CENTRE CYCLING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 238, 8 October 1942, Page 7

CENTRE CYCLING

SHILTON WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

BISHOP FIRST TO CROSS LINE

The 1942 Auckland provincial amateur champion - ship road race, held by the Auckland Cycling Centre last Saturday, lacked the enthusiastic atmosphere associated with all the previous annual events held since the institution ol the 100 miles race in 1933. Undoubtedly the nature of the circular course of 21 miles distracted interest, for seven miles of metalled surfaces had to be covered each lap, whereas the 100-mile race of the past nve years has been over sealed roads. Many experienced mechanical mishaps, and six riders were delayed with punctures.

There were 30 starters and 17 finished. D. White (Manukau) and N. Gibson (Northern) were the nrst to start. They had 35 minutes' start from the scratch group, F. C. Clinton (Wanganui), J. S. O Gorman (Northern), C. W. Shilton. G. A. Hawkes and A. W. Stonex (Manukau Club).

The event concluded with a stirring sprint between eight proven distance riders, Bishop. Sargent. Picknell, Purdom, Ringrose. Whitley, O Shaughnessy and Aldridge, who went over the line in that order. Over the last 150 yards there was considerable shuffling for positions, and much unsteady sprinting owing to the narrow concrete finishing strip.

A. I. Bishop, race winner off 10.0, came with a lightning flash at the very last moment to snatch victory by mere inches from Sargent, with Picknell and Purdom almost alongside Sargent. Considering the race was over 63 miles, the finishing speed was remarkably swift. Prior to last week's event Bishop had not performed with much brilliance during the winter months, although fastest In the opening junior event of the Manukau Club last April when he covered 10 miles In 26.47. His time for the 63 miles was 2h 59m 555, and besides gaining the trophy for first place, he also collected the fastest Junior prize and yet another for the first Onehunga rider to finish. Bishop favours fairly high gears and in the wind-assisted finish he found them to advantage. Eighteen-year-old V. A. Hills finished like a champion, and rode faultlessly. He completely overshadowed the rest of the six-minute group, Tredrea, Bartley. Ludtam and J. Hill, who punctured. He was third fastest in 2h 57m 48s.

Shilton had been riding so conspicuously during the season that his winning of the title was naturally anticipated. In the past month he was fastest in all three of the harbour races of 39 miles, and only lost the unpaced title ta O'Gorman by Is over a. 25-mlles course. Shilton did not have his usual trouble-free run, for on the first lap he fouled another rider and buckled a front wheel. The mishap occurred not far from where J. Stonex was repairing a punctured rear tube, so the latter loaned his front wheel to Shilton. Even with the delay. Shilton recaught the other scratch men. His time for the 63 miles was 2h 55m 355. Of the scratch group he and G. A. Hawkes finished together, but Shilton was too powerful a finisher for Hawkes and coasted over the line.