STIFF COURSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 269, 14 November 1939, Page 12

STIFF COURSE.

BIG CYCLING EVENT. N.Z. ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP. HULS SUIT C. M. HANSON. Since the New Zealand amateur road championship title was initiated in 1937 under massed start conditions over a course of 62' A miles it seems to have been the policy of each provincial centre to choose as difficult a course as poesible. Apart from a little shingle, the 1937 race in Canterbury lacked severity; then Auckland last year, when J. Brown won, chose a difficult and fairly rough road course. But Wellington, geographically favoured with its faille and winds, must be given the palm for the course chosen for the 1939 event last Saturday. It was from Petone, over the Maungaroa Range—a mere 860 feet high—then over the Rimutaki Hill, 1780 feet, and back to Petone. The descent down the Featherston side demanded real Tour de France style riding and then the riders turned back to face the other extreme, the ascent. Then the Maungaroa Range again, and thence along the flats into Petone. Naturally nn Otago rider would be at home on the hills, and so it proved, for C. M. Hanson won after a worthy display of sheer stamina and determined sprinting in which he just, beat H. R. Dutton, of Wellington, and J. W. Partridge, of Auckland, who were together at the close. The rest were well hack. Hanson was third in the ten-mile track championship this year. He won the 50-mile South Island title last September at Invercargill, when he clocked 2h 13m 555. He comes from Dunedin, and thus has long been a master of the art of hill climbing. Dutton is an extremely consistent rider and has been prominent "in all three massed start national races. He was fourth to Frank (.rose in the 1337, second to J. Brown in the 1038, and again this year Just failed in the all-Important sprint. Partridge Unfortunate. J. W. Partridge was unfortunate to be delayed at the foot of the ltiimitaka Hill, and only by sheer hard riding on the almost

perpendicular return over it did he overhaul Hansen and Putton. S. F. Harvey. of Auckland, broke a toe strap on the Maungaroa Range. and the handicap proved too much for him, while E. 1,. G. Hughes also disappointed. Next year tlie national event will probably be in th«' South Island, and if tlie centre controlling try to find a harder course than last Saturday's then it will mean a crossing of the Alps. The Lynuilaie Club is making good use of its new track nt New Lynn, and the fast riding has helped to improve many of its members. C. R. Gooder (scr) dashed brilliantly through the field in his beat of the half-mile, hut a similar effort in the final only failed when G. W. Clark and P. Wrnthall intervened. Gooder led into the straight, but Clark, with his high gear, came past with Wratlinll in tow to win by half n length In 65 l-ss. Clark has ridden well throughout tlie three meetings on the track, but Wrathall caused a complete surprise.

The five-mile event, with 13 starters, was both fast and hard, and only six riders survived the gruelling pace. Interest was held throughout for Barnett and Baldwin only caught the leaders with half a mile to go. Impetuous as ever, Baldwin led out early, but the head wind on the back straight must have sapped his energy for he could not stave off the challenges of Barnett and Clark up the long finishing stretch. However, the finish was a line abreast one and Barnett just led by inches from Clark, mill the younger Baldwin alongside. Evening Meetings. The evening meetings at Ellerslie." Papatoetoe, Oneliunga, Otaliuliu and Papakura are now in full swing. So far P. 15. Knight is the leading rider at Papakura, while It. T. Taylor is the Papatoetoe ace. Honours are fairly even at Kllerslie and Onehunga R. Partridge, younger brother of the road crack, won the mile at Kllerslie in the fast time of 2-5. M. C. JoTinson and C. H. Picknell fought out a hard finish in the two miles after a very slow pace. Johnson won and appears as if he has mastered the grass track better than any of the other back markers. At Onehunga C. H. Picknell was in form with a win and a second, while J. (Juppy, now a senior, displayed fine speed in the mile. The North Lsland road champion. J. A. Robertson, appears as if he will win through to track honours this season, for at Te Awamutu last weeK lie won the one mile and half-mile events from scratch and was second to V. Veen ill the two miles. Robertson is a strong and natural sprinter. The Tuesday and Thursday evening events at the Western Springs Stadium have only received meagre support, and no wonder with so many meetings to choose from. C. R. (Jooder won the first two miles race and I<\ Tredrea was second. Tredrea appears to have the best track prospects of the Manukau riders, since J. H. Gillbanks lias decided to rest this year. 1). M. Mc(iratli won the second event and his 4.15 is the fastest, for the season for two miles. JlfMirath is small but muscular in build, and has the right temperament for a track rider for he is quick to make and act upon a decision. The first scratch race meeting of the season will be held at the Papatoetoe track on December l', and two events will be decided in each of the four grades. season the I>ynndale Club won the series, and has good prospects of retaining the shield again this season.