ROAD CYCLING

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 57, 17 September 1928, Page 16

ROAD CYCLING

FIFTY MILES CONTEST LUKEY GAINS FASTEST TIME Although Wellington men secured the first' three places iv the New Zealand amateur fifty miles cycle road championBhip' on Saturday afternoon, it was a Canterbury, rider, L. G. Lukcy, who secured the premier honours —the fastest time nnd the championship. The first rider to finish was l'\ Christonscn, and he was closely followed by S. Wright, with L. Moorhouso third. Tho race was held over a course between the Central Fire Station in Jervois quay and the foot of tho Mangaroa Hill and- back. There was a representative field of thirty-six riders, who were given a good send-off by two or three hundred Bepectators, among whom were the Mayor ,(Mr.i':G. A. Troup) and the Mayoress. THE COMPETITORS. Tho competitors, with their handicaps, Were as follows:—J. H. Wade (Auckland), F. J. Grose and L. G. Lukey (Christchurch),- J: F. Algie (Gisborne) and C. R. Fletf (Wellington), scratch; M. Gane (Wellington), H. R. Dwight, and J. Whitten (Auckland), 2min; G. H. Farmer (Christchurch),, W. T. Bray and 11. J. Morris (Wellington), 3min; L. J. Pearce and R..8. Daly (Christchurch), H. S. Webber,"aiid D. L. Toomer (Wellington), 6min; A. R. Hutton (Christchurch), L. J. Manning, I/. F. Bellman, R. J. Robinson, and A. Horsfall (Wellington), 7min; A. B. Borrie (Takapau), W. Collins (Mana•watu),'"C. Rhodes (Christchurch), Bmin; I). Pedersen (Manawatu). -T. I'oote, L. Moorhouse, F. Chvistcnsc:., ami S. Wright (Wellington), 12min; P. T. Sutherland, A. T. Hart, W. O'Neill, 11. Austin, and 8. K. Forsyth (Wellington), 18min; R. Evans, G. Irvine, and A. M. Hall (Wellington), 24min. RACE DESCRIBED. The three limit men got away at 2.16 jp.m., and the others were started at intervals, the scratch riders setting out on their Jong journey at 2.40 p.m. The use

Itobson and Boycr, X'hoto.

of the bitumen along the Hutt road was not permitted, aud in consequence the going was pretty rough on the broken cycle track. In Morris's case No. 13 was true to its reputation of "Devil's number. His front tire punctured when he was between Ngahauranga and Petone, and he was -back af the starting point a .little after 3 o'clock;' Misfortune also overtook the Aucklander ©wight and the Canterbury rider Hutton, early in the contest. They too, punctured their tyres before reaching Petone, and returned to Wellington. The five scratch men clapped on good pace from tho start, and went out along the Hutt road at an estimated speed of 30 miles an hour. Flett was piloting the scratch men at the Petone railway crossing, but passing the Hutt Station Grose was in front. When Taita Gorge was reached they had gained 15sec on the 2min men. SPILL'S" IN TAITA GORGE. The riders on the limit mark turned at the foot of the Mangaroa Hill on. the homeward journey at 3.30 p.m., having taken : r hour 20min for the twenty-five miles. The 12min men had made good time on the way out, and turned a minute later.. '.In the Taita Gorge, where the road, covered with metal and ear ruts, was the..worst experienced throughout the journey, a number of the riders ran into trouble. The 6niin men, with the exception of Toomor, fell at this point, and Toomer sportingly waited until the others remounted. Sutherland was next, to turn after the 12min men, and then followed 'Robinson, Horsfall, Bellman, and Collins at 3.43 p.m., all going well. Webber, Tqoiner,. Pearson, and Daly were next to put in an appearance at Mangaroa, nnd behind them came Whitten, Algie, Fanner. Gane, and Bray. Lukey; Grose, and Wade . turned just after 3.46 p.m. At 4 o'clock Grose, Lukey, and Wade had caught Bray, Gane, and Pearce. Whitten was going splendidly; he had done very well. Coming through the Taita Gorge Grose fell, and Lukey gained a break on | the other .scratch riders. When Ngahauranga was reached Chris- i

tensen, Wright, and Moorhouse .were in front, but a little further on Cbristensen and Wright struck out on their own. They paced one another lip to 200 yards from the finishing post, and then, riding at a remarkable pace, Christeiisea spurted ahead and passed down through the lines of spectators the ■winner by a few yards. Moorhouse was next, 36sec after Wright, and the other competitors followed at intervals. Lukey finished in seventh place, and his time of 2 hours Bmin 3!>.<ec, being the fastest returned, he won the championship. THE PLACINGS. The results, with the times, are as follow: —L'urisleiiscn. 21ir lTriiin TiL-ifo, 1; Wright, 'ihr ITiniu nlVc-. -'; Mnorhoiise, 21ii' 18min 28snc, 3: Wliittcn. 2hr ]omin :53.<ef. 4; Weblicr, 2hr Hiiiiu SI I'-usei-, ii; Toomrr, 21)r 1-Jniin Jifeeo, 0; Lnkpy, 21ir Bmin 35seo. 7: (Jrosf-, 21ir (Juii» 2scc, S; JBray, 2lir 12min 2 ;i-:wee. !).: Bellman, 2hr ICmin ssec, 10; Korsytli, 2hr lOaiin 1 2-ssre, 11: ' rcderiioii. 2hr 23min user;, 12; Hall. 2hr 35mirr 12sec, 13: Cane, 2hr ]smin 50 s«ec, 14. Fastest times: Lukey J, Grose

2, Whitten 3. A trophy for the first rider under 18 to finish was won by Forsyth. After the race the competitors and their friends were served with afternoon tea in the Star* Boating Club, after which the Mayoress (Mrs. Troup) presented the fastest time sash and medal to Lnkey, and the trophies to the other successful riders. Addressing the gathering, the Mayor congratulated the competitors on the performances they had registered, making special mention of the close finish between Christensen and Wright. "It was a good race," added Mr. Troup. '"There is no question about that." The president of the AVelHngton Centre, N.Z.A.A.A. (Mr. A. C. Kitto), congratulated the visiting riders on their achievements, and expressed thanks to nil who had assisted in making the race a success. Mr. Bailey, of the Pupanui Club, Christchurch, replied.