CYCLING AVON WINS GRANT CUP IN RECORD TIME

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30479, 29 June 1964, Page 7

CYCLING AVON WINS GRANT CUP IN RECORD TIME

The Avon Cycling Club won The Grant Cup for junior teams over a 20-mile course from Yaldhurst towards Kirwee and back ©n Saturday. „ The A^ e 1» similar to the Hope Gibbons event, which was decided last week. Five riders comprised each team, and the event is virtually a teams’ time trial, the team recording the fastest time being the winners. The time is taken when the fourth rider crosses the line. The Papanui team, which won the event last year, finished second, 58sec slower than Avon. Avon s time of 56min 21sec is the fastest yet for a Grant Cup At the turn Avon was holding a minute advantage on Papanui, and there was little change over the second half, Papanui improving on Avon only 2sec. The third team to take part, Christchurch, started with only four riders, and suffered another setback when R. Fitzgerald had a puncture and later gear trouble. This put Christchurch right out of the contest. For riders not taking part in the teams’ event there was a 30mile scratch race with a sealed handicap. R. Mann (Papanui) had litle difficulty in winning. Papanui riders filled the first four places, Jf. Stuart (Avon) being sixth. Results were: Grant Cup.—Avon (T. Tabak, G Sword, P. Wildermoth, M. Litolff, D. Savage), 56:21, 1Papanui (J. Cleary. G. Stanley’, P Skilling, S. Stephen, H. Bedford), 57:19, 2. Thirty-mile Scratch.—R. Mann (Papanui), 1:11:38, 1; H. Bush

(Papanui), 1:11:39. 2: P. Walford (Papanui), 1:11:39.2. 3.

Sealed Handicap.—C. Leppens <lsmln), 1:4:32, 1; H. Bush <5 min), 1:6:39. 2: N. Clarke (12 min), 1:7:20.5, 3.

Novice Eight-mlle Scratch.—G. Wood. 18:7, 1; A Paviell, 18:8, 2; G. Thompson, 18:8.5. 3. HORNBY CLUB The Hornby Cash Cycling Club held a 25-mile event from Hornby to just past Springston and back. In a spirited finish B. Yaxley held off his co-marker, M. Carmody, to win by half a length. F. Hooper, who started half a minute behind K. Brown, caught Brown at Prebbleton on the outward run. At the Lincoln College corner Hooper and Brown were a minute behind the s»min bunch, which had gained half a minute on the Bmin riders. A. Shaw, who started from the limit of 18min, had at this point dropped his co-marker, W. Campion, and was holding the lead on his own. At Springston on the return Shaw was still the leader, but only by half a minute, from Carmody and Yaxley. One hundred var’ds further back came C. Willcox and E. Shaw, who were followed two minutes later by the Smin riders, with Hooper and Brown a minute' further back.

Between Springston and Lincoln College Carmody and Yaxley passed Shaw and were holding a 2imin lead over Shaw and the Smin riders. At Prebbleton the two leaders held a long gap over Hooper and Brown, who had now passed the Smin riders with the exception of J. Willcox, who kept with them. Between Prebbleton and the finish these three turned on the pace, and in a desperate bid for fastest time Hooper held on to gain the decision by half a wheel, Willcox finishing five, seconds later. Results:—B. Yaxley (lOJmin), 1:7:49.6, 1: M. Carmody (loj min), 1:7:50, 2; F. Hooper (3J min), 1:2, 3. Fastest ■ time: Hooper. MAIREHAU NOVICE CLUB Nine riders started in a ninemile scratch event on Saturday morning. It was won by G. Wood, who also won the novice scratch race in the afternoon. Conditions were excelient. but the pace was fairly slow throughout, which gave the strong sprinters every chance. G. Dann led out for a very long sprint, and as the pressure came on the bunch spread out considerably. Dann could not withstand, the long fast sprint and was passed by five other riders. Wood showed his superiority to hold off G. Thompson by half a second. The sealed handicap run in conjunction with the scratch race was won by G. McLeod, off Imin.

Results:—G. Wood, 23:51, 1; G Thompson, 23:51:5, 2; B. Wilkinson, 23:52, 3. Sealed handicap: G. McLeod 1, G. Hudson 2, T. MeBrearty 3.