Thick Drizzle Hampers Cycling Meeting (Press, 14 February 1981)

On 14 February 1981, a cycling meeting at Denton Park faced challenging weather conditions with thick drizzle and cold temperatures that discouraged many spectators and participants. Despite these setbacks leading to smaller fields in both the amateur and professional races, the event continued with a series of competitions. The professional 8000-metre race was won by Terry Gyde, making it his third victory of the evening, as he had previously secured wins in the 400-metre and the “Devil take the hindmost” race. Gyde faced little competition after early withdrawals of rivals Steve Doherty and Russell Nant. Meanwhile, Tony Duder triumphed convincingly in the amateur 800-metre race as well. The evening's results were as follows: In the amateur A-grade 800-metre, C. R. Adair took first place with a time of 58.8 seconds, followed by A. J. Duder and K. W. Reid. In the B-grade 1000-metre, K. R. Steele emerged victorious with a time of 1:19.2 and in C-grade, H. G. Walton won with a slightly slower time of 1:19.7. Additional races included a 3200-metre A-grade where Adair again topped the field, and a senior team pursuit that saw the team of Reid, Lewis, Strang, and Flattery defeating the junior team. In professional races, Gyde also excelled in the A-grade 400-metre race with a time of 32 seconds. Other notable professional results included performances in various races, such as the open 3000-metre where Gyde also secured first place. The report also included details on a novice handicap race where S. R. Hendren won with a time of 1:32.2. In a separate story, British research worker Philip Judson announced plans to lead the first all-gay mountaineering expedition to the Himalayas. Judson, a member of a homosexual sports club in Cambridge, aims to establish a base camp at 5,400 metres in November for the four-week expedition to Nepal. He expressed the intent to challenge stereotypes about gay individuals, asserting they are more than just cultural clichés. However, he anticipated potential difficulties regarding the hiring of Sherpa guides and porters and sought advice on managing negotiations while maintaining a respectful and serious approach.

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