Surprise Winner In 100-Mile Cycling

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31827, 4 November 1968, Page 19

Surprise Winner In 100-Mile Cycling

Riding in only his fifth race, V. Sullivan (Timaru) showed great progress to win the gruelling Timaru-to-Christchurch 100mile cycling classic on Saturday.

Sullivan, off 50min, broke away from A. Thompson (Timaru) and H. van Ekeris (Avon) just before Paparua and reached the finish in Yaldhurst Road five minutes ahead of the others. This was a fine effort by Sullivan, who has been racing for only two months.

The only North Islander in the field, R. Pratt (Otaki), off 36min, chased hard over the last few miles to steal second place from van Ekeris in the final sprint.

As expected. W r . W. Thorpe (Papanui), off scratch, was fastest for the journey, but the warm weather and a head wind that became progressively stronger ruled out any chance of the race record set by G. E. Hill in 1961 being broken. Thorpe took 4hr 28min 39sec, as against Hill’s time of 3hr Simin 35sec.

Three other Papanui riders— B. G. Stockwell. H. R. Bush, and R. K. Anderson—were the next fastest riders, but Thorpe’s time was well clear of theirs.

Rider Injured The first 50 miles to Ashburton was largely- without incident apart from the compression of the field as the backmarkers strived to make up the handicap deficit. However, N. Worsfold (Avon) sustained a

I broken arm, a broken leg and I head injuries when he collided with an oncoming car near Orari. Worsfold was forced to swing wide to avoid another rider. He was taken to the Timaru Hospital by ambulance. The four front riders off 70min, G. J. Duncan, P. M. Fuller. and W. J. H. Wood (Papanui), and M. Daly (Timaru), were still together at Ashburton, with Duncan winning the sprint, but by Dunsandel the 50min riders, Thompson, van Ekeris, Sullivan and W. J. Spencer (Avon), had caught them. The weather was taking its toll and the bunches were beginning to break up. Soon after the cyclists passed Weedons, Duncan was dropped, and down the West Coast road to West Melton, Thompson, van Ekeris and Sullivan had worked clear of the others. From the 36min mark, Pratt and G. Jenks (Dunedin) were beginning to make some impression on the leaders after their bunch, which had lost five riders before it started, broke up. Fine Burst At Norwood, Pratt and Jenks appeared to have a grand chance of winning, but Sullivan’s fine burst at Paparoa thwarted their efforts. With Stockwell and Thorpe in control, the scratch bunch reached Ashburton together, but between Rakaia and Bankside Thorpe and Stockwell applied further pressure to get clear. At Dunsandel the bunch fell apart, and R. J. A. Robinson (Glengarry) made a desperate bid to catch the pair, but failed.

Stockwell and Thorpe caught the break bunch at West Melton, and when this bunch broke up the pair were separated for the first time. A bunch of seven, including Thrope and M. W. Litolff (Avon), off break, then forged ahead, and Litolff won the sprint to the finish, with Thorpe fifth but more than

a minute clear of Stockwell. Only 27 of an original entry of 64 finished. Included among the 11 who failed to start were D. A. Swanston and R. A. Galbreath (both Papanui), and the scratch rider, J. W. Adams (Invercargill). x

Abbreviations used in the following results are:—P., Papanui; 0., Otaki; G., Glengarry; D., Dunedin; A.. Avon; 1., Invercargill; T., Timaru.

Timaru to Christchurch, 100 Miles.—V. Sullivan (T.), 50min,

1; R. Pratt (O.), 36min, 2; H. van Ekeris (A.), 50min, 3; A. Thompson (T.), 50m in, 4; G. Jenks (D.), 36min, 5; H. Rubber (I.), 36min, 6; B. M. Wildermoth (A.), 25min, 7; W. J. Spencer (A.), 50min, 8; M. W. Litolff (A.), 15min, 9; R. Humphries (G.), 15min, 10. Time: 5:5:12.

Fastest Times.—W. W. Thorpe (P.), scr, 4:28:38, 1; B. G. Stockwell (P.), scr, 4:29:12, 2; H. R. Bush (P.), scr. 4:35:34, 3; R. K. Anderson (P.), scr, 4:35:35, 4; E. Warren (D.), scr, 4:35:36, 5.