogan (Papanui) and P. A. Skilling (Avon). Hogan actually looked to be riding the easiest of the main bunch, although he had cramp on the way out. G. R. Sword (Avon) took third in a sprint with Hogan and Skilling, but these three were well behind Cleary and Danielson.

Results:—J. H. Cleary (Papanui), 2:30:38.8 1; J. S. Danielson (Papanui), 2:30:39.2, 2; G. R. Sword (Avon), 2:30:39.8, 3; P. A. Skilling (Avon), 2:30:40, 4; R. J. Hogan (Papanui), 2:30:40.5, 5; P. H. C. Bedford (Papanui), 2:30:53. 6.

Handicap: Bedford (6min), 1; Nelli (ISmin). 2; Keating. (ISmin) 3; Sword (2mln) 4: Danielson (Imln), 5; Skilling (Imln), 6.