SURPRISE BY HERK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 165, 15 July 1941, Page 10

SURPRISE BY HERK

UNPACED CYCLE RACE

BEATS LYNNDALE SCRATCH RIDER Ideal weather favoured cyclists last Saturday. Principal of the local events was the Lynndale Club's unpaced championship of 22J miles for its senior riders. The defeat of scratch rider J. Hill by R. T. Herk was a complete surprise, as Hill had to concede the winner three minutes in the sealed handicap run in conjunction. Herk's time of 67.21 was 35s better than that returned by Hill. Herk has shown progressive improvement throughout this season. In the first open race of 33 miles he was 2oth, in the next seventh, and in the 44 miles event a fortnight ago he sprinted in with the leading group to be fifth. With Herk displaying such good form the hopes of the Lynndale Club are raised for the annual Hope-Gibbons Shield contest next month. Lynndale won it in 1938. Bowker And Garrod Win A big field competed for the President's Cup race conducted by the Northern Club over the Howlck (23 miles) course. On such a last day the long markers were placed at an advantage, and iook every opportunity offered by teaming. S. Bowker and veteran S. Thompson, ofl 7.30. paced all the way together, overhauled V. Ivey, brother ol the 12-hour record holder, en route, and in the final sprint Bowker headed Thompson ana Ivey. both solid plungers. . Junior T. Oarrod leu no doubt* about his ability as a road rider when he outsprinted L. Lynam (third in the 44 miles event the previous week) and T. J. Aldrldge. to be fastest in 60.42. In fact, Aldrldge had to ease up over the last mile and was 9s slower than Garrod. who was the best Junior in the last open race of 30 miles. Lynam appeared under-geared In the final sprint, ' but he gave real stinging, pace to his co-markers ° V ln preparaUon es lor the Junior 25 miles unpaeed championship on August 2, the Manukau Juniors were put over the hilly five, miles course on Saturday. Four laps (20 miles) had to be covered, but only ten of the sixteen entrants completed the distance. B. Rattray and N. I. SokoUch were evenly matched. Rattrays easy, smooth style of pedalling gave him only a slight advance of nine seconds on Sokolich. who is a forceful plodder. A. I. Bishop exceeded all his past efforts by being third fastest, and this wiry little rider showed fine stamina. K. T. Saunders was disappointing considering his previous efforts. R. D. Herrick (66.41) and D. Stewart (66.58) lapped consistently. W Ashton started off faster than any. but a very slow final lap made his time 67.45. Shllton's Warm-up Fatal! A short race of 15 miles for the Manukau seniors drew 21 starters. M. C. Johnson. N. F. Harvey, D. S. Aulick. A. W. Stonex and C. W. Shilton started from scratch, with limit riders. Ryder and Hawkes on 5.0. Long markers established supremacy after three laps (7',b miles). S. H. Bishop, brother of the Junior handicap winner. was the nimblest of the leading group and won by a clear length from A. S. Walsh and W. Timmlns two riders who left such hardened road riders as C. A. Clarke (who first raced in 1926). R o. Whitley and W. R. Walker. The last-named Koes into overseas camp this week-end, so will miss the Ellis Cup race next Saturday. Of the scratch riders. Shilton lost any chance he had by going for a short warming-up ride, only to see the other three leave when he was 100 yards in arrears. However, he did a lap in 636 to their 6.26 in his forlorn chase. Aulick and Johnson fell back before ten miles, leaving Harvey and Stonex to battle for time honours. Their finish was exceptionally close, but Harvey's swift pedalling gained the placing. D. M. MeGrath one of the club's best Juniors two seasons ago finished with the scratch pair and displayed rare speed considering he was having his second outing.