CYCLE RACING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 9

CYCLE RACING.

♦ CANTERBURY ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP. The road championship cycle race, of thiity-sis miles, was held under th:> auspices of the Southbridge Athletic Ciub on. Saturday. Tho championship title was gained by L. W. Hill, who rode from scratch, and wae tho Eecond last man to'finish. S. Arnst, who finished last, gained tho av.-avd for second fastest time. Contrary to cußtom at Southbridge, tho rac.i ws,s run over short laps of sit miles. Though conditions as a whole were good, the roads were rough and dusty, and there was a good deal of loose shingle. Mr Vv. J. Walter (preeident of the North Canterbury Centro of the Athletic and Cycling Union), Mr P. C. Lucas (secretary), and Mr G. Henderson (a member) assisted the Southbridge officials. There were fifty-nine starters out of an entry of sixty-sis. Th<* three limit men, Hill, Hants, and Lambie, who wore all district riders, completed the first lap half a minute before tho scratch men, Watson, L. W. Hill, and Arnst, had started. In the second round, the scratch men gained three seconds, in the third lap thoy lost a second, and in the fourth lap gained seven.seconds, being lmin 22sec behind. Up to this point, the three limit men maintained their lead. but at the commencement of the fifth lap, Lambie had pulled out, and Hill and Hantz rode together. At the end of the lap, L. W. Hill and H. G. Watson were lmin Ssec behind, their time up till then being*. 92min 57sec. At tho commencement of tho third la»\ the limit men had ridden 49min 66soc, at the fourth lap 67min 6sec, and tho .fifth lap .84min 23sec, when Lambie was missing.. The other two, Hill_ and Hantz, rode on to victory. Hill covering the distance in 102niin lTaec, and Hanta being a fifth.of a second behind. The order of finishins was as follows: B. Hill (Southbridge) (17rJiii). lhr 42min •; 17sec .. .. " ' :. '..' -1 L. Hants (Lakeside) (17rain),. lhr 42rmn 17 l-ssec ... . - ■ • ■■ " \V. G. Watt (Christchurch) (Omin), lhr SErain SCsec .... ■• ... 3 G Korton(Ashbnrton) (tjjmin), lhr s<min 0 l-ssec > '.•.-■ ■ ■ ... ■■■> ■■■•••. * ■W K. Weir (Riccarton) (smhi),. lhr Stain oil 2-osec ... ... •'• •• S I''. Dawson '(Christchurch) •■■(Stain), lhr ■_ 36min SO 8-seoc .. - • ■ '.. ■" 6 H Crofts (Christchurch) (Brain), lhr S2rnin 30 4-ssec '.'. •■'■.■ ■■.'<■ S. A. Pluck (Rakaia) (Sjmin), lhr Sormn •iCsec .. •• .. '8 L. S. Fleaiinsr..(Christchurch) (llmin),. lhr ' .. 58min ; 3ds<jc ••• •■ ■■-■" 9 A. E. Frandsen (Christchurch) -..<TJmia), lhr 35min ISsec ... .. ■"■ •• .19 L Mori-lock (Fendalton) (Simin),-4.hr 3*5 iiiiri 30sec ". .. '•• ' ■• •• H' 11 Brings (Xew Brighton) (ejmin), lhr ci-inin'-41 1-os-h? ... •• -.'13 E. C. Pcarce (Doylestor.) • (14mir.), lhr . 43min 6sec •• •• ..18 K G. Watson (Cust) (lOmih). lhr 36mia 25sec ..- • •- "•• •• 14--V. S. Hodse. (Christchurch). (12min), lhr' __. iimin 26sec '•• .' .. 15P. G. Hack (TaldhurM) (lOmin), lhr 39min 3Csec ... •• ..16 Seventeenth to twenty-seventh ' places were gained by W. A. Muir Sockburn) 7Jmin. A. B. Vince (Doyleston) 14min, W. J. Lamberton. (Christchurch) 2mjn, E. «11. McKaskeli (Christchurch) 3min, C. J. Sowden (Christ-ol-vreh) 4min.- M. P. Leather) (Christchurch) 4uv'n, L. G. Lukey (Aiaberley) 2min, L. W. Hill (Sew Brighton) acr, and S. AiCßt (Chriitcburch) ■ scr. ' v .

Hill gained fastest time (lhr ,Somin 61m>>), and Arnat, eecond fastest (lhr Slmin 63 1 63CC/.

R. G. Watson gained a the fastest man unplaced, from ten minutes. The winner of the race received £l7, the ssecond man £8 10s, and tho third to bevent 1 ' rcon 6maller prizes. Tho winner of fast turn, received £&, and the second fastest man £2.

When the two leading men crossed the line, they wore loudly cheered by tho large crowd of spectators, gratification being felt that local riders had won tho race. Both men had previously competed in district :tces conducted, by the Athletic Club by way of training for the bis- event. The competitors and officials woro served with afternoon tea, after which, at tho Town Hall, Mr H. G. Hubbard, on behalf of the club, called L. G. Hill, the winner of fastest time, to be decorated with the blue riband. This ceremony was performed by Mrs Hubbard, and Hill fittingly acknowledged the honour. Mr Hubbard thanked the visiting officials i'or their presence and assistance. Mi W. J. Walter thanked tho Southbridge lcdies for their hospitality, and also the local officials He espressod pleasure,Jn the fact that local riders had been placed first, and called for cheers for the Southbridge Club, the outside men heartily responding. In the evening, tho club held a successful dunce.

-AMATEUR FIFTY-MILE RACE. A- large number of people assembled at Prebbleton on Saturday afternoon to witness the 50-milo road race promoted by the Prebbleton Amateur Sports Club. The courfie was around a block of approximately 17 miles, which had to be traversed three times. Commencing in front of tfte. blacksmith's shop, the route followed Church road to Templlton, then along the Main South road as far as Rollcston, returning by Boundary road and Springs road. With the exception of the stretch between/fenvpleton and Rolleston, which is paved in concrete, tho roads were rough. Boundary road had a heavy coating of crushed shingle, and the Tidets had to "negotiate this stretch of about five miles 13. single file, using the, tracks that had boen made by motors. The riders had great difficulty in passing one another in order .to take'their lap 3. Abo* seven miles from . the finishing post, P. J. Grose, while endeavouring to pass J. L. Richards, skidded in the loose shingle and fell heavily. He was unconecious lor a short time, his hand and eide "being badly- bruised.' . ... ■ Portv-Eeven riders, including P. L. and B\ D. Roboon, from- Napier,, who aro down to participate in the Eound-the-Gorges race, faced the starter. F. J., Grose,'J.-.L. Richards,, and K. G. Liing'e were 'on scratch, and were conceding 24min to the two limit ridors, A. C. Hands and. A. H." Rogers. There wars break of Bmih before the second bunch of seven left, and" then breaks of Cmin for the nest three bunches.

Hands and'Ro»ers completed the-first HP' in sSn'iin 50sec. A. little over 3 Join later followed A". Ayers, .W. Skidnwfe, S. 3.. Barlow, and 8. Weir. These riders Sad. gained nearly five, minutes on tho leaders during the lap/-The" next to-.pass, were"l. .J. .Lester,.- E.. Rhodes; and J. Wihtorburn, f« I.4aiji, : having covered the 17 miles in 50min losee. - W. P. Wil'coeksotv W. ;A. Ch'ristensen, and. H., .C. tasher; oS Eimm looked 88 if. they were- to be serious competitors 'for fastest tjnie. The? covered the lap in 4lmiu, being a second (aster than tho .scratch"' riders." The' rough' course was responsible for a- large number of punctures, while others finding it a bit. strenuous retired early. S. Campbell (3miu) ...paneturod. half-way round the first lap. and nine others withdrew for'various reasons.. A little over half-way round the second lap the second bunch caught th.e leaders,.and in fuming into: Springs road Sfcidmore and. Ayres;hod a lead of a hundred yards . from . Lester, with Handr about ISO yards .behind. By this time the riders, were veil strung out, *with..the buck-markers. gradually gcttitfg' \jtj. - Ayres and- Sfcidmore-:- (16min) - were- leading *t the

end of the lap, having covered it in 52mm 50soc. Lester and Hands passed 35sec later. B. Slack and H. Quill (lOmin) and C. G. Deans and G. R. Giles <l2min) followed 2Jmin later. About- three-quarters of a minute later a bunch of seven passed, Wilcockson, Basher, and Christensen being with them. Grose and Eichards passed 2mln 88seo later, having gained 23seo on Wileockson^. Had company during the lap. K. Lange Had a puncture, after having ridden over thirty miles. There were now only eighteen riders left in the race. With ten miles to go, riding on tho concrete road, Hands and Lester had again caught -the leaders. After passing Rollestou Wileockson, Basher, and Christensen caught the leaders. There were now three b!U*thes, nine in the first, then three, and the two scratch' men, who' were barely a minute behind. At times on the concrete they were doing upwards of 30 miles an hour. A few miles beyond this Grose, while going out to take his lao.Jell and was injured. Richards returned and attended to bis co-marker. Tho accident unfortunately robbed them of the fastest time which they had in hand by a good margin. There was great excitement at the finish, both sides of the roadway being lined with people. About half a mile from'the line Wileockson was leading the bunch, but Christensen came up on the. outside and crossed the line a length ahead, with Basher a similar distance away in third place. The times and placing* were as follows: — W. A. Christenßen (Smin), 2hrs 26min 24 2-ssec , .. '• - • • 1 W. F. Wileockson (Smin), 2hrs 36min 25sec .. • • .. 2 H. C. Ba3her (3min),-2hrs 26min 26sec 3 J. M. Wilson (9mln), 3hrs S2min 27sec 4 S. Conway (9mm), 2hrs SSmin 2Ssec .. 5 I. J. Lester (14min), 2hrs 87min 29see 6 R. F. Dunlop (9mln), 2hrs 32min 29 4-ssec .. .• .. 7 B. Slack (lOmin), 2hrs 32min 40seo . . 8 C. G. Deans (12min), 2hrs SSmin 40 , l-ssec .. .. . . » H. W. Skidmore (16min), 2hrs 42min. 20 t . sec .. ... .. ' .. 10 A. GV. Hands (24mic), .2hrs . SOmin . 20, •l-ss6c . . . . . . 11 V. Ayres (16min), 2hrs 42min. 30 4-seeo 12 J. L. Richards (ser), .2hrs . 28min 53 3-ssec ' .. .. ..13 H. Quill (lOmin), 2hrs 49min ..14 Fastest time was registered by W. A. Christensen, and second fastest by W. F. Wileockson. Tho prise for the.-flrst'local rider to finish was won by V. Ayres. - After the race the president of the club (Mr G. Hancox) presented the.prizes and thanked 1 the officials of the Papanui Amateur Sports .Club for their assistance.