CYCLING F. Hooper Wins Race From Timaru And S.I. 100m. Title

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30225, 2 September 1963, Page 19

CYCLING F. Hooper Wins Race From Timaru And S.I. 100m. Title

Finishing first in

two stages and being placed in the other two, F. Hooper (Hornby) won the annual Timaru to Christchurch cycling race and the South Island senior 100-mile championship on Saturday. The winner of the handicap section of this LG.A. sponsored event was H. Bayley (Taranaki).

T. Hartill (West Coast), winner of the South Island Junior 75-mile title the previous week, gained the junior 100-mile championship. His time was six minutes slower than that of Hooper. The race this year was run as a four-stage event—to Geraldine, Ashburton, Dunsandel and Hornby. The South Island titles were decided on the overall time of the four stages, and the winner of the event was found after a sealed handicap had been deducted from the riders’ overall times. Made Fast Breaks

During the first stage B. Spicer (Tinwald) made some very fast breaks and on quite a few occasions opened up a good gap on the field. He outsprinted K. Brown (Christchurch) and Hooper to take the stage.

On the 31-mile run to Ashburton the field held together well of tb« fast pace. Before a large crowd at Ashburton Hooper, Spicer and Brown engaged In a devastating spnnt, with Hooper gaining the upper hand a few yards before the line to beat Brown by two lengths. Spicer, jithough only third In the second stage, retained the over-all lead from Brown by one second with Hooper o.7sec back in third place. The half-hour break at Ashburton was a cold wait for the riders as rain was falling heavily. The rain eased a little when the riders were sent oft on the third stage of 28 miles to Dunsandel.

Great Battle About 200 yards from the stage finish Hooper. Spicer and K- Jeffery (Christchurch) made a break from the bunch with Hartill also making a forward move. These four fought out a great battle and once again Hooper triumphed over Spicer by a narrow margin with Jeffery appearing for the first time in a final sprint. Hooper at the end of this stage had bridged the over-all time a little, but Spicer still held the lead for the hree stages by o.ssec.

The last stage of 18 miles was a critical one for the three over-all leaders. The field remained tightly bunched throughout, but abput 400yds from the finish a bunch of 18 riders positioned themselves for the final run. A. Connell (Auckland) led the field near the finish, but in the last few yards Jeffery and Hooper gradually forged to the front with Jeffery taking the decision. Spicer gained fourth place, but dropped O.Ssec during this stage to Hooper and so failed to hold the over-all lead by o.3sec. Brown, who finished a

little behind the leaders, had sufficient time in hand to retain third place. Badly Cut There were few punctures throughout the race although there was a lot of shingle between Winchester and a little past Geraldine. On the shingle stretch after Geraldine J. Willcox fell heavily and cut his face. He was taken to hospital and after treatment was back to see the stage start from Ashburton. but could take no further part in the race. This is the first time that the race has been run in stages, but all who saw it claimed it to be an outstanding success. Abbreviations used in the results are: Hornby (H ), Tinwald (T.). Christchurch (C.), West Coast (W.C.), Auckland (A.), Taranaki (Tar.). Results:— First Stage.—B. Spicer (T.), □3:57, 1; K. Brown (C.), 53:58.2 2; F. Hooper (H.), 53:58.3, 3; J. Swanston (C.), 53:58.4 , 4; D Swanston (C.), 53:58.6, 5. , , s „ e ™ t ’ d Stage.-F. Hooper (H.), K - Brown <c.). J’}???- 8 - 2 >’ B. Spicer (H.(, 3: E ’ MeCa nn (H.), }!? :88 - 4 - 4 .’ J- Swanston (C.), 1:12:40, 5. , Stage.—R. Hooper (H.), 4,1:. 1 :? 23 ’ 4,1: B - Spicer (T.), 1:13:23.6, 2; K. Jeffery (C.) 1:13:23.8. 3; T. Hartill (W.C.), J;}2? 4 ’ /’ J ’ Swanston (C.), i:l3:2o, 5. Fourth Stage.—K. Jeffery (C.), 49:6.6, 1; F. Hooper (H.), 49:6.7 2; A. Connell (A.), 49:7, 3- b’ Mi t 9:7 - 5 - 4: D - Hewer General over-all classification: F. Hooper (H.). 4:9:68, 1; B. Spicer (T.), 4:9:7.!, 2; K. Brown (C.), 4:9:11.4, 3. South Island championships:— Senior.—F. Hooper (H) 4«:6.8. 1 "

Junior.—T. Hartill (W.C.) 4:15:8.2.

Race placings on handicap: H. Bayley (Tar.). 25min, 4:1:45.9, 1; D. Hewer (H.), smin, 4:4:49, 2; I. Amst (C.), 30min, 4:7:52.9. 3; B. Spicer (T.), 6min, 4:9:1.1, 4; J. Cummings (C.), Jmin, 4:9:4.8, 5: J. Swanston (C.), Wsec, 4:9:4.9, 6.