Cycling.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 249, 21 October 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

Cycling.

Auckland Club Events. Comment on the Classic Race.

Once again tlie big wheel classic road race from Cambridge to Papakura for the North Island and provincial championships is past history, and has proved to be just as successful as events in the past. The race was well organised ami controlled by the Auckland Cycle Club's officials who promoted it, and they are to be congratulated on the success of the race in every way. The ruin, which set in early in the race, was. the only item to mar the day, and thy officials, especially the ladies' committee which supplied the riders with refreshments, hail a difficult task at the finishing ground, Papakura. Forty-five riders started out of 43 entries, and of these 31 linished the course. The Auckland Club, after a lour-year break, managed to supply the winner, Billy Hills (39.0), whose victory was easily the most popular registered since the race was inaugurated. Bill is one of the veteVans of the sport, being 3i! years of age, and lias been in active competition for the past 23 years. This was his tenth attempt to win the race, and easily his best effort yet of a highly successful career. He has figured on marks in the event ranging from'scratch to his present winning mark, and well deserved the congratulations that were showered on him. He was one of the founders of the club, and lias done much for the sport in general. Bill-was a very lit rider for this race, and stepped off his machine quite fresh. His .time was 4h 3m 31s against last year's 4h 26m 465, when lie linished twelfth. Rik' Hansen (14.0), Wliakatane Club, rode a slashing good race to get second, and has proved himself a good mam over a distance, for last year he finished fourth off a 21.0 mark. He has ridden with' a fair amount of success in his club, but this is his best effort yet. Ho will be riding in the Taranaki- 100-miler to-day. His time was 31i 40m 6s. Geo. Green (20.0), third, hails from the same club, and for his initial attempt over this distance made a great showing. He is only 17, but is a solid lad who has a bright future. This pair had a great duel to the line. His time was 3h 52m 7s, winning the prize for fastest rider between limit and half limit, and first under 18. Harry Lewis (36.0), Waharoa Club, was the' Veteran of the field, being 45. He had a bad fall at Pokeno when only 2.0 behind the winner, going strongly. He came in strongly to beat Jack Haigh (14.0), Southland, for fourth place right on the post. This was his last race. Haigh is an old Auckland member who has improved wonderfully, • though he was always a good distance man when here. Lewis clocked 4h ,6m 51s, and Haigh- 3h 44m 525. Doug. Watson (18.0), Te Kuiti, last year's winner, again went well to get sixth, his time being 31i 49m 10.3. A. Ralston (scr), Otago, finished eleventh to secure the championship sash, lowering the 1929 record of 3h 49m 57 l-5s to 3h 34m 19s, averaging approximately 22 miles an hour. He and D. P. Dowman, Taumarunui, rode well together, the champion beating tlie latter in the sprint by a length. Ralston has a fine record in the South. Dowman gained an advantage on the Bombay deviation, but Ralston gradually moved up again and had liis measure ere the finish. S. Sargent and K. McKenzie, both of Auckland, the latter a junior, both went splendid races for riders with so little experience, finishing ninth and fourteenth respectively. The order and times of others to finish from sixth place were: E. Moore, 31i 47m 48s; Iv. Edkins, 3h oSm 31s; S. Sargent, 41i 8m 425; S. Hayes, 3h 47m. 18s; A. Ralston, 31i 34m 19s; D. Dowman, 3h 34m 20s; G. R. Plucke, 31i 45m 275; K. McKenzie, 4h 15m Ss; W. Pratney, 3h 42m 365; W. Green, 3h 56m 375; T. Brown, 41i Cm 6s; D. Aberliart, 31i 39m 6s; G. Hall, 3h 50m 30s; W. Archer, 3n 58m 31s; R. Craig, 31i 55m; F. Fieklsend, 4h 17m;'C. Johnson, 3h 54m Is; C. Eeid, 4h 32m; . F. Lowndes, 4h 26m Is; E. Peterson, 41i 11m 30s; K. Rae, 41i 13m 455; J. Rollerson, 4h 20m 30s; R. Stewart, 41i 40m 2s; S. Litchfield, 4h 14m ss; C. Willcox, 4h 2Sm 30s. .Cec. Johnson encountered bad luck in the Waimate-Christchurcli event, snapping his pedal off at the 100-mile mark when going strongly with the winner, M. Annett. He was seized,with cramp la«t weok.