WAIMATE – CHRISTCHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

WAIMATE - CHRISTCHURCH.

The Southern Road Classic.— Nearly 150 Start. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) WAIMATE, this day. In a blaxing sun, making one of the hottest days of the season, 131 riders started on "the 145-mile cycle road race to Christchurch from Waimate. The six limit men left at 5.15 a.m., and the four scratch riders at 9.30 a.m. Non-starters among the entries were: — Pluck, Donaldson, Ellis. Metcalfe, Ling, MeNickel, McCaw, Marks and Burgess. The winner, Annett, oft Mini, gained a definite lead in the rough shingle between Soekb i! rn and tlie Showgrounds. He finished strongly, a comfortable winner from Poekson, off 00m, after a gruelling race. Wilson, with < ily loin, rode well to secure third place. Annett is 22 years of age. 11. G. Watson, in securing the fastest time of Oh 19m 1225, established a record' for tlie event. He has now secured the fastest time in each of the four Waimate to Christchurch events. Annett's riding time was Oh 45m 53?'. and Poekson's was 7h 15m 355. Watson, who made the fastest time, was eleventh home. S. V Jordan, off 10m, secured the second fnnte-i lime, Oh 32m 3-ls, and L. G. Lukoy, of iU:n, the third f.uiest, i-1 Oh 38w -ss.

Was Colour Line Drawn? The question is being asked "whether the colour line was drawn in to-day's road race. To Some observers it appeared that a young Chinese, Percy Chew Lee, who led a good part of the distance, did not ride solo altogether from choice. There were times wlien lie was riding with other competitors, and, on these occasions, lie seemed to get more than liis share of the bad patches of the road. More than once it seemed that lie was forced into deep shingle, and with some riders hq did not appear to he welcome as a team mate.

It was obvious that tlie Chinese rider had a more comfortable ride when he went solo. lie made more progress and was able to keen clear of any treacherous portion of the road surface. It was cramp that finally put him out of the running near Selwyn.