Cycling Record Broken

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31561, 26 December 1967, Page 10

Cycling Record Broken

A. O’Hagan broke the New Zealand cash cycling two-mile record when he won the Hope Gibbons Wheelrace at English Park raceway on Saturday night.

The two-mile handicap race, quite the finest race seen in Christchurch this season, was a triumph for the Australianborn O’Hagan and another backmarker, B. W. Yaxley. The pace was tremendously fast throughout and half a mile from the finish C. D. Yaxley and R. C. Archer, two further out on the marks, seemed likely to steal the race. But the older Yaxley, in a magnificent burst, mowed down the field, with O’Hagan at his wheels. The latter swept around the field with 200 yards to go. He eased in the straight and thus could have gone even faster than the 3min 53.95ec which was recorded. The former New Zealand record of 3min 55sec was set by W. D. H. Dalton at Waimate two years ago.,The national amateur record is 4min lOsec.

The man who made it possible, B. Yaxley, earned his reward in the three-mile scratch race, which he won from F. R. Hooper.

The Canterbury amateur sprint champion, M. W. Litolff, had a second notable win over the West German internationals when he won a “devil take the hindmost” two-mile race, coming round K. H. Henrichs and K. Kobusch and winning by a wheel. For the crowd, however, there was some dissatisfaction because it felt Litolff should have been called out about three laps from the finish. Cer-

tainly T. R. Weir, who was adjudged as last across the line in that lap, was no worse than third-last with Litolff and D. A. Swanston trailing him. Litolff also shared success in the points .race with Kobusch. scoring consistently—six out of eight sprints—while Kobusch owed more than half his points to winning the final sprint. The German and Swanston had a difference of opinion after half a mile and Kobusch did not score any points in each of five successive laps.

Henrichs made a big impression in the only handicap race, of a mile, when he rode away from a big bunch to win in the very good time of Imin 57.95ec. W. W. Thorpe and the recent novice, D. N. McEvoy, made very good use of their handicap and when Thorpe let McEvoy go he appeared to have a good chance of winning—until Henrichs made his move. However, McEvoy held on for second with Swanston sprinting the rest for third. The Germans controlled the five-mile scratch race in fairly masterly fashion to take first and second with R. D. Mann beating off Litolff for third. Results: Invitation events Two-mile points race.—M. W. Litolff (Canterbury) and K. Kobusch (West Germany), each 11, equal 1; K. H. Henrichs (West Germany), 9, 3. Time, 4:21.9. Two-mile “Devil take the Hindmost.”—Litolff 1, Henrichs 2, Kobusch 3. Five-mile scratch.—Henrichs 1, Kobusch 2, R. D. Mann (Canterbury; 3. Time, 11:23.2. Open oce-mfle handicap.— Henrichs (ISvd) 1, D. N. McEvoy (Canterbury, 130 yd) 2, D. A.' Swanston (Canterbury, 50yd) 3. Time, 1:57.9. Amateur Handicap.—B grade i-mile: P. D. Brydon (20yd) 1, B. Timms

(20yd) 2. B. M. Wildermoth (50yd) 3. Time. 59.3. B grade IJmile groupings: D. Jones (75yd) 1, Wildermoth < 140 yd) 2, B Berry (75yd) 3. Time. 3:10:1: Cash Cup Race.—Two-mile Hope Gibbons wheelrace: A. O’Hagan <3syd> 1, .1. R. Williams <29oyd) 2, R. C. Archer <4loyd) 3. Time, 3:53.9 <New Zealand record). Scratch. —Three-mile: B. W. Yaxley 1, F. R. Hooper 2, G. Knuckey 3. Time. 6:22. Handicap—Open half-mile: I Selby (90vd) 1, Hooper <syd> 2. O’Hagan (syd) 3. Time. 56 6. Novice Handicap.—Open i-mile: J. Delore <soyd) 1, G. Nearle (45ydi 2. P. Archer <4oyd) 3. Time. 29.4. A grade i-mile: R. E. Knight (syd) 1, G. M. Howes (syd) 2, G. J. Cleary (30yd) 3. Time, 61.1. B grade i-mile: A. Stewart (syd) 1, Delore < 15yd t 2, M. R. K. O’Sullivan (20yd) 3. Time. 32.0. Open i-mile: Archer <7syd) 1. P. Reddock (75yd) 2, O’Sullivan (90yd) 3. Time, 1:39. No Test The first cycling test between West Germany (K. Kobusch and K. H. Hendrichs) and New Zea land (M. W. Litolff and J. H. Cleary), which was to have been held at Denton Park on Sunday afternoon, was cancelled.

Heavy rain throughout the day left the track wet and Christchurch Track Cycling Committee officials called off the meeting. Attempts were made to hold the test, and the supporting programme, yesterday afternoon, but most of the riders were not able to compete because they were leaving for the South Canterbury circuit.