CYCLING Classic Races In Cash And Amateur Codes

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29301, 5 September 1960, Page 17

CYCLING Classic Races In Cash And Amateur Codes

Two cluilr ncet were decided on Saturday. The amateurs raced at Waikari for the Harry Saundereock Memorial Cup over IGO Kilometres. This race attracted riders from Blenheim to Dunedin. For the riders of the cash code there was the annual Timaru to Christchurch championship event. This very popular race brought riders from Auckland to Dunedin. It was really a visitors’ day. for the first five places were taken by visitors, and the senior championship went to D. McNaught, a Dunedin rider. R. Harrison (Christchurch) took the junior title.

MEMORIAL RACE R. Bryant (Papanui) won his second Harry Saundereock Memorial race at Waikari on Saturday. Bryant’s previous success was in 1955. This race was conducted by the Papanui Amateur Cycling Club and attracted 51 competitors. The course is from Waikari to the Hurunui turn-off, then across to Hawarden and back to Waikari. Over the years some excellent races have been seen over this course, and Saturday’s event fell far short of the exciting events of the past. On the run from the Hurunui turn-off to Hawarden the riders had to contend with a fairly strong head wind. It was surprising the number of riders who pulled out even in the early stages. The race was won in the slowest time on record, and the fastest time was also the slowest, but this must not detract from the magnificent solo effort of Robin Harrison (Timaru). Harrison’s ride was the best of the day. In the first lap over this four-lap course T. Cameron (Christchurch) made an endeavour to break up the scratch bunch the first time up the hill, and he succeeded in burning off some. of the riders including himself. Through Hawarden for the first time the scratch bunch was broken into two. The leaders were Harrison, D. Todd (Timaru), and R. Fowler (Avon). These three were followed by Cameron, G. Hill (Christchurch), and Thorpe (Papanui), with C. Hibberd (Papanui ) well back as the result of a puncture. Over the second lap Todd was dropped on the hill, and a little later Harrison began to ride away from Fowler, who withdrew at Hawarden. Of the other scratch men Cameron was the only one who completed the second lap. Harrison was on his own, fighting gamely to try to catch the break bunch, at this stage Ijmin ahead of him. He rode the third lap on his own, and gradually gathered in the break men to be with them for the last lap. It was a very tired Harrison who linked up, and when the pace was put on by some of the break men, Harrison’s earlier effort took its toll, and he was dropped. Between the Hurunui turn-off and Hawarden, Harrison, who was now well behind the break men, linked up with K. Jeffery (Christchurch), last year’s winner, and these two came through Hawarden together, but Harrison was now only breaking even for fastest time with the break men.

It was thought that Jeffery, who was riding more strongly than any of the others, might help Harrison through, but between Hawarden and Waikari Jeffery rode away from Harrison. This last 4J miles was a hard ride for Harrison, and he fought on gamely to try to keep Jeffery in sight. Seeing the sign indicating half af mile to go seemed to give Harrison new life, and he turned on a great final sprint to cross the line and take fastest time by 50sec from K. Jones (Papanui). Harrison’s success was a reward for a gallant performance. He was the only scratch rider to finish the course. W. Straight (Papanui) was the only limit rider to complete the distance, and although he did not gain a prize he rode a good race from the front mark. Over the first lap the bunches held together well except for scratch. B. Dawe (Christchurch) was two minutes behind his bunch at the end of the first lap and J. Clemence (Papanui) was back with the bunch behind him. L. Bishop (Avon) had drifted from the break mark and was riding with the leading bunch of scratch men. The scratch men were 25j minutes behind the leaders, having picked up Sj minutes of their handicap. , w At the end of the second lap the leaders were Straight, G. McGregor (Christchurch) and B. Mugford (Avon). These three had been joined by Bryant and G. Coombe (Paoanui) from the 25-minute mark. There were some changes in the third lap, and the first riders through Hawarden were those from the first four bunches ,and there were seven in the leading bunch. Over the last lap the leading bunch began to thin out and the first two to lag behind were L. Manner (Avon) and L. Crawford (Papanui). Two and a half minutes behind the leaders came a bunch of six riders from the 8)4 minute mark with the exception of G. Painter (Avon), who was the only rider left off the 13 minute mark. Two minutes and a half tatercame K. Jones (Papanui), B. Berry (Christ--

church), and B. Manning (Blenheim). all from .the break marie. These three caught Manners over the last mUw but failed by 42sec to catch Crawford. In a very close finish Bryant held on to take the decision from G. Austin (Avon) *ith N. Smith (Papanui), third. Almost one minute behind these three came Crawford. Nearly a minute later came the three break men with Jones doing the best to take junior fastest time. There was quite a long wait for Harrison to arrive, and it appeared as if he were going to fail to reach the finish within the four minutes he was giving the break men, but he crossed the line with SOsec to spare. Abbreviations used in the results are:—Papanui (P.) Avon (A.), Ti- ! maru (T.), Christchurch (C.), Dunedin (D.). Results were:— R. Bryant (P.) (25mln). 3hr 7mln 7sec, 1; G. Austin (A.) (Zimin). 3hr 3min 2; N. Smith (P.) . (17mln), 2hr 59mln 7.4 sec, 3; LCrawford (P.) (17mln), 3hr Omin Bsec 4; T. Tank (T.) 2hr 52min 20sec, 5; J. Swanston (C.) (8 l z2 niin), 2hr 52min 24sec, 6; R. Bush : (P.) (B&min), 2hr 52min 24Jsec. 7; . R. Marshall (D.) (SVamin), 2hr 52min , 24.45ec, 8. Senior fastest time: Robin Harrison (T.) (scr), 2hr SOmln 12sec. Junior fastest time: K. Jones (P.) 1 (4min), 2hr 52min 2sec.

TIMARU TO CHRISTCHURCH Conditions for the Christchurch Cycling Club’s annual Timaru to Christchurch race were reasonably good. Little wind was encountered over the first half, but for the second half the riders faced a slight easterly, which had a steadying effect. Three of the riders off the 34min mark rode outstandingly. I. Coe (Timaru), off this mark, was dropped by the other three, A. Pegley (West Coast), H. Bayley (Auckland), and R. Baker (Christchurch). Baker won this event in 1956 when the race was run from Christchurch to Timaru. These riders kept up a steady pace throughout the race, and their consistent riding brought them through to the front for the last run to • the judges, and in this Pegley was successful over an old campaigner, H. Chamberlain (W alm ate). Chamberlain is now a veteran, but he is ; always handily placed at the finish in this classic. In 1946 he won the race, and hardly a year has passed without him being placed. The limit riders left Timaru at 10 ; a.m. One was L. Arnst. Since the race was first held in 1899 there has always been at least one Arnst competing, and once there were four. The other two with Arnst on the limit of 70min were F. Johnson and : D. Randle (Christchurch). These three held the lead for the first - 60 miles. The first casualty in the race was ! E. McCann (Hornby), who crashed at Seadown and buckled his front wheel so badly that he was forced to withdraw. I The limit men were the first through Ashburton, having taken I 2hr 40mln for this part of the journey. Thirteen minutes behind the J leaders came the 45min riders, who had now been caught by the riders

from the 39min mark. Over the first half of the journey the 19, 24 and 28min bunches had linked up and 22V a min behind the leaders this large bunch passed through Ashburton. Two minutes and a half later came the 5 and lOmin bunches, which were now together. Break were the next riders through, but L. Williams, K. Brown (Christchurch) and R. Lucas (Hornby) had retired. They were only IHmin ahead of scratch, having dropped 3*4min In the first half of the journey. Nearing Chertsey they were overtaken by scratch. , Arnst and Randle still had their lead just short of Rakaia. Johnson had been drooped. Five riders from the 39 and 45min marks were closing in on them, end before Rakaia was reached they were up with the leaders. Over the concluding stages the head wind took its ton and riders fell back from their marks quite frequently. The leading bunch, at Burnham comprised of eight riders —K. Brown (Auckland), Bayley. Baker. W Cunllff (Timaru), Chamberlain. Peglev. D. Skilling (Ashburton), and C. Carr (West Coast). These eight remained together to the finish, and in a closely foughtout sprint. Pegley Just managed to bald off Chamberlain. The other riders were also close up and only five lengths separated the eight The finish tor fastest time and the championship was the outstanding feature of the race. Making an early lead out. D. Swanston (Christchurch) seemed to have the measure of the others, but C. McN aught (Dunedin) made a well-judged and determined bid to gain the decision by a tyre from Swanston. One and a half seconds after McNaught. R. Harrison (Christchurch) finished to take the junior title. Abbreviations used in the results are:—West Coast (W.C.), Waimate (W.). Ashburton (A.)._ Auckland (Ak.) Dunedin (D.), Christchurch (C.). , Results were:— A. Pegley (W.C.) (Statin), tar 28min Isec, 1: H. Chamberlain (W.) (45mln). -hr S9min l.Ssec. 2: W. Cunllff (A.) (39mln), tar S3min l.taec, S: H. Bayley (Ak.) (Statta). tar Zemin IJSsec. 4; C. Carr (W.C.)

(39mln), tar 53min I.Bsec, 5; K. Brown (Ak.) (45min), shr, S; D. Skilling (C.) (39min). tar Stalin 2sec, 7; R. Baker (C.) (34mln), tar 28mln 2-6 sec 8. Senior championship: C. McNaught (D.) (scr). 4hr Itaiin 233 sec. Junior championship: R. Harrison (C.) (scr), 4hr ISmln 25.45ec.