HILLS IS FIRST AND FASTEST IN CENTRE CONTEST OF 23 MILES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 194, 18 August 1942, Page 7

HILLS IS FIRST AND FASTEST IN CENTRE CONTEST OF 23 MILES

The Northern Club's hilly course at Te Papapa was used by the Auckland Cycling Centre for its events last Saturday. The course particularly appeals to a rider who can battle along on his own. In the latter category is V. A. Hills, Manukau Club, who won, and also made the fastest of the 25 seniors. Hills took 70.24 for the 23 miles.

.. T , he J stre ? uous na ture of the circuit is best cvfiw . \ e:l Hills' effort is compared with Snilton s ride of 23'.2 miles over the flat Papa- !° e '??. cou rse in 62.51. Shilton was second fastest J „ last Saturday, but took 71.14. Hills w ™ wlth J. Tredrea and J. Hill (off 1.0), due on the second lap he went away on his own. ;?rot S . p h lte^5 f combined efforts of the four ft rßf Shilton, O'Gorman, Hawkes and wn£ v? y could n °t make any impression on mils, who was making every use of his threespeed gear.

In the previous open events Sam Sargent (3.0) appeared to be too heavily handicapped. With v. a . ?; or J h y team mate as Jim Ludlam he rode his best race of the season, finishing second ?i», r - a against the younger Hills. . n ca , I ~ ~ m , was , third in two events of 0 ™ Ues . so far he has indicated him,,?A th ® P',!* of the Papatoetoe road riders 1942 - P- N - Pinfold, 1941 100 miles Champion, will have to train hard to displace Ludlam. A Gallant Rider J- Garrod, fourth, and C. H. Plcknell, who punctured on the final round, were the two leaders when the last lap was commenced. Had it not been for Picknell's misfortune, he must nave won according to his previous laps. However, Picknell has had many such misfortunes in racing, none of which seem to discourage him. lie won his last open event in 1937 (the Takapuna 02-miler) when, curiously enough, over 20 riders had punctures — even J. Brown, who was m /i le re cord time of 2h 37m 40s. R. G. wnitley (4.0) was placed at a disadvantage from tne start, for he had no co-markers yet finished riith. He should be in his element next Saturday j i® Ellis Cup race of 36 miles, over an out-and-home course. Considering he has not raced for over two years R. W. G. Alexander (Papatoetoe) did well to dispose of Jack Stonex and A. Docherty. the other limit riders. Life in the R.N.Z. Navy has not given G. Simpson-Beer many opportunities to train, but a Jc te = few v *' eeK -Gay rides he elected to start on 5.0 Dropped by Stewart, O'Shaughnessy and k ni 1 on t e first l a P» he displayed the' real Dulldog spirit by finishing, even though last.

Hanc:capper Flatters Tascoe « Junior 15*2 miles event resumed in a close finish between seven riders. The Northern junior. S G lbson <B.o> had a far better knowledge -j course than C. A. Flinkenberg, second, J*' , Jense ». third. This fact was clear when the final rush for the line started on the uphill against the wind, when Gibson shot out at the last moment to outdistance Flinkenberg, who had a good team mate in R. Jensen. T. Hailord is a promising recruit. Roricli. White an <j, Pearse trailed behind the winner. Of the rear division, A. I. Bishop was outstanding from scratch. Even a puncture and a slight delay while he changed to another cycle—permissible by the rules—uid not prevent him from being fastest in 42.2. The small circuit evidently did not suit A. Wilson, third fastest off 30s. J. Caudwell, Northern, was second fastest in 42.33. The junior unpaced champion of ISS2, S. Pascoe, was given a difficult task for a first season rider, for he was placed on scratch. He was no match for Bishop, who rode away from him on the first round.