CHATFIELD'S CAREER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 239, 8 October 1940, Page 10

CHATFIELD'S CAREER.

NEW CYCLING CHAMPION.

SANDERS FIRST TO FINISH IN THE 100 MILES RACE.

Last Saturday's 100 miles amateur provincial cycling chamnpionship race virtually ended the road racing , season in Auckland. Ttlie event was a fitting climax to a most successful season. Of the 62 starters. 42 finished inside the time limit of 37 minutes.

The new provincial champion. D. Chatfleld. of the Manukau Club, commenced racing last season. Although he had ridden some brilliant races at times, his form was erratic, or medium height and light, slim build. Chatfleld made his first bid for supremacy last Saturday when he started the 2.7 miles climb of the Bombay deviation. Team-mate W. Ferguson managed to hold him on the- climb, but Pinfold and Panckhurst eased from then on.

When Chatfleld flashed over the line a length in advance ol Ferguson the title was still In doubt, for he had 10.0 start from the scratch men, and as Jack Partridge. 1939 champion, was 45s faster at the top of the Bombay ascent. Chatfleld spent an anxious ten minutes waiting to see Partridge appear. Partridge, first home of the scratch group, finished 12.46 after Chatfleld. whose time was 4h 39m 12s. In the early stages Chatfleld and Ferguson received great help from F. T. Tredrea. whose early speed told on him so much that he had to ease up before Ngaruawahla. SO miles. In 1939 Chatlield finished twenty-second off 12.0. Race winner R. K. K. Sanders, 27.0, and V. B. Hunt, second off 27.0, shared the lead before covering 45 miles with eight others. Baud. Holden. 1.. Stonex. Barlow, Dimmock. Stewari, Gallagher and Tomlin. Uallagher was first to ease up. then ToniUn diopped back at 70 miles. On the Bombay climb Sanders. Hunt and Baird drew steadily away, and the trio remained together until the sprint, which Sanders easily won Dy iour clear lengths, with Balrd three lengtns lurther back. Winner's Consistency. Now 18, Sanders won his first Junior race in 1938, and was fastest in four Junior events during 1939. He finished thirtieth in the Matamata 100mile event (oil 20.0), and was remarkably fresh. The sturdily-built Hunt, of Matamata. worked well throughout, while Balrd rode one of the best races of his long career, which started In 1927. Balrd, Edgar. Raper, Chas. Clarke and Bill Walker were the only competitors in the race who had competed In the initial 100-mile event of 1933 Raper retired at 11 miles, Clarke finished seventeenth, while Walker was forced to retire at 8 miles with a slipping free wheel clutch. M. Stewart sprinted in a string of 14 riders, to finish 41 seconds behind Sanders. The fastest of this group were S. Downle, Leo Lynam and B Christopher, all off 16.0. In fact Downle was fourth fastest rider in 4h 42m 16s, a fine effort considering he only commenced racing, as a Junior last January. D. S. Aullck and A. E. McEwen tied for the fastest Junior prize with a time of 4h 46m 20s— creditable performances for lads under 18 years although both are heavy, well proportioned athletes. Dunedin Rider Competes. First Lynndale rider In was E. J. Dimmock whose weakness appeared to be hill-climbing for as soon as the climbing started from Pokeno he lost ground Immediately. L. Stonex. third oft 45.0 In the Matamata •■100," Just headed A T Tate, of Dunedin, who considered the course an Ideal one. Purdom, Ellis and O'Shaugnessy gave another fine display of "teaming," and the trio started together and finished In line. The race was free from any spills or mishaps. C. Swinbourn (Matamata) made amends for his fall in his club's race a month ago by clocking 4h 46m 255. G. Simpson-Beer was the best of the 14.0 group. He eventually finished seventh fastest on a single gear, whereas practically every other rider has a three or four-speed gear The scratch men, Partridge, Dutton, Westbury, Barnett, Stonex and Hughes appeared, on paper to be a strong combination, but must have been discouraged by the big gap they had to bridge to their nearest rivals. The race was almost a repetition of the 1935 event, when L. M. Nicholson was fastest off 10 0 in 4h 44m 2s. Partridge was the fittest of the scratch group, and but for slight cramp, following his torrid climb 12 miles from the finish, seconds Instead of minutes would have separated him and Chatfleld. As it was none of the other scratch men were able to catch up to him Partridge will fee contesting the North Island 100mile title in the Palmerston North to Wellington race on October 26, and has excellent prospects.