CYCLING NATIONAL ROAD TITLES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27465, 27 September 1954, Page 12

CYCLING NATIONAL ROAD TITLES

L. D. PAYNE WINS SENIOR EVENT G. ULMER TAKES JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 26. The 22-year-old Palmerston .North rider and Empire Games representative, L. D. Payne, regained his New Zealand road cycling title when he won the senior 100 miles event at Paremata on Saturday from last year’s winner, N. Geraghty (Waikato). The junior event of 25 miles was won by the 16-year-old Wellington champion, G. Ulmer, who is a son of a former New Zealand track champion, R. Ulmer. A notable absentee in the senior event was P. E. Baird (Auckland), also an Empire Games representative, who was second last year. The third place-getter was K. Leggett, a Scot who has not long been in New Zealand. He wore Wellington colours. With a strong northerly wind to contend with, the riders found the conditions arduous and testing. Only eight of 34 starters finished in the senior event, which was confined at the finish to four competitors. There was a field of 43 in the junior event, and more than half crossed the finishing line. The senior eyent was over 12 laps. Twelve riders were dropped in the shingle in the first lap. Half-way through the second lap, G. Tovey and R. Williams (Wellington) broke away from the field. By the sixth lap, they had a lead of 4min 46sec, and their effort to retain this became one of the features of the event.

In the eighth lap. Williams was out alone, lmin 20sec rhead of Tovey, and followed by a bunch of riders led by E. Leggett (Wellington),, who were 3min ssec behind Tovey. Williams was unlucky in the ninth lap. He contracted cramp when leading by four minutes and had to drop out. The four leaders contested a great finish Payne crossing the line a quarter of a wheel ahead of Geraghty, with a similar distance between Leggett and Robson.

Placings were:—L. D. Payne 1, N. Geraghty 2, K. Leggett 3, B. Robson 4. Time, shr llmin 42sec. .

Junior Event w The Wellington team dominated the early stages of the junior event. The first of the three laps was covered In the fast time of 21min 37sec. Jepson (West coast, North Island) led at the Paremata bridge from R. Bevan (Wellington). Ulmer was fifth, and last year’s winner, G. Holloway (Otago-Southland) was well up. The second lap was covered in 24min 41sec, and the field had split up by that stage. Holloway was out in front, setting a good pace. Ulmer, who twice had chain trouble, was also well ahead. Ulmer broke away going down the Plimmerton Hill for the last time, and held his IOQ-yard lead to the finish. Placings were:—G. Ulmar (Wellington) N. Morris (Auckland) 2, A. Walsh (West Coast, North Island) 3, K. C. Gant (Auckland). 4. Time, ihr lOmin 21sec.

75MILE ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP

TIMARU RIDER FIRST HOME

(New Zealand Press Association) _ _ TIMARU, September 26. L. Coe, of Timaru, after a fighting finish, was first to cross the line in the New Zealand 75-mile road cycling championship on Saturday. The race, which attracted 50 competitors, was held over a tough course from Washdyke to Fairlie and return, and proved a real test in the hot weather. Many riders dropped out. Forty contestants reached the turning point and many of these failed over the latter stages. The late arrival of most of the Green Island contestants made many gaps in bunches, but their team-work in trying to bridge a 3min gap to the scratch men created much interest. In a strong run for the finishing line Coe had the edge on four opponents to record a well-deserved win.

Fastest time for the championship went to L. Irving, of Greymouth, who started off the 7min mark. Second fastest went to his co-marker, M. Thompson, who was involved in a crash. E. Ward, of Ashburton, followed a long list of junior championships with another good performance, and the special prize for fastest time recorded from the 14Jmin bunch to the limit result in a win for W. Ferguson, of Timaru. Results:—

L. Coe, Timaru (17min), 3hr 22min 54sec, 1; R. Harvell, Dunedin (21min), 3hr 26min 55sec, 2; T. Johnston, Ashburton (25min), 3hr 30min 56sec, 3; J. Newlands, Timaru (17mfn), 3hr 22min 57sec, 4; E. Peebles, Timaru (17min), 3hr 22min 58sec, 5; L. Irving, Greymouth (7min), 3hr 12min 59sec, 6; E. Wallace, Timaru (lOmin), 3hr 16min, 7; J. Ryk, Ashburton (12min), 3hr 18min 4sec, 8: E. Ward, Ashburton (lOmin), 3hr 16min 4 l-ssec, 9; W. Ferguson, Timaru (141 min 3hr 20min 34 2-5 sec, 10.

Fastest time: L. Irving, Grevmouth (7min), 3hr 23min 59sec, *1; M. Thompson. Southbridge (7min), 3nr 13min 35sec, 2; E. Wallace, Timaru (lOmin), 3hr 16min,

Junior fastest time: E. Ward, Ashburton (lOmin), 3hr 16min 4 l-ssec, 1.

Special prize: W. Ferguson, Timaru (14Jmin), 3hr 20min 34 2-ssec, 2.

CANTERBURY CENTRE

50-MILE OPEN EVENT The Canterbury Amateur Cycling Centre held a 50-mile open event over the Papanui course on Saturday. The field was depleted by the absence of riders taking part in the New Zealand senior and junior championships at Wellington. Abbreviations used in the results are:— Christchurch (C.), Avon (A.), Papanui (P.), South Malvern (S.M.). Results were:—

N. Raizis (C.j (18min), 2hr 28min 40sec, 1; M. Raizis (C.) (9min), 2hr 20min 41sec, 2: H. McGahey (A.) (13min), 2hr 24min 42sec, 3; B. Smith (S.M.) (9min), 2hr 20min <3sec, 4; F. Sandford (A.) (13min), 2hr 24min 51sec, 5; K. Cattermole (P.) (13min). 2hr 27min 25sec, 6; P. Bryson (S.M.) (18min), 2hr 32min 25.25ec. 7; G. Painter (A.) (scr), 2hr 14min.41sec, 8; W. Spencer (P.) (3min), 2hr 17min 51sec, 9; A. Hall (A.) (9min), 2hr 23min 51.2 sec, 10. Fastest times: G. Painter (A.) (scr), 2hr 14min 41sec. 1; W. Spencer (P.) (9min), 2hr 17min 51sec, 2.