CYCLING Many Mishaps in Harbour Race From Halswell

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 9

CYCLING Many Mishaps in Harbour Race From Halswell

Many cash riders took part in the Hornby club’s opening race last week, and they , out again on a fine Saturday aftefnoon for the opening event of the Christchurch club. The three local amateur dubs combined in a harbour race from HateweU over Gebbies' Pass and round the harbour to the finish in Lyttelton. The annual harbour race, which was held on Saturday, attracted a record entry of 65 riders and was won by G. Stanley (Papanui). G.. Milner (Avon) took fastest time, covering the distance in Ihr 19mm 44sec. Milner would probably have broken the record but owing to road works on the run in from Motukarara to the foot of Gobbles’ Pass the riders had to make a detour. This lengthened the distance by about two miles. The extra distance was not much, but the road, heavy with shingle, caused the bunches to break up.

R. Weir (Avon) was unlucky. Going through Governors Bay he crashed when he had a clear lead of more than three minutes. He got going again but the time lost deprived him of all chances of a win. He finished in seventh place. D. McFarlane (Papanui) was up with the leaders when he fell. He carried on and came twelfth. . \ E. Scholtens (Christchurch) was thefi rst rider over the top of Gebbies' Pass but he sqw his chances fade when he had two punctures. G. Painter (Avon), off scratch, was riding strongly when he looked down to change his gears going up a hill. He did not see a car stop ahead of him Painter ran into the back of the car. and although he was not hurt himself, he broke two bars of his machine. The race was notable for the number of punctures. There were more riders off their machines with punctures on Saturday than has been known before in the history of this race, Stanley had a clear win, but in the sprint for second pilace M. Payne (Papanui) just managed to hold off a strong challenge from his club-mate. P Waiford. Milner, in gaining fastest time, was Imln 20sec clear of his nearest rival, T. Tabak (Papanui). Another Papanui rider. R. Mann, gained third fastest time, 26sec behind Tabak. The race should stand the riders in good stead for the longer Bays race next Saturday. when the course will come through Lyttelton to the finish on Linwood avenue. Abbreviations used in the results are: —Papanui (P.), Avon (A ). Christchurch (C.). Results were:— G. Stanley (P.) (7min). 1:25:30, 1; M. Payne (P.) (12 min), 1:31:2, 2; P. Watford (P.) (7min)'. 1:26.0, 3: M. Trainer (C.) OJmin). 1:28.18. 4: J. Danielson (P.) (12min), 1:31.22, 5; G Milner (A.) (scr), 1:19.44. 6. Fastest Times. G. Milner (scr), 1:19.44, 1; T Tabak (scr). 1:21.4. 2; R Mann (P.) (scr). 1:21-30, 3.

Christchurch Club

K. Campion riding from the mark rode an exceptionally fine race to win comfortably. B. Spicer. from scratch, took second place and fastest time.

The race was over 24 miles on a block course of three circuits. Campion, at the end of the first lap, had passed the limit men to whom he was giving three minutes start and went through one minute ahead of them. Five and a half minutes later the leader came the Bmin men,’ stfli intact, and at this stage they had dropped 2imin to Campion. F. Hooper and B. Spicer of the scratch mark at the end of the first lap had only gained llmin on Campion, At the end of the second lap Campion was still clear •of the field but N. Saunders off the same mark as Campion had improved his position and he was now In second place but four minutes behind. Th* Bmin riders, J. Willcox, D. Hewer and P. Doyle had improved their position over the second lap but were still down by half a minute to Campion. It was obvious that only misfortune could take the race from Campion when he started the last lap. He had ridden alamost the whole distance on his own. Spicer’s effort was almost the whole distance on covered more than half the distance on his own. J. Blackmun riding from the break mark of 2}min filled third place and this gave him fastest time for a junior. This new course, used by the club for the first time on Saturday, is a very interesting. short block course and some good racing should be seen on it in the future. Results were:—K. Campion (Ulmin), 66:23. 1; B. Spicer (scr), 58:41.5. 2; J. Blackmun (2}min), 62:19. 3: E. McCann (21mln). 62:19.2, 4: G. Osboune (Sjmin), 66:2.5. 5; D. Hewer (Bmin), 68:32.6, 6. Fastest Times.—Senior: B. Spicer (scr), 58:41.5. Junior: J. Blackmun (2jmin), 62:19. Mairehau Novices B. Thorpe, riding from the Imin mark, had a better sprint at the end of the 41-mile handicap event to beat his comarker. M. Stainger. D Lees, off scratch, gained fastest time covering the distance in llmin 26sec. Results were:—B. Thorpe 1. M. Stainger 2, G. Wood 3. Winner’s time: 11:47. Fastest time: D. Lees (scr), 11:26.