ENGLAND WINS ROAD RACE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28649, 28 July 1958, Page 13

ENGLAND WINS ROAD RACE

120 Miles In shr 16min (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ! CARDIFF. July 26. Ray Booty, a 25-year-old English rider, won the Games ‘ 120-mile road race today, but he j had to wait an hour and a half to have his victory confirmed after a protest by Australia. Frank Brazier, of Australia, fin-, ished second, and the Australian team manager. Mr Ron O'Don-, nell, lodged a protest on the ground that Booty changed his machine during the race. The protest, rejected by race officials, went to the jury of appeal, which finally rejected it after long deliberation. Brazier was only a quarter of a wheel ahead of the Isle of Man rider, Geoff Slack. Terry Flanagan, Australia, finished fifth. Australia's Colin Wilkinson had a heavy fall in the opening lap. He remounted, but withdrew in the seventh after puncturing. Australia's fourth man, Keith Manny, pulled out in the eleventh lap with muscle trouble. Booty, a national serviceman covered the 16 laps of the Ogmore circuit at Bridgend, near Cardiff, in shr 16min 37.35ec. Brazier was 2min 48sec behind.

Booty, who became the first cyclist in the world to cover 100 miles in under four hours, rode brilliantly in a high wind and driving rain, which drained the strength from many of the competitors. Of the 38 who started, only 19 completed the race. Booty’s triumph followed what looked like being a tragedy for England. He had a puncture and broke a spindle when striving hard at the front of the main group in the thirteenth lap. England’s team manager, Mr Benny Foster, said: “Booty changed his machine, but went* back to his original one on the following lap 1 had insisted he switch back to his first machine, so as not to break any rules. The New Zealand cyclist, L. p. Payne, finished eleventh, 6min 4sec behind the leader. Payne was the only New Zealander to finish after puncturing seven miles before the end. in the first lap John Peoples fell off and retired, and Keith Gant punctured in the first lap. Dick Johnston was involved in a spectacular spill with Herron (Northern Ireland) at the half-way mark. Johnston hurt back, not seriously.

120 Miles Road Race R. Booty (England), shr 16min 33.7 sec 1; F. Brazier (Australia), at 2mi’n 48sec, 2; G. S. Slack (Isle ol Man), at 2min 48sec. 3; J. Geddes (England), at 2mm 48sec, 4, i. Flanagan (Australia), at 2mm 48sec. 5; J. H. Higham (Canada), at 2min 48sec, 6.