OHOKA AND EYRETON SPORTS CLUB.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17645, 23 December 1922, Page 7

OHOKA AND EYRETON SPORTS CLUB.

_* TWENTY MILES CYCLE ROAD RACE. On Thursday evening the eecond road cycle I race promoted by the Ohoka and Eyreton Sports Club was held. Thirty-two entries had been received, mostly from competitors in Oholia and the surrounding districts, but included several riders of note from Christchurch. Unfortunately the day turned into one of the worst nor'-westers experienced U'is summer, and in consequence several competitors failed to appear at the starting p.-it. Promptly at 6.45 the limit men were got away l»y r Geo. Begg, and minutes iiuer the last of tne '2ti liiirters v.as uncicr The course v/as round a. five-uii.e b.oca lairly weL sheltered irom tile wind 011 ;ue two longer 6wes, but witu one 'iu cu-ia length wmch iiad to ue peuuhea, along m.utf time 3 head.on u> tne nor -wester, ana iiuaUy eprinted along as the flushing ttr:u o iit. 'me limit men inane Uie pi.ee Iwi, ana by Uie I end of tne urat two rounds liie back j had only made up out ol tne 6J minutes' start. At the ena of tne thira round it "»as apparent that tne back-mark men, IJ.1 J . 111-* , ai.d A. Leathern, hfd no chance of winning, as they were two minutes behind the leading buuch of eight ridqj'3. 'liiougi the wind had ia-ien daring the evening, there was sail , & lair breeze, and needless to ta£, alter a I grueiling llnisli up the straight in ;he t«i;th | of the wind ior the lourth tone, the p.ated ! men fuily earned their winnings of £'a, £3, 1 fttd £1 10s respectively. The finish was a splendid one, and out of a bunch of eight who hung together al! along tho last) length, 0. Oilord (ojmin; eventually pushed hiinaelf to the front, with J. Liil (4Jmin) half a wheel behind, and L. Baker (omin) a close third. The fastest time was done by P. Hill, who pedalled the whole distance of 20j miles in 54} minutes, ar.d won the gold medal presented by Mr Geo. Begg. Hia pace in passing tho winning post wae an eye-opener those present. The , event created a great deal of interest in tin district, people ccming in by trap tnd mci.r from all around, and a gathering of at least 200 must have been present. The evening *u concluded by a dance promoted by the

local . Cricket. Chib, and vrhich «.d mo3t successfully despite th'» ".vorxii Tjr.?' Before the race many "f the y:<«i*ir£ cyclists examined the r.ew sn tiic !.»>■ main, and obtained a very :*ipreesion of its possioili'ii'? if; ri-gjfl '.o record-breaking at the sports to *,c h»l«l *.(ipr» on Xew Year's Day. S'•»<•!»'. tTk-s " 'h* cycle events were received in ♦