Christchurch to Timaru cash cycling classic

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32734, 11 October 1971, Page 18

Christchurch to Timaru cash cycling classic

A 44-year-old rider, R. Clayton, was the winner of the Timaru to Christchurch cash cycling classic when last held in 1969. The wheel turned for the fiftieth anniversary race, held from Christchurch to Timaru on Saturday, when a 17-year-old New Plymouth competitor, R. Cox, held at bay a fast-finishing, bunch of 10 to win by SOsec.

Cox’s win, achieved from the 28min mark, also gave New Plymouth its second success in the last three races: G. Adlam, then a junior and now reinstated to ride as an amateur, was first in 1968.

With the wind from the southwest at the start, the 42 riders were not blessed with the helpful conditions they might have expected at this time of the year. Then, as the wind turned to the east, they had to contend with it again on the ride from Pleasant Point towards the finish at Washdyke.

WORTHY EFFORT This made even more worthy the effort of Cox, alone in the front for the testing 10 miles at the business end of the race. But, in spite of the efforts of the conglomeration of the scratch, break, and 15min riders, he was able to cling to his lead, and be the fastest junior as well. With the conditions hardei than expected, the scratch bunch had an excellent chance of going through the field, and G. O. Moore, the Tinwald veteran favoured for fastest time, the opportunity to win the major share of the prize money. As it happened. Moore was too powerful in the sprint for his bunch of 10; and was second, into the bargain. But there was no really dominant figure in the bunch, and all contributed to the effort to get first and fastest time. Second to Moore in the sprint, by a wheel, was G. R. Lienert, an amateur with Timaru until two months ago. Whether the cash cycling officials of Canterbury can maintain the impetus they generated in reviving the race is not certain. But should this have been the swansong of New Zealand’s most famous long-distance race,

it would have gone out well. A crowd approaching 500 was at the start, and again at the finish, and there was obviously a keen sense of tradition in those who watched parts of the 100-mlle Journey. "It was just like the old days,” said the race superintendent, Mr R. H. Harrison. Most of the riders who finished were rewarded for their efforts. As well as the usual time and line prizes, there was 8100 in special prizes for riders out of places. DETAILED RESULTS Abbreviations used in the results are: New Plymouth

(N.P.), Tinwald (T.), Timaru (Tim.), Auckland (A-). Hornby (H.). Christchurch to Timaru 100 miles.—R. Cox (NJP., 28mln) 1. G. O. Moore (T., scr.), 2, G. R. Lienert (Tim., Mmin) .3, P(T., scr.) 4, I. Coe (Tim., Simin) S, R. Currie (Tim., scr.) 6, F. T. fredreg (A., ISmln) 7, C. D. Yaxley (H a ISmln) 6. E. C. Gluestein (T.. 25mln) 9, B. Harris iT., 2Smln) 10, JTCuthbertson (Tim., Moore, 4:20:36, 1; Wylie, 4:20:38, 2; Currie, 4:30:38.4, Junior: Cox. 4:47:46, 1; JMcCaughan (T„ SOmjn) 2.