75-MILE S.I. RACE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30219, 26 August 1963, Page 15

75-MILE S.I. RACE

F. Hooper Wins Championship F. Hooper (Hornby) won the 75-tnlle South Island title conducted by the Hornby cash club on Saturday. R. Hartill (West Coast) the winner of the race also took the junior title. The race was run from Upper Riccarton to just short of Springfield and return. Shortly after the start W. Campion went into the lead and at Racecourse Hill was holding a minute lead. I. Amst was making a great solo effort and after giving the leaders 18 minutes start was only 141 minutes behind at this point. At Racecourse Hill on the return journey. Campion was still the leader, followed three minutes later by Shaw and then Arnst, who had picked up 5f minutes on the leader. On the run to the turn and back to this point, the break men had caught the 17-minute markers.

Soon after Aylesbury the break and 17 minute bunch gathered in Arnst, who went with them, and they soon passed Shaw. At this stage Campion was holding a slender lead of half a mile on the main bunch. Campion was soon caught and it was obvious that the winner would come from the 17 minute mark or break.

Coming in for the final sprint R. Craig (Hornby) was on the wheel of E. McCann (Christchurch) when Hartill made a forward move. Craig then had to go round McCann and in a desperate sprint just failed to overhaul Hartin by less than half a wheel. McCann held on for third place. Results:—

R. Hartill (West Coast) (17min), 231:49.8, 1; R. Craig (Hornby) (9min), 2:13:498, 2; E. McCann (Christchurch) (9min), 2:13:50, 3; D. Hewer (Hornby) (23min), 23730.2. 4; J. Willcox (Christchurch) (ITmln), 2:21:50.4, 5. Senior championship: F. Hooper (Hornby) (scr), 2:11:40.2. Junior championship: R. Harttll (West Coast) (17min), 231:49.8.

The fossilised skeleton of a prehistoric amphibian reptile which roamed the Eastern Cape about 134,000,000 years ago has stood in the East London Museum for nearly 30 years without anyone being aware that it is as rare a scientific treasure as :he city’s famous ooelacanth—the “missing link fish.”