CYCLING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8690, 16 October 1913, Page 5

CYCLING.

ASH BURTON" ROAD RACE

A LARGE FIELD,

It. is-claimed for the cycle road'race run off in Ashburton this afternoon that it was the most important-contest.of. its kind, with the exception of two, that has taken place-in the Dominion, both from a monetary point of view and as regards the entries. The latter to-

tailed 48, while the prize money amounted to over £25, the prizes being:—First, £10; second, £3; third, £2; 4th, £1; sth, 10s.- The sum of £5 was given- for the fastest time, £2 10s for the second_ fastest time, and £1 Is for first local rider not winning any other; prize. This money, was subscribed by- the public, and after the success of to-day's event it iff the intention of the promoters to make the race an annual affair.

The total distance was approximately I 36 miles, being four times round a nine--1 mile course, from the junction of Moore Street 'and the East Belt to Waltanui Point, along Beach Road, and back via Wakanui Road. The best time put up by local riders for this course previous to to-day had been 24mins., but despite the nor'westerly blowing this afternoon, chopped off that time in this race. The course was', in good order, though it'was considered that a slice would be slightly dusty. . :;

Considerable interest centred in the contest owing to the fact that the. Dominion's best road riders were represented, including O'Shea (acknowledged tjie best rider on roads in Australasia), C.."Snell (an Australian rider of note), ! and other crack performers. Compositors; began to aVrive in Ashburton yes--1 terday and the second express from tbe north brought the last contingent of visitors. Nearly the whole of the four dozen entrants faced the starter, and the result was an exciting and interesting race, which ' was -witnesed by a large crowd. What made the race more interesting was the fact that it was looked upon as a try-out for the big race next week. . •■•■ .- „ < The officials were:-—Starter, Mr 'J. Cow; timekeepers, Messrs F. B. Robilliard and J. V- De Beer; hahdicapper, Mr O. Hassell; judges, [ Messrs 3.1. E. Fountaine, J..Donn and F. Knox • stewards, Messrs It. Davis, R. Galbraith, A. A. Dempster, H. McElrea, J. McKay, A. Thompson, F. Tozer, R. Shearman, F. Wear, J. T. M. Priest, and W. Osman; secretary, Mr T. Turtill.

Following is a list of the competitors and handicaps:—P. O'Shea and O. Snell (scr), J. Wilson, P. Humm (1J mm.), J. McTigue, H. H. Gibson, H. F. Williams (3min.), G. Wallace, A. Bonis; A. Gilling (3|min.), G. W. Prebble, E. M. Tozer, M .Moriarty (4min.), H. Cant, W. Brown, A. Dorm, F. Shalders (4i I mins.), W. Jary, H. P. Arnst, G. Meharry (smin.),' H.. Yaxley, 0. -L.. Woodfield, L.'Wylie, E. J. Shepperd (ssmin:), M. Pelacour, W. A. Miller, S. Hands, E. J. Collins, W. Lockhard, W. Crossan (6min.), S. Sharp, R. A. Allen, T. O. Tutty, W. Hattley (6£min.), T. Rainey, G. White, J. Betts, E. D. Ealham, W. Kettle (7min.), F. Tutty, W.Terriss, T. Booth, A. 11. L. Smith (71 mm.), J. Lundy, G. E. Coldicott (Bmin.), J. Spillane, G. Morrison (9min.), F. D. Miller (lOmin.), , THE RACE.

Collins, Dorm, Terris, and Spillane Mere scratched.

There was a lull in the wind prior to the start, and the big field was sent away with a medium, fair breeze at the riders' backs. The limit men hopped oiit at 2.59 o'clock, evidently with .the intention of placing the greatest possible gap between themselves and the back-markers, as there was a possibility of the wind dying away altogether. Kettle, Ealham, ' Botts, White, and Rainey Went away in a bunchi and were quickly followed by Hattley, Tutty, Allen, and Sharpe,. Crossen,. Lockhard, Hands, Miller and Delacour being nest. Sheppherd, Wylie, Woodfiold and Vax--ley were the-, next bunch. All the riders had started off at a great- bat, and the pace.did not slacken when 11. Arnst and W. Jary -left the starting point. Shalders, .Brown and Cant were the next bunch and had gone half a mile before. M. Moriai'ty, Tozer,. and' Prebble set ;sail after them. These were followed by Gilling. Bonis and Wallace. Williams, GiJpson, and: McTigue made the pace willing from the jump, and had a good lead of Humm and Wilson. Snell and O'Shea (the scratch men)-both looked fit and' willing. The.V' left the starting point at 3.9 o'clock, and the general opinion was that one of them wouldl turn up first. They -were accorded a cheer as they left the starting post..

---| The limit men were the first .to eomiplete lap No. 1, Morrison (9min) being first, closely attended by F. D. Miller (lOmin), it having taken them 28 minutes to do the lap. A batch of' nine followed a little later, and A. H. L. Smith (7jmin) and G. White (7min) turned the corner, riding well, a few seconds after. Two batches of five, and six followed in quick succession, and another lot, headed by Wallace, who was riding excellently, passed the starting mark at 3.31. The back men had gained a good deal on the leaders. McTigue, Gibson, and Williams appeared at 3.32, and half a minute later Wilson and Humm came, in sight. The: scratch men-completed the 'round by 3.34, having, done the lap "in 25- mm N ut<v-u O'Shea. was vidiug well, but the

Australian appeared somewhat distressed. They had gained 3 minutes on. the leading men. Hattley finished last" a good way behind and Meharry a n< j Kettle retired'! ■• Cant punctured' a tyre early in the second round and gave up. Morrison came round the starting point in the, second lap well in 'front' of the field, and riding splendidly, at 3.55 p.m., having taken 281mins. to do the second round. A minute later a bunch of 16 passed,' including Wallace,, and White was about 20 yards behind them Wilson and Humm followed, half a; minute later, riding well, and looking like winners. O'Shea, Snell and Bonis completed the second lap at 4 o'clock exactly,.taking 26min. to do the round O'Shea v/as leading, and -Snell was hanging on well, while Bonis appeared not at all fatigued. . (Proceeding). ■.'■■'..;-