Timaru-Christchurch Cycling Race Today

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30895, 30 October 1965, Page 11

Timaru-Christchurch Cycling Race Today

THE scratch riders, giving 4 up to 75 minutes start, will face a difficult task in the annual Timaru to Christchurch race to be conducted by the Avon Amateur Cycling Club today. With the exception of T. Tabak (Avon), the scratch riders all come from Dunedin or Invercargill. The handicapper is to be congratulated on his placing of the riders and his action should ensure some excellent riding from the back markers, something that has often been lacking during the season. Most of the bunches comprise eight or nine riders and, in a field of 60, this should give the competitors the opportunity to return good times. The New Zealand representative on the recent Australian tour, S. Stephen (Avon), will start from the break mark of nine minutes with the Canterbury 50-mile title-holder, W. Thorpe (Papanui). It would not be surprising If one of the 23-minute riders was first to finish. Three cyc-

lists who have performed with distinction over the last three weeks. D. Jones (Avon). D. Savage (Avon) and R. Hogan (Papenul), will start from this mark. Jones finished first and fourth respectively in the two stages of the race to Akaroa and return and Savage came third in each stage. Hogan won the Amanda Wilkes event two weeks ago and was fourth in the 80mile classic after falling when appearing to be the likely winner. In the Akaroa event he finished fifth in the first stage and second in the other. G. Leinhard (Timaru), who finished second in the 80-mile classic and won the second stage of the Akaroa event, is starting from 30 minutes but he does not appear to have the riders to make the pace for him as Hogan did last Saturday. The scratch markers will give away 75 minutes to the limit riders, G. McGregor (Christchurch) and F. Johnson (Papanui), both very experienced cyclists. McGregor is the yeteran of the field.