CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 15

CYCLING.

MANUKAU CLUB'S RACE. Boisterous weather conditions prevailed ait Mangere on Saturday afternoon for the Manukau Amateur Cycle Club'* 22-mile open road race. A field of 35 riders faced the starter at 2.45, and a hard grinding race was the result. Once again J. H. Wade demonstrated the fact that he is riding in his very 'best form by winning the event from scratch. Straying cattle on the road were responsible for several interferences with riders, and a serious smash was narrowly averted about a mile from the finish by one walking right across the field of 22 riders, which had bunched.

The following i 8 the result:—J. H. Wade (scr), 1; J. Whittin (scr), 2; J. C. Stewart (4m), 3; F. Taylor (6Jm), 4. Time, 59m 9s. Fastest time, J. H. Wade.

A heavy shower fell just m the riders started, wetting them through. Over the first lap thfere was very little picked up by the different bunches, but when the half-distance had been covered F. Taylor was at the head of the frcmtmarkers, with B. Howie, W. Borland, S. Baird, H. Dwight and J. H. Wade at the head of their respective bunches. Over the third and last laps the back men were gradually overhauling the field, and half-way through the last lap were within striking distance. A mile from the finish a cow crossing the road gave the two scratch riders their chance, and Wade, taking full advantage of the opportunity, jumped through with Whit" tin, and racing all out over the last hundred yards beat him home by three lengths. J. C. Stewart, finishing strongly, finished third, several lengths ahead of Taylor. The time for the race, considering the day, was remarkable, being only 3s outside the course record.