CYCLING T. MILLS WINS TIMARU TO CHRISTCHURCH RACE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29017, 5 October 1959, Page 9

CYCLING T. MILLS WINS TIMARU TO CHRISTCHURCH RACE

T. Mills (Timaru) had a clear ssec win over G. Calder iDunedin) in the Christchurch Cycling Club's fortieth Timaru to Christchurch road race on Saturday.

At 10 am. the Mayor of Timaru (Mr R. E. White) sent the limit rider. F. Johnson i Christchurch) away on his long ride. Conditions were good although there was a slight wind near Timaru. It was not strong enough to affect the riders. For the rest of the journey there ■was no wind at all. Honours went to the visitors. Out of the first six places only two went to local riders with Y. Frew third and R. Baker, the 1956 winner, sixth. Time honours also went to visitors with B. Graham (New Plymouth) taking the senior time and E. Gleuegtien (Ashburton) the junior. At Washdyke the 28min riders seemed to have little interest in the race and were ambling along at less than 20 miles an hour when they should have been doing much better under the conditions. R. Sickell (Dunedin), off the 32min mark, was the first casualty. He fell before 10 miles.

With 29 miles of the journey covered the leader was still the limit rider, Johnson, but he was only 2min ahead of L. Arnst and H. Cations, both of Christchurch, who were riding very strongly. The 45min riders had picked up the 57min riders and were only Bmin behind the leader. Next through were the 32, 35 and 40min men, who were together. The 28min bunch was still intact, but at this point

.they were down half a minute to 1 the 32min bunch. Two minutes later ■ came the 23min men. and Bmm later : came the 18min riders. I The scratch riders were riding I very strongly and travelling about 27 miles an hour. N. Kennedy ! (Dunedin) was not lapping as well as the other three and was inclined to slow up the others. At Chertsey the leading bunch comprised eight riders from the 62min mark back to the 45min mark. Between Chertsey and Rakaia the 32, 35 and 40min riders began to improve and gathered in the bunch in front of them to now make a leading bunch of 17 riders. At Rakaia the leaders were Bmin ahead of a bunch of 11 riders from the break to the 18min marks. The scratch men, with the exception of Keq? nedy, who was now off this mark, came through, £ut here they had dropped half a minute to the break men. Over the Rakaia bridge these three scratch men were idling along about 20 miles an hour, but approaching Bankside they began to increase their pace. This little increase in pace must have been too much for B. McCarthy and M. Nola, both of Auckland, for here they gave in and left D. Swanston (Christchurch) on his own. Forty-one riders passed through Rakaiaf only 10 having given in since leaving Timaru. C. Carr (Greymouth) was off after 60 miles and A. Pegley (Greymouth) was dropped before Selwyn. Just after Selwyn another rider, D. Hills (Auckland), was dropped and then T. Raynor (Timaru) was off at Norwood. The leading bunch comprised 14 riders at Burnham. There were three bunches left in the race with Swanston making a solo ride at the rear of the field. About two miles from the finish, D. Calder (Dunedin), made a break and Mills went with him for a certain distance. Mills then showed great tactics in falling back to the bunch. This lulled Calder into false confidence. Nearing the line Mills took off again and had little difficulty in passing Calder for a ssec win. Y. Frew (Christchurch), who filled third place, was lOsec behind Calder. There was a desperate struggle for time honours between Graham and D. Patrick (Dunedin) with Graham holding on for a length victory. Aftet these two had crossed the line fastest time was still in doubt. If Swanston could have reached the finish within Bmin of Graham the honour would have been his. Abbreviations used in the results are: Timaru (T.), Dunedin (D.), Christchurch (C.). Ashburton (A.), New Plymouth (N.P.). Results were:— , T Mills (T.), (32min), 4hr 31min lOsec 1; D. Calder (D.), (35min), 4hr 34min 15sec, 2; Y. Frew (C.) (35min). 4hr 34min 25sec, 3; J. Tait (A.), (32min), 4hr 31min 26sec, 4; M Marshall (D.), (35min), 4hr 34min 27sec, 5; R. Baker (C.), (35min), 4hr 34min 29sec. 6. Fastest Time.—Senior: B. Graham (N.P.) (Bmin), 4hr 21min 24 ? e< ;- Junior: E. Gleuestien (A.) (Bmm). 4hr 21min 37sec.