SCRATCH RACE AT GLENTUNNEL

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27986, 5 June 1956, Page 8

SCRATCH RACE AT GLENTUNNEL

CYCLING

SOUTH MALVERN CLUB’S EVENT A 35-mile scratch race was conducted by the South Malvern Amateur Cycling Club yesterday. The race attracted 33 entries, but owing to the wet weather in Christchurch, some riders did not make the trip out to Glentunnel, where the race was held, and there were 12 scratchings. Conditions for the race were much different from those in the city—there was no rain and the race was run in bright sunshine P. Wylie (Christchurch) rode an excellent race to win. He covered the last four laps on a borrowed cycle. Wylie was having trouble with his cycle in the latter stages of the race and borrowed the machine of a rider who had retired earlier with a puncture. Making the change, he lost about 250 yards on his bunch but, riding hard, gathered them in. J. Redden (Christchurch) took the lead, but was forced to retire with gear trouble. G. Painter (Avon) and D. Johnson (Papanui) then went to the front and led for nearly four laps. With two laps to go. the leaders were caught by the next bunch, and they remained close together to the finish. Some distance from the line, A. Mahon led out with Wylie close behind, but Mahon soon fell back, and in a close finish Wylie held on to win from L. Lock (Avon) with Painter third. It was an excellent finish, the first six riders the line within one second. R. Kennalrd (Christchurch) won a sealed handicap, run in conjunction with the scratch race. Results were (Christchurch, C.; Avon, A.; Papanui P.):— Scratch Race.—P. Wylie (C.). Ihr 28min 19sec, 1; L. Lock (A.), Ihr 28min 19.4 sec, 2; G. Painter (A.), Ihr 28min 19.6 sec, 3: T. Sexton (C.), Ihr 28min 19 Bsec, 4: G. Hill (C.), Ihr 28min 20sec, 5; L. Lambert (C.), Ihr 28min 20.2 sec, 6. Sealed Handicap.—R. Kennaird (C.) 1, R. Keating (P.) 2. A. Mahon (P.) 3. AUCKLAND-THAMES RACE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 2. The three-day cycle race from Auckland to Thames and return was won today by Noel Perkinson from a handicap of 12Jmin. Perkinson outpaced nine other break riders in a down-hill sprint to win by a length. L. Parris (7£min) was second and Graham Morgan (7Jmin) third. Fastest time went to the veteran, Brian Howlett.