CYCLING 30-Mile Race And Teams’ Event For Shield

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28927, 22 June 1959, Page 8

CYCLING 30-Mile Race And Teams’ Event For Shield

Ou Saturday in perfect conditions two major cycling events were decided. Riders in the cash code competed for the Christchurch Club's 30-mile championship, for the Crofts Memorial Cup. The amateurs held their annual 25-mile teams' event for tthe Hope Gibbons shield. CHRISTCHURCH CLUB The previous week B. Leatham surprised in the cash race from

i Hornby to Amberley, when he took • first place and fastest time. On Sat- ■ urday E. McCann caused a major I upset when, riding from the four i minute mark, he took first place and I fastest time in the Christchurch ■ club's championship event, which was run at Halsw-ell. K. Brown, a scratch rider, gained junior fastest time to win the junior champion- ■ ship. McCann, J. Cummings and H. '.Sutherland rode exceptionally well (from tiie 4 minute mark, and with r six miles to go were only 40 seconds (behind the limit men off 18 minutes. After another two miles the leaders, iH. Cations and C. Willcox, were caught.

After nine miles the scratch men had gained one minute on the break riders off 3 minutes, but they had gained nothing on the 4 minute men, who. at this stage, had gathered in the five and six minute riders. This large bunch of riders then worked well throughout the remaining distance and kept away from the scratch men. When the riders from the four, five, ano six minute marks reached the front with four miles left to go. they did not ease their speed, but carried on at a great pace. It was their effort over the concluding stages that gave them the advantage over the scratch men. Nearing the line the riders began jockeying for positions, and in the sprint McCann rode away from the .'others to beat F. Chapman by' one (second with R. Harrison a similar distance away in third place.

I Results were:—E. McCann (4min), ,lhr 13min 17sec, 1; F. Chapman (smin), ihr 14min 18sec, 2; R Harrison (smin). Ihr 14min 19sec, 3; J. Cummings (4min). Ihr 13min 19.2 isec, 4; H. Sutherland (4min). Ihr i 13inin 20sec. a: T. Gibbs (6min), Ihr '. lamin 20.4 sec, 6.

: Senioi championship: E. McCann i(4min), Ihr 13min 17see. Junior (championship: K. Brown (scr), Ihr Il3niin 44.8 sec. TEAMS' EVENT 1 The Avon club's team had a comfortable win at the annual 25-mi!e | Hope Gibbons shield event on Saturday when they led the Pupanui ■ A team home by 58 seconds. Avon ■ Will now go to Levin to compete in the National Hope Gibbons event on July 4. ' It was obv-ious from the start that (the Avon team was going to be hard to beat, but there was good (riding by each team and only 2min lsssec separated the winners from the last team.

The event is really a teams’ time trial with each team going away at two minute intervals. Christchurch was the first team away, and in the first seven miles hail dropped (one of its members. P. Hughes, and this meant that the team had now only four riders left and il had to 'hold together as the time for the event is taken when the fourth rider crosses the line. ‘ At the end of seven miles Christehurcli had dropped 15 seconds to Avon, which was the second team to go. Papanui A. the third team ■away, at this stage had lost, Bsec ,to Avon, but had gained 7sec on ■Christchurch. Both Timaru and Papajnui B. tne last two teams away, (were dropping time over the first seven miles.

After 18 miles Avon had improved its position greatly and was linin 2osee up on Christchurch and 50see up on Papanui A. Timaru, at this point. liad dropped a further 21sec to Avon, but had improved its position on Papanui A to lead by ssec. Over the last seven miles Avon gained anotner 30sec on Christchurch. but Timaru lost the advantage it had gained on Papanui A and lost further ground to be 43sec behind at the finish.

Papanui B was rather disappointing and did not perform as well as was expected. This team, with the exception of V. Lili, who was replaced by \V. Smith, was the same team which won the Grant Cup a week ago. and on its performance in that event much more was expected of it. The Avon team rightly deserved its win for throughout the race it rode as a team, but on the return journey it was down to four riders, having lost P. Wood. Timaru lost T. Tank early in the race and was down to four riders, as was Papanui B. which lost R. E. Bush. Papanui A was the only team which came through with its five riders intact. Results were:—

R. Fowler. J. Beere. T. Kenny. P Wood, B Lang (Avon). 60min 57sec. 1; N. Cowles. B. Shepherd. H. Bush. C. Hibberd. K. Taylor (Papanui), 61min 55sec, 2; G. Duff. I. Craig, R. Harrison, T Tank. D. Wilson (Timaru). 62min 38sec, 3. For riders not taking part in the teams' event there were two 30-mile scratch races for A and G grade riders. Good fields turned out for both of these events, but the races were not ridden at a very solid pace. Both fields were practically intact at the finish.

In the final sprint for the A grade G. Hill (Christchurch) led out. and although hotly pursued by G. Painter (Avon) he managed to hold on to win by a length. R. Mann (Papanui) made a very determined sprint to hold off his club-mate. M. McLachlan, to win the B grade with T. Rondell. who has just returned to racing after a season's rest, finishing in third place, i Abbreviations used in the results (are: Christchurch (C.), Avon (A). jPapanui (P.). Results were:—

A Grade.—G. Hill (C.) 1. G. Painter (A.) 2, G. Osborne (A.) 3. Time, Ihr 22min 4sec. B Grade—R. Mann (P.) 1, M. McLachlan (P.) 2, T. Rondell (C.) 3. Time, ihr' 25min 3lsec. NOVICE CLUBS Papanui G. Stanley rode an outstanding

race from the limit mark of in the Papanui Novice Club's IO 1 ." I mile handicap event on Saturday 1 morning. Four miles from the finish he rode away from his co-marker A Leggett I and carried on m a grand solo effort to win with ease, finishing two minutes ahead ot the second placegetter. Gleen. N. Smith, off I scraten. rode well to take fastest ■ lime m 31min 37sec. Results were:—G. Stanley (B'amini. 36min 26see, 1; P Green (3J.min). 34min 6sec. 2; D. Litoltt 13'...min).! 34inin 7sec. 3. Fastest tune: N Smith (scr). 31inin | 37see. Mai reha u Club The Mairehau club held two ■ scratch races with sealed handicaps I lor A and B grade riders. The A I grade roue nine miles and the B grade 4>.. miles. Good riding was seen in each ! event, with L. Manners winning the | A grade and R. Carr the B grade. I Results were:— A Grade. — L. Manners 1, F. Shuter 2. Sealed Handicap —R. Smith (20sec) I 1. L. Manners iscr) 2, F. Shuter I (scr) 3 B Grade.—R. Carr 1. B. Lilt 2. I Sealed Handicap.—R. Shuter (I'il min) 1, R. Carr (scr) 2, B. Lili (scr)