TO RIMUTAKA HILL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 95, 19 October 1931, Page 12

TO RIMUTAKA HILL

60 MILES CYCLE RACE

L. SOWERBY'S FINE EFFORT

Although there is still in view the 102 miles racs from Palmerston North to Wellington, to be conducted by the Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre, the 60 miles handicap contest held on Saturday afternoon by the Port Nicholson Cycling Club (N.Z.A.A.A.) from the Petone Esplanade to the top of the Rimutakn Hill and back was the last big race on the club's programme. The principal honours were shared by L. W. Sowerby and G. Puniti. Sowerby, with a handicap of 9'/&min, was first to finish and gained second fastest time; Puniti (scr) was second, and made fastest time, which was over ll%min. better than that registered by Sowerby.

On the outward journey, the riders had to battle against a strong head wind, and several retired before reaching the top of the Kirnutaka Hill. There was one new competitor, O'Connor, who shaped well considering it was his first race with the club.

Bignall and Mulford were first away, at 2.34 p.m., followed by I. Ericsson and A. Sowerby, who were off the 18min mark. Orr, Lyster. and Eyton, each of whom had a start of 12min, were next; and then Poulton and L. W. Sowerby (9%minK who got away quickly and were soon down to business. C. Ericsson, S Webber, and C. Johnston were on the 3%min mark. The scratch men, Puniti and P N. Robinson, got away well, and, in spite of the wind, made good time t,o the Mangaroa Hills, at which point places were changing rapidly. The limit riders were first over these hills, and close behind them came A. Sowerby and I. Ericsson. Lyster had dropped his co-markers, Orr and Ryton, who were feeling the effects of the

.-nee. On the Manjjaroa Hills C. Ericsson Irow away from hie co-markers, hut further on lie was in turn picked up by Puniti and Robinson. Orr* retired at this stage.

O'Connor and I. Eriessoii did not make the summit of the Rimutakas. Loose shingle was very.thick. There were plenty of punctures. Robinson had a puncture on the Rimutakas. A. Sowerby, R. Lyster, and P. Eyton also met with tire trouble.

Mrilford, the Petone rider, rode his machine down the Rirautakas at speeds up to 40 and 45 miles an hour, without a brake and with a free wheel.

On the homeward, run L. W. Sowcrby and Poulton made good pace, reaching speeds up to 35 miles an hour. In the end, however, Sowerby proved a little too strong, and left Poulton at the junction of the Akatarawa and Mangaroa hill roads. Sbwerby won by a creditable margin from Puniti,: and, although only a young rider, looked none the worse for his strenuous fide. Only eight finished.

Results, with actual riding times, were as follows:—

L. W. Sowerby (9%min), 2hr 57min 17

sec ••■... 1 G. Puniti .(scr), 2hr ,45min 33sec 2 A. Sowerby (18min), 3hr 14min 52sec .. .3 E. R. Poulton (9%min), 3hr smin 19see .4

Fastest Times.—G. Pnniti, 1; L. W. Sowerby, 2; P. N. Robinson (scr), 3hr lmin 48sec, 3.

OTAKI TO PARAPARAUMU

A special race for N.Z.A.A.A. riders is to be-held next-Saturday afternoon from the Otaki Post Office to Paraparaumu and back. Twelve of the Port Nicholson Club riders propose competing, and their handicaps, which, however, are subject to revision, are as follows:—E. Milkier, 13min; E. Mulford and I. Ericsson, lOmin; R. Lyster and E.-R; Poulton, 4%min; L. W. Sowerby and H. S. Webber, 2min; C. Ericsson and Q. Johnston; lmin; G. Puniti, P. N. Robinson, and F. Christensen, scratchy •___ I_^^^___