MOTOR-CYCLING

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 16

MOTOR-CYCLING

250 C.C. MINIATURE T.T. EVENT K. CLEGHORN WINS N.Z. TITLE After an easy win in the South Island open miniature T.T. championship on Saturday, K. Cleghorn, of Palmerston North, rode a brilliant race to win the New Zealand 250 c.c. miniature T.T. championship at Stewart’s Gully yesterday. A large and enthusiastic crowd applauded Cleghorn’s complete mastery of a course practically unknown to him. From start to finish Cleghorn had the race his own way. Riding a machine of smaller capacity than some, he showed much skill to beat local riders who have ridden on the course several times before. D. Knauf, of Timaru, was the only rider who could match the flying North Islander’s speed. Unfortunately Knauf lost one lap at the start, but managed to keep the same distance from Cleghorn until he fell, almost causing Cleghorn to collide with the riderless machine. J. Anderson, of Wellington, another favourite for the race, could not start because a hole was burnt in a piston of his machine in an earlier race. Cleghorn finished 150 yards ahead of the second man,. V. Rush, of Christchurch. C Fisk, and L. Reynolds, both of Christchurch, took third and fourth places, only 6sec behind Rush. In a special match race, the Timaru champion, Knauf, beat Cleghorn by a narrow margin. The championship was organised by the Tai Tapu Motor Club. Results were:— New Zealand 250 c.c. Miniature T.T. Championship (about 8 miles, over 15 laps).—K. Cleghorn (Palmerston North), 197 c.c. Francis Barnett, 12min 56sec, 1;/ V. Rush (Christchurch), 250 c.c. 8.5. A., 13min 2.6 sec, 2; C. Fisk (Christchurch), 197 c.c. Excelsior, 13min 3sec, 3; L. Reynolds (Christchurch), 197 c.c. Excelsior, 13inin 12sec 4. 250 c.c. Scratch Race.—K. Cleghorn (Francis Barnett) 1. D. Knauf (James) 2. C. Rush (8.5. A. 3. Time, 4min 6sec. 350 c.c. Scratch Race.—R. Cuyie (8.5. A. 1, S. Harrison (A.J.S.) 2, N. Rattray (A.J.S.) 3. Time, 4min 11.4 sec. 500 c.c. Scratch Race.—K. Cleghorn 1, A. Ferguson < Palmerston North) 2, A. Merrin 3. Time, 3min 51.4 sec. First Handicap Race.—J. Woolf (D.0.T.) 1, D. Knauf 2, M. Howston 3. Time, 4min 16.8 sec. Second Handicap Race.—A. Ferguson 1, R. Currie 2, K. Cleghorn 3. Time, 4min 16.2 sec. Third Handicap Race.—L. Reynolds 1, M. Daniels 2, M. Howston 3. Time, 4min 20sec. Fourth Handicap Race.—K. Cleghorn 1, T. Harrison 2, A. Merrin 3. Time, 4min 20.8 sec. Fifth Handicap Race (10 laps).—J. Pennent 1, K. Cleghorn 2, J. Anderson (Palmerston North) 3, L. Reynolds 4. Time. Bmin 16.4 sec. Non-championship Riders’ Handicap.—S. Harrison 1, W. Pooley 2, I. Crozier 3.