TWO 40-MILE EVENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 287, 31 August 1931, Page 14

TWO 40-MILE EVENTS

Saturday’s Road Cycling HAMIL AND AMOS WIN Although it was hoped orjginnlly that the 10-mlle road race held ou Saturday by the Port Nicholson Ainateur lload Cycling Club, affiliated to the Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre, would start and finish in Jervois Quay, Wellington, permission could not be obtained for the use of the Hutt Itoad route, and the race had to start and finish at Petone. Weather conditions were good, and the race was won by F. Hamil (16min.), who gave a sound performance. Fastest time was secured by P. N. Robinson, the only scratch rider to start. His time for the journey was Hir. 46niin. 32 l-Ssec.

The limit man was E. Millner, a young rider who Is doing better each time out. Next to Millner was A. Sowerby, who was conceded a long handicap for his first entry into racing ranks. Sowerby proved something of a surprise, and if lie had not mistaken the route early in the race would liavo won. As It was, he was the first rider home. Sowerby . picked up Millner before much of the distance was gone, and the pair settled down in fine style. Sowerby dropped .Millner at (Upper Hutt, and turned a couple of minutes.before him. Hamil at the turn was about 100 yards ahead of It. Johnson, and about four minutes behind Millner. E. K. Poulton 'was next, and was followed by 0. Ericsson and L. W. Sowerby. Bobinson, the scratch man, and (I. Puniti, who was nearest to him, turned together. On the way home Robinson dropped Puniti at Silverstrcam. ■ Punltl’s legs were troubling him, and he could not stand the pace. Ericsson, also, who was riding well up to the turn, faded to some extent and withdrew at Lower Hutt on the way in. At the turn Robinson had picked up n minute and three-quarters on Ericsson and Sowerby. Placings with actual riding times were as follow:— F. Hamil (ICmln.), Ihr. filmin. 11 l-ssec. .:....... 1 Ij. W. Sowerby (7mln.), Ihr. 48mln. 23 1-fiscc 2 E. Millner (30min.), 2hr. llmin. 42sec. . 8 It. Johnson (Ifiniin.), 2hr. Omln. 2 2-Ssec. 4 P. N. Robinson, who made fastest time, was the fifth man in.

AMOS WINS N.Z.U.C. EVENT Good Finish to 40-miler Two races were held by the Port Nicholson Amateur Cycling Club, affiliated to tho New Zealand Union of Cyclists, the seniors competing in a 40J-mlle event and the juniors in one of 9) miles. In the junior race C. Crockford (Imin.), off virtual scratch, gave away three minutes, and rode alone all the way, returning the fastest time of 28 minutes. L. Barnes (2mln.) finished first and made second fastest time off 28min. 20sec. W. -Roffe (4mln.) was second home, with K. Thomas (3mln.), third. * ' I - The course for the seniors was three circuits of the Breaker Bay cutting course, each lap being 13J miles. Seventeen riders faced the starter, and the first men away were R. Wishart, F,‘Taylor, C. Broadwell, L Shephard, and J. Holmes, all pit 14 minutes. These were followed 11J minutes later by C. Tasker, J. Campbell, and D. Evans (2Jmin.), who were virtual scratch. At the completion of the first lap the position of the riders was much the. same. 11. Evans (Gmin.) bad punctured, R. Williams (9 mln.) had crashed, and L. Shephard aiid A. Pennington bad bad trouble with their patent gears. . ' At the end of the second lap A. Amos and C. Aldridge (Timin.) were In charge. C. Tasker and J. Holmes had punctured. J. Campbell, D. Evans (2jmin.), and F. Blackett (4min.) were riding well together, and in the next 13 miles had-some three minutes to catch on the leaders. Campbell and Blackett,' who both had patent gears; were pushing on a high gear of about 104 Inches with the wind at their backs. D. Evans, with a fixed gear of 73 inches, was hard pushed. Less than three miles from the finish at Miramar Wharf a keen tussle was taking place between Amos and Aldridge, who were still a good distance ahead. Spectators nt the finish were excited when the leaders came Into view near the power station followed 100 yards away by the three back-markers. The latter rode themselves to a standstill. Campbell finished 15 yards behind Aldridge, who was narrowly defeated by Amos for first place. F. Blackett (4min.) was fourth, aud D. Evans fifth. Three and a half minutes later came C. Croawell, a new rider, followed two minutes later still by F. Taylor. 'S. Wright was eighth man home. Fastest time of Ihr. 41mln. 30sec. was registered by J. Campbell, with D. Evans two-fifths of a second slower, second fastest, and F. Blackett third fastest. All the riders wore a white band on their arm as a mark of respect to the memory of "Ted” Blakeway, who was a most popular cyclist and well known the whole country over. A general meeting of the-elub will be held to-night.