CYCLE CLASSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 249, 21 October 1935, Page 16

CYCLE CLASSIC.

N.I. CHAMPIONSHIP. HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND. WATSON THE CHAMPION AGAIN. The annual Hamilton to Auckland road race for the North Island and provincial cash cycling championships was held on J Saturday over a course of about 84 miles. A feature of this year'e race was tna; all the 52 entrants pedalled off from a point near the Hamilton North Post Office on their long ride over concrete and bitumen roads to Cornwall Park, where a white line under a bower of beautiful trees marked the finishing point. The field was a thoroughly representative one, the starters being:—

H. G. Wateon (Chrietchurch), L. Thomas (Chrifitchiireh), L. Stevens (New Plymouth), W. P-ratney (Auckland), ecr; H. Eva (New Plymouth), R. Sutherla:.d (Chrietchuich), 11.0; T. Smith (New Plymouth), P. J. Wisnewski (Stratford), 13.0; G. D. Law (Stratford), P. Bicknell. W. Bowers (Auckland), 16.0; S. Sergeant, A. Braes (Auckland), 19.0; S. Hayes, S. Kara, L. Barr (Auckland), 21.0; E. Craig, K. Watson, W. Chisholm (Auckland), 23.0; J. Sampson, K. Edkins (Auckland), 0. J. Laurie (Awakeri), 2C.0; W. Archer, K. Banks, K. McKenzie (Auckland), 29.0; C. Rae, J. Bicknell, W. Hills, A. Mackreii (Auckland), H. Kopu (Pukekohe), 31.0; S. McClean (Pukekohe), H. Farrer, W. Bicknell, L. Craddock (Auckland), T. Thompson (Pukekohe), 35.0; T. A. Coiinell (Pukekohe), M. J. Power (Paeroa), A. Kerr (Auckland), B. Wharerangi (Pukekohe), 39.0; C. Reid, S. Fussell, R. Stewart, L. Cooper, R. Absolum (Auckland), 42.0; E. Redfern, T. Hedlund, B. Sercombe, T. Sheehan, R. Thow, E. dell (Auckland), 45.0; L. Cunningham, B. Horseroft (Auckland), 48.0. The Race Described. By the time the back-markers had eet off those out on front marks had got well past Ohinewai. As the official car passed through Nguruawahia it was noticed that Sutherland and Eva, on the 11.0 mark, had caught up and were riding with the two 13.0 men, Wisnewski and Smith, while further along towards Ohinewai Sergeant, Brass (19.0) had got up with the , 21,0 men, Barr, Kara and Hayes. This bunch went through Rangiriri at 1 p.m., well behind the front men, of course. While riding well through Rangiriri, Thompson, a Maori (35.0), and Sheehan, a youth of 16, were unfortunate to meet with punctures, and were out of the contest because neither had repair outfits.

A big bunch; the first riders to pass through the check station about five miles south of Mercer, was headed by Horseroft, Hobdell, Thow, Sercombe, Headland, Redfern, Absolum, Reid, Cooper and Farrer, followed two minutes later .by Cunningham, riding alone, and then, after a minute's interval, Power and Kerr (39.0) and Fussell (42.0). Shortly afterwards McLean, Council, Fussell and Kerr began to drop back.

Before Mercer was readied P. Bicknell and Bowers, on 10.0, had gained on Brass and Sergeant and Kara and Hayes. Archer withdrew just after passing Mercer owing to cramp. After leaving Mercer the held began to string out more, and it was apparent at this stage that Watson and Thomas, the Rcratch men, were making ground fast. The first to pass through Papakura were Redfern, Hobdell, Stewart, Horscroft and Cunningham at 2.25 p.m., another big bunch being just in behind these riders. Rae, the winner, was riding beautifully on his own, and he passed this township at 2.26 p.m., followed cloeely by Farrer, C. Reid, Absolum, Craddock, Headland and Thow, then a little distance back came Edkins, Sampson, Craig, W. Hill, while at 2.35 p.m. there passed through P. Bicknell, Bowes and Sergeant, and after an interval of a minute, Kara and Barr, Watson and Thomas, the scratch men going through at 2.40 p.m., in company with Eva and Sutherland, the 11.0 men. These four men were going particularly well, as was also "Slater" Hayes, but he had the bad luck to get hie front wheel mixed up with H. G. Watson's back forks and ripped a number of spokes out. This put the popular Hayes out of the race.

At Penrose at 3.7 p.m. Rae was at the head of a bunch comprising Stewart, Cooper and Redfern, and it was then apparent that these riders must be in the money. They ' dropped Absolum about here, after he had been going well. Then came Hobdell, Craddock, Reid, Farrer, Sampson, R. R. Watson (23.0), Bicknell and Craig. While going through Otahuhu young Craddock collided with a van and fell, sustaining one or two broken ribs. Entering Ellerslie and Green Lane before the riders in front turned into Cornwall Park, they had great difficulty ia negotiating the traffic, which was very thick. Rae had a good lead two miles from Cornwall Park and he entered the gates about 400 yards from a bunch consisting of Cooper, Redfern, Stewart, Horscroft, Absolum, Reid and Farrer. Rae was cheered by one of the largest , crowds ever to gather to see this race, as he rode alone into the park. He won by over 300 yards from Cooper, who, in a fine sprint near the post, beat Redfern by three yards. The others came in at intervals of about a minute.

Exciting Duel for Fastest. Brass and Barr, who finished in unimportant places, were both disqualified for hanging on to motor vehicles near Otahuhu. It was a great contest for fastest time and the two championships, Thomcs ridinj? through the park gates a length clear of Watson. Along the 250-yard path to the finishing post both mon sprinted furiously, Watson passing ovar the white line a couple of lengths from hie Christehurch companion. Rae, Watson and Thomas finished remarkably fresh. Watson said he enjoyed tne ride, while Rae, the winner, also made light of his win. Rae left hie bunch of 31 men at Pokeno deviation and picked up the leaders at Papatoetoe. Only 21, this is the third time he has competed in this race The cycle he rode is the identical machine ridden by W. Wordsworth in the Warrnambool-Melbourne road race of 165 miles in 1923 and 1925. Rae is a member of the Gloucester Club. Results: — C. Rae (Auckland, 31.0), 3h 47m 21e . 1 L. Cooper (Auckland, 42.0), 3h 58m 42s 2 E Redfern (Auckland, 45.0), 4h lm 43s 3 B. Horecroft (Auckland, 48.0), 4h 5m 22s 4 R. Stewart (42.0), 4h 0m 51e 5 R. Absolum (42.0), 4h lm 42s 6 C. Reid (42.0), 4h 3m 6s 7 H. Farrer (35.0), 3h 56m 7s 8 13. Hobdell (45.0), 4h 6m 43s 9 K. Edkine (26.0), 3h 48m 525, and J. Sampson (26.0), 3h 48m 52e, deadheat W R. Thow (45.0), 4h Om 8s 12 R. R. Watson (25.0), 3h 47m 2s 13 H. G. Wateon (Christchureh, scr), 3h , 25m 31s ' 1* L. Thomas (Chrietchurch, ecr), 3h 25m 33s , • lo

New Record. Wateon and Thomas both broke the previous record for this race, that of 3u 34m 19s made by A. N. Ralston (Otago) in 1933.

WOMEN'S RECORD.

MRS. HARRISON'S PERFORMANCE. A slim woman and the mother of five children, Mrs. E. Harrison, of New Lynu, established a record for women over the .same course as the cash cyclists from Hamilton to Auckland. Her time for the journey was' 4h 29m 18s. Mrs. Harrison wanted a ride with the men in the professional classic, but her entry was refused by the Auckland Cycle Club. So she' Insisted on riding over the course, and set off at 10.35 a.m. from Hamilton, being officially timed. Riding strongly throughout, and looking remark; ably well, Mrs. Harrison was cheered as she pedalled into Cornwall Park some time before the riders in the big race put in an appearance.