ROAD CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 226, 24 September 1934, Page 12

ROAD CYCLING.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP. O AMARU TO CHRISTCHURCH. TIME HONOURS TO WATSON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCIIURCII. Saturday. The big cycle road race over a course of 170 miles "from Oamuru to Christcliurcli took place to-day. This morning the limit and scratch men were sent off on their long journey by the Mayor of Oamaru. Mr. M K. Coone.v, in the presence of a large crowd of spectators. The weather was line and the riders faced a light northerly breeze. Tt e field, including all of the scratch men. numbered S'.J riders. Holding the lead virtually all the way from Chertsey, -D. Aitken (Kaikoura) won the race over the gruelling course. Aitken and five other riders were bunched when the showgrounds were reached, and they staged a thrilling finish, Aitken being victorious by two lengths. K. Wilklc (Christcliurcli) was second, and 11. W. Wilson (Ivaiapoi) third. Harry Watson gained fastest time from scrarch, finishing in ninth place, only a little over four infinites behind the winner. His time was 7ii 50m ISs. The trophy for winning the race will come as a birthday present for Aitken. who reached his twentieth year to day. Though iiis home is in Kaikoura. :ie has done no riding there, his work having brought him to Addington for the last two years. He Is a former member of the Maireliau Club. His first big race was in the WaimateCliristchurch event two years ago. The winner to-day, off 55.0, caught the leaders on Maronan Road, and then, with J. Campbell (Clirlstchurch) lie led for the rest of the journey. Campbell was unfortunate in having a siiill at the entrance to the showgrounds. The first batch of riders to reach Ashburton arrived at J.lO p.m., comprising G. I.eggctt, J. Campbell. L. Allen, T. D. Flndlay, D. Aitken, Conditions were sultry. Watson, Lamberton, Ralston, three of the eight scratch men, reached Ashburton at 1.33, The finish In Clirlstchurch was as follows :— D. Aitken, Kaikoura, 55.0 1 K. Wilkie, Cliristchurch, 50.0 2 H. W. Wilson, Kaiapoi, 55.0 3 W. E. Dickson, Oamaru 4 G. Young, Temuka {50.0), 8h 25m 3s . 5 E. Armstrong, Southbridge (55.0), Sh 40m 35s . 0 J. Campbell, Christehurch (70.0), Sh CGm 33s 7 A. Ashman. New Plymouth (45.0), 8h 34m 47s 8 Fastest time and championship: H. G. Watson, off scratch. Time, 7h 50m ISs. It was officially announced after the cycle race that Harry Watson would be going to Australia to compete in the Centenary cycle race as New Zealand representative.

AUCKLAND AMATEURS. The A.A.A. and C.C. on Saturday held a 141 miles' time (rial, and a 101 miles junior handicap race. The time trial was run at a fast rate, and the winner, on handicapped times, fully deserved his win. The senior result was :— .Tack Speight (5.30), 42.10 1 Johnnie Garrard (5.45), 42.42 2 Fred O'Gorman (4.45), 42.41 3 Sid Windsor (5.30), 43.29 4 Tom Banfield (4.45), 42.45; Dick Linn (5.30). 43.35; I.es. Moore (5.15), 43.25; Jack Tannahill (3.30), 41.50; Ron. Rolliuson (5.15), 44.00; Harry Webster (1.45). 40.39. Fastest Times.—G. Patrick, 40.20; M. Gamble, 40.31; K. King, 40.30; H. Webster, 40.39. The junior race was over a distance of 101 miles, and Boh Cullen ran away with the race, to win by 33s from C. Vague, last week's winner. I Junior result:— Bob Cullen (2.0). 30.52 1 C. Vague (3.0), 32.25 2 Keith Clark (15s), 30.6 3 G. Ralph (4.0), 34,14 4 Fastest Times.—lv. Clark, 30.G ; Cullen, 30.52 Tucker and Steerc punctured. MANUKAU AMATEURS. After a fine exhibition of distance riding C. A. Clarke won Saturday's race over the harbour course of 44 miles, by a margin of IS seconds from W. E. Dilworth. The event was the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club's fifth annual championship race over the now popular harbour course, which extends from Devonport. Over (lie last three miles the riders had a head wind and on this hard section along the concrete highway Clias. Clarke went away from tiring Dilworth to win by 18s to the accompaniment of a great ovation, which was renewed when Dilworth finished. Keith Clark, and Gordon Cunningham, on an unusually low gear, sprinted for third place. The former won by a length, to finish 51s after winner Clarke. The others filed in at intervals. Johnnie Brown was given a wonderful reception when he headed Tom Nixon in to finish sixtli and to create a new course record. The successful riders were :— Chas. A. Clarke (handicap 12.0), 2h 1 'j»ii 15s * ~ Bill 13. Dilworth (18.0), 21i 18m 33s .. - Keith N. Clark (9.0), 2h 11m 6s : o Gordon H. Cunningham (handicap 15.0), 2m 17m 7s; Reg. T. Baston (0.0). 2h 13m ss; Johnnie Brown (scr). 21i 4m 41s; Tom L Nixon (6.0), 21i 10m 425; Clius. 1. Dwight (4.0), 2h 8m 545; Sel.G. Webster (12.0), 2h 17m 555; Jack W. Clark (6.0), "h 13m 245; Bill It. Walker (lo.O), 2h 23m 225; Bill G. Morris (12.0). 21i 10m 28s; Jack R. Hall (4.0). 2H 14m; I_.es. McFarlalie (6.0), 2h lim 4os; \lv. R. Ellis (6.0), 21i 17m 50s; Cliff Is. Gillespie (9 0) 2h 2C*n 51s; Lcs. H. Dwight (scr). 2h 13m 48s; Fred R. Markhain (6.0), lb 19m 495; Arthur 11. Dwight (1—0), -h 30m 455; I/en Beaiitli (9.0), 21i _7m 4(>s. The fastest time and champion honours were gained by Johnnie Brown, the miniature marvel, whose time. 2h 4ni 41s, reduced the course record by Gordon Patrick by 1.53. Chas. Dwight, 4.0, the junior rider, was second fastest in 2h 8m o4s, and Tom Nixon next in 21i 10m 425.