CYCLING SOUTHBRIDGE ATHLETIC CLUB’S SMALLER ENTRY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28975, 17 August 1959, Page 8

CYCLING SOUTHBRIDGE ATHLETIC CLUB’S SMALLER ENTRY

There were 27 entries for the Southbridge Athletic Club’s 50-mile North Canterbury championship on Saturday, compared with 52 last year. The field was further reduced by five scratchings. On Saturday the club clashed with a big event in Timaru, which not only kept the Timaru riders at home, but also drew a good nuihber from the Tinwald Club. The race was really a North Canterbury championship, with the only rider from elsewhere being B. Bennett (Australia).

The senior title went to G. Milner, and the junior title to R. Harrison. K. Brown won the event off the break mark of 2min. The race was run over two blocks' at Southbridge, with the riders doing a circuit of a 12 (i mile block before six curcuits of another block of just more than six miles. K. Brown’s tactics were excellent and paved the way for his outstanding win. Soon after the start Brown and D. 'Swanston, off the break mark had dropped their comarker. Bennett, and for these two riders to try to carry on and take fastest time over four riders on the scratch mark was just a little too much. Realising this, Brown thought that if ht could not gain fastest time and the title it was better to try to win the race. He waited for the scratch men, and they teamed well to get close up to the leaders with only just more than six miles to go. Swanston did not favour these tactics and set off after the leaders, but the energy he expended was too much, and he failed to complete the last lap. When Brown linked with the scratch men they were reduced to two, as E. McCann was dropped early and R. Lucas was out with a puncture With the remaining two scratch men. G. Milner and R. Craig, was Bennett, who had been dropped by the break bunch. These four riders in the back bunch were teaming very well, and gradually gaining on the leaders. After half the distance was covered the scratch men were only 7>imin behind the leaders, having picked up 24>.imin of their handicap. The back bunch grew, for with the two scratch men were C. Brown and Bennett, off break, B. Leatham, off 6min, and K. Harrison, J. Spencer and M. Burns off 7min.

Entering the last lap Brown began to increase the . pace, and Leatham and Harrison went with him. These three linked up with the leaaers to make a bunch of eight riders, and over the remainder of the last lap the faster pace was too much for some of them. Brown, Leatham, and R Whitten were left to dispute the major places. In the final sprint Leatham led Whitten and Brown

About 70 yards from the line Leatham made a forward move and Brown jumped 'rom the back to go round the other two. As Brown made his move a small dog ran across the road, causing him to swerve suddenly, and he nearly collided with a parked car. This check did not effect Brown, for he came through to win by a length from Leatham, with Whitten close up third. Brown’s ride was a brilliant effort and he only missed taking the title by Imin 29sec Harrison, riding from the 7min mark, did the best off this mark, and his steady riding gained him the junior title Results were:— K. Brown (2mini, 2hr smin 36sec. 1; B. Leatham (6min), 2hr 9min 37sec, 2; R. Whitten (9min), 2hr 12min 38sec 3; J. Wilcox (9min), 2hr 12min 41sec. 4; G Milner (scr), 2hr 4min 7sec, 5: R. Baker (11‘,imin), 2hr 17min 19sec, 6. Senior Championship.—G. Milner (scr), 2hr 4min 7sec Junior Championship.—R. Harrison (7min), 2hr llmin 50sec AMATEDR EVENT The three local clubs, Papanui, Avon and Cnristchurch, combined on Saturday lor a 100 kilometres handicap event. The course was from Papanui to Amberley, across to Balcairn, back to Sefton, to Rangiora. and down the Main North road to the finish on the Cranford street extension. The race was a triumph .for the 14min riders, who teamed well and got through the field to fill the three major places. The riders off the break mark of Slbmln also’ put up a great performance, and their efforts were rewarded with B. Shepherd (Papanui) taking fastest time. He beat the scratch men by nearly five minutes.

The 14min riders gradually gathered in the 17min bunch and then closed the gap on the limit men off 22min, to reach the front. None of the 17min men could stand the pace of the 14min riders and failed to stay with them. Of the 22min markers N. Stuart (Avon) was the only one to show any real form, and he held on grimly for fifth. P. Hughes (Christchurch) rode a sterling race off the 10'/>min mark. He had received little help from his co-markers in the latter stages

of the race, but ne got up for fourth only 52sec behind the winner. The scratch riders broke up early in the race. G. Wedell (Avon) was out with a puncture and G. Shepherd had drifted back. This left only two on the scratch mark, R. Fowler (Avon) and G. Hill (Christchurch).

R. Green (Papanui) the winner, has been showing greatly Improved form. His win on Saturday was a reward for consistent riding over the last month. Abbreviations used in the results are Papanui (P.), Avon (A.), Christchurch (C.i. . M . Results were:—

R. Green (P.) (14min), 2hr 41mln lOsec 1; M. McLachlan (P.) (14min), 2hr 41min lO.Ssec,' 2; G. Lang (A.) (14mln), 2hr 41min llsec, 3; P. Hughes (C.) (lOlimin), 2hr 38min 32sec, 4. N Stuart (A.) (22min), 2hr 50min 50sec, 5; B. Shepherd (P.) Olfcmin), 2hr 32min 42sec, 6. Fastest Time.—B. Shepherd (P.) (3*,imin), 2nr ( 32min 42sec. NOVICE CLUB Malrehau Club The Mairehau novice club held the final race ot the season on Saturday morning with a 30 kilometre handicap event, which was won by G. Milmore from the 2min mark. Over the course the riders were having a real test encountering mud and shingle, and they negotiated these hazards well. Gilmore, in taking first place, also took fastest time, and the championship. Results were: G. Gilmore 1, A. Forgie 2, R Smith 3. Fastest Time.—G. Gilmore. Papanui Club G. Stanley won the Papanui club’s seven-mile handicap event from the 3min mark, and N. Smith, off scratch, rode well to get up for second place and fastest time. Results were —G. Stanley 1, N. Smith 2, P. Green 3. Fastest Time:—N. Smith, 20min 33J2sec.