5-Mile Cash Title Won By O’Hagan

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31290, 9 February 1967, Page 14

5-Mile Cash Title Won By O’Hagan

The fine sprinting powers of A. O’Hagan, which usually come to the surface when most needed, were in evidence again last evening in the Canterbury cash cycling championships at English Park.

O'Hagan won the five miles in a sprint finish, a race which threatened to become a repetitious affair until the lesser lights livened things with two miles to go.

Then four riders—T. C. Gibbs, M. R. Woolford, J. W. Blackmun and C. D. Yaxley —broke away but were dragged in by G. O. Moore, one of the favoured riders. However, Gibbs and Yaxley made another effort in the next half-mile and stayed in front until F. R. Hooper caught them. For a time it looked as if they would stay in front and cause the upset of the evening but with half a mile to go, the bunch had caught them again and while O'Hagan was finishing an easy winner—with his closest potential rival, K. R. Jeffery,

'trapped—J. R. Williams and Woolford were staging the tightest sprint of the night, and probably of the season. They crossed the line t<A gether, with Williams just taking second place. O’Hagan, however, did not ride his two sprint finals against Jeffery very well. In the first matching, he hung too far back and although putting in a desperate effort, was held off by Jeffery with some ease. In the second, and crucial, race, O’Hagan led from the beginning but Jeffery challenged him in the straight and again won in some comfort.

The perennial cash frontmarker, P. Smith, had his first win of the season—but it was not a satisfactory victory.

K. L. Campion beat him across the line but Campion was disqualified because his number (9) was reversed and read as a 6. Results:— NORTH CANTERBURY CASH CHAMPIONSHIPS

501 Metrei Sprint.—Final: K. R. Jeffery beat A. O'Hagan in two races Times, 14.8, 13.5. Third place: F. R. Hooper beat K. A. Brown. Time, 14.0. Five Miles.—O'Hagan X. J. R. Wiliams 2, M. R. Woolford 3. Time, 19:52.4.

Handicap—Two laps: P. Smith (130yds.) 1, J. w. Blackmun (80yds) 2, N. Woodgate (55yds) 3. Time, 57.4. Six laps: T. C. Gibbs (190yds.) 1, J. R. Williams (160yds.) 2, Blackmun (250yds.) 3. Time, 3:0.

AMATRUR Scratch.—4ooo metres teams' pursuit: Senior (J. H. Cleary, P. A. Skilling, R. D. Mann; J. SDanielson), 5:7.8, 1; Junior (S. J. Stephen, B. G. Stockwell. N. D. Clarke, B. D. Wilkinson). 5:16.1, 2. B grade quarter-mile: R. A. B. McKee 1, S. Maddock 2, R. G. Hogarth 3. Time, 32.1. A grade five-mlle; M. W. Litolff 1, Skilling 2, C. B. Fitzgerald 3. Time, 11:20. B grade “Devil take the hindmost”: G. J. Day 1, Wilkinson 2, P. D. Crichton 3. Time, 4:7.7.

Handicap.—B grads mile: B. p. Whitfield (15yds.) 1, N. D. Clarke (15yds.) 2, G. J. Day (30yds.) 3. Time, 2:5.9. A grade half-mile: S. J. Stephen (40yds.) 1, G. B. Sword (85yds.) 2. B. J. Hogan (80yds.) 3. Time, 56.1. Open quarter-mile: G. McLeod (50yds.) 1, M. W. Utolff (scr.) 2. J. H. Cleary (scr.) 3. Time, 28.8. A grade one mile and a half groupings-: A, A. Pavlell (220yds.) 1, Sword (220ydx.) 3, G. W. Wood (220yds.) 3. Time. 2:55.9.

North Canterbury Championships.—Scratch half-mile: Bry* don 1, R. C. Archer 2, K. Fairbrother 3. Time, 1:8.2.

Scratch.—A grade threequarter mile: Brydon 1, R. McDonald 2, B. R. Chisholm 3. Time, 1:46.7. B grade Italian pursuit: Ranglora (G. Hogarth, B. Day, G. Perry, P. Archer), 2:16, 1; Mairehau (A. Stewart, P. L. Pavlell, A. Barford. M. O'Sullivan). 2:20, 2.

Handicap. Open quartermile: B. R. Chisholm (25yds.) 1. P. D. Brydon (scr.) 3, B. Fairbrother (20yds.) 3. Time, 30.2. Open three-quarter-mlle: P. L. Pavieil (135yds.) 1. A. Barford (135yds.) 3, K. Wapp (85yds.) 3. No time.