CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1938, Page 18

CYCLING.

NORTHERN CLUB.

JOHNSTON "ROUND THE HARBOUR" CHAMPION.

A WIN FOR LTTDUUK.

The first club to decide its championship race on the full "round the harbour" course of 44 miles was the Northern, which held its third annual race over this popular rotite last Saturday. From Devonport to Riverhead the 17 starters had to contend with head winds of varying degrees. It was over this section that the scratch men. Jack Johnston, Arnie Keith and Jack Partridge, gained considerable ground. Partridge was not tit enough to accompany Johnston and Keith tmther than Albany Hill, 17 miles, but so last were the other scratch riders that they hud caught Webb. Cunningham and O'Corinan before reaching Riverhead, 24 miles.

One,, they had the 3m group Johnston and Keith had nothing to worry about as far as time honours were concerned, but the pare never slackened, with the result that they were able to gather in all the Held except T. Tunhfld. off 12m. T.inflelci was an easy winner and deservedly so. for he rode the last l."> miles alone at the head of the field. Only a junior. Tanfield displayed splendid stamina. Light in build. O'Ciormnn packs a wonderful sprint and this enabled him to lead Johnston and Webb in for second position. Johnston won the championship in 2h 9m 26s by lin |<Vi from Keith, who slowed over the last few miles. The previous week Johnsti.n won the club's unpaced event. He is developing into- a fine stayer and with a little more experience should qualify for the scratch mark next season.

Webb rode another hard race. His powers of endurance are unquestioned, but concentration on sprinting would help him to reap more rewards for his unselfish p.icinsr effort*. Gordon Cunningham was iinluckv in falling on the rough section near Brigham's Creek, when a car slowed abruptly in his path. His father was driving, so that's that!

TliP smallest field ever to contest the animal Maniik.iu Club race started in last week's thirteenth event. Twenty-one competed and interest was detracted before tlio initial lap ended for the scratch srroup. Triner-, Thomas. Langridpe and Mvnott were all delayed when Mynott fell. By his convincing win W. O'Shanjflinessy almost wrested the Kohn points run from V. Thomas, who had 12 point*. O'Shanchnessy i« one of the club's best short distance riders, while he rode promisingly in the massed start race until the distance started to tire him. W. Aldred was second after his beet effort to date. Alilred and 'Crocker teamed well in the Captain's Cup rare and should be prominent in the handicap portion of the chainnio.iship race next Saturday. Rav Whitley became a bit disgusted with his ridinz a month back, but two thirds in succession have helpe<l him considerably. Tn lftV) ho won the club's title race from Gilbert Piirdom. who was fastest last week in 40.48 after a keen duel with W. H. M. White. Many Successes. So superior i« D. J. H. Patten, of the Beach Haven Club over any of his club mates that he has been first and fastest from scratch in more races than any other

Auckland rider during the present season. 1 Three years in succession he has won hie club'e championship event. In open competition he has proved himself by four platings. In 1935 he finished second to Triner in the 44 miles. Other riding times last Saturday were:—R. Chetwynd, who turned 18 years of age last Thursday, 62.47; J A. Manis, 63.54; T. E. Wright, &>.49; C. I French. 66.33: L. K. Elia, 67.36, and J Perry. 68.7. Just failing to catch liraitrider Allan Osborne by 21s, Ray Atkinson outclassed the rest of the field to finish second and fastest in 50.59 tor the IB miles. Scratch rider A. Bews was 33s slower. Win Was Overdue. Jim Ludlam's win in the Papatoetoe Clubs 33-miler over the Clevedon course wae a popular one. for Ludlam has ridden consistently during the last two years with very little success. The Manurewa rider YV. Ferguson, off 1.30, established fastest time in 01.39. which compares favourably with M. C. Johnson's time of 90.51 in the May race over the same route. Ferguson is one of the club's beet distance men. and he should be well placed in the 100miler this year, for he broke 4h 50iu last year.

(iood team work by A. Bramley and S. Brown in the 'J'akapuna Club's 23-niiler to Albany and back gained for these rider* the first two place*, and fastest time for Bramley. who has ridden prominently in cliib races this year, but hae not been at all brilliant in open races. Provincial Championship. The sixth annual 100-mile provincial -l>..inpionship race will be decided nest Saturday week over the Papakura-Ngairia-wahia-Papakura course. J. Brown, of the Mannkau Club, holds the record in 4h 28m 2-V. hut it is not anticipated that this will be improved upon this year, for it is doubtful it better weather condition's could ever prevail again. The first 14 men to finish will gain awards, also the three fastest, while eiuht special trophies are offered. Unlike previous races a rider this year can take all trophies he qualities for. as the old condition, one rider one trophy, has been outruled.

Aβ the Xew Zealand road championship event of 62 miles falls on election day there may be a change of com we to avoid main road traffic. Each centre is limited to three riders each, and the three Aueklanders will be announced a week prior to the event.

Graham Hushes and Hriddon Hawke will be competing in the North Island championship event at Hastings next Saturday, while G. Amey and R. Dutton will be Wellington's strongest representatives.