Cycling SIX-DAY RACE IN N.I.

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29350, 1 November 1960, Page 6

Cycling SIX-DAY RACE IN N.I.

Johnstone Wins First Stage

(New Zealand Press Association) TAURANGA, Oet 31. The New Zealand Empire Games cyclist and former national title-holder, R. D. Johnstone, of the Point Chevalier Club, Auckland, won the right to wear the yellow jersey when he finished first in the cycling race from Auckland to Tauranga today—the first stage of the sponsored sixday cycle race which will finish at Wellington on Saturday. Johnstone's gross time for the 137 miles was shr 40.1 sec. Johnstone withstood a strong challenge from R. D. Thomson (Poneke) to win by half a length, Thomson's time being shr 40.2 sec. Four minutes further back was another Point Chevalier rider, B. Jf Harcourt, M. Matieh (Rotorua) was fourth, D. K. Grave (Palmerston North) fifth, and J. V. T. Robinson (Manukau) sixth. Seventeen punctures were reported during the first stage today and two minor accidents. B. Goldsworthy and Grave ended in a ditch in the Waihi gorge when they swung too wide on a bend. They suffered no injuries. The two Australian Olympic cyclists, A. Grindal and F. Brazier, finished in the main bunch. Johnstone slipped away from the field between Waihi and Katikati, but punctured a tyre about one mile out of Katikati on a rough stretch of road. Although the damage took only 30 seconds to repair, Thomson, who had set out after Johnstone, caught him, and they rode the rest of the way as Sprints, Hill Climb Six sprints and one hill climb were held. The first sprint, at Papatoetoe, was won by D. M. Peoples (Birkenhead), from Matieh and D. N. Rickey (Papatoetoe). Rickey improved to take the Manurewa sprint, ahead of J. E. Mcßae (Akarana) and G. B. Nicholson (Te Awamutu). Mcßae beat Rickey at Papakura, with L. Byers (Kaikohe) third. In the Paeroa sprint Harcourt won from Matieh and Johnstone. Johnstone was first in the Waihi sprint, with Grave and Goldsworthy filling the minor platings. Thomson headed Johnstone at Katikati, and Matieh was third. The hill climb over the Bombay hill was a triumph for Peoples, who beat G. D. Ulmer (Petone) and Johnstone. Tomorrow morning the ' 40 cyclists will ride 73 miles to Hamilton. There will be two sprints, and a hill climb over the Kaimais. In the afternoon the stage will be from Hamilton to Otorohanga, with only one sprint and no hill climb.