ROAD CYCLING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 88, 11 October 1937, Page 5

ROAD CYCLING

PROFESSIONAL RACE

PALMERSTON-WELLINGTON

WON BY P. SNOWDEN

The 100 miles professional road cycling race from Palmerston North to Wellington, conducted on Saturday by the Wellington Cash Cycling Club, was won by P. Snowden (New Plymouth), who, starting from the 33min mark, registered a sterling performance, particularly in view of the fact that he is only 17 years of age and that head winds were encountered for the greater part of the long and arduous journey. His brother, W. Snowden, won the race two years ago.

Fastest time went to W. Pratney (Auckland), who had a start of Bmin. He finished second and his time was shr 6min, as against the record of 4hr 6min lOsec established by Harry Watson (Marshland) in 1935 from scratch. On Saturday Watson was again on the scratch mark and had with him L. G. Fleming (Christchurch). but unfortunately for Watson he punctured comparatively early in the race and as a result lost valuable time. He returned shr 15min, which was the fourth fastest time. Fleming did not finish. ON PAEKAKARIKI HILL. Snowden was first to the top of the Paekakariki hill, leading G. Staveley (30min), a former Wellington amateur, by a few yards. Shortly afterwards Snowden and Staveley were together and they remained so until after reaching Porirua. Over the concluding stages of the race Snowden drew ahead and won well, sprinting across the finishing line, which was just beyond the Grand National Hotel at Petone. Both Pratney and R. Craig (New Plymouth) overhauled Staveley on the run to Petone, Staveley finishing fourth. Pratney and Craig had a keen contest for second place, Pratney prevailing by a narrow margin. There were 26 competitors. The starters with their handicaps were as follows: —

H. Watson (Marshland). L. G. Fleming (Christchurch), scr. W Pratney (Auckland), T. i-arr (Ashburton), P. Bicknell (Auckland), H. Bayley (New Plymouth), W. Ireland (New Plymouth), R. Craig (New Plymouth). Bmin. J Foote (Wellington), R. Greenlees (Waitara). A. Kinkade (New Plymouth), 15min. I. Caulton (Wellington). T. Smith (New Plymouth), 23min. R. Scott (New Plymouth), L. Drinkwater (Palmerston North). G. Staveley (Wellington), P. Wisnewski (New Plymouth), J. O'Reilly (Methven). 30min. A. Wright (Wellington), R. Wakeham (Wellington). P. Snowden (New Plymouth). 33min. A. Gibson (Blenheim), E. Pedley (Palmerston North), 40min. V. Wakeham (Wellington), E. Jamieson (Palmerston North), 55min. A. Alexander (Palmerston North), 60min. THE PLACINGS. The first twelve riders to finish, with their actual times, were as follows:— P. Snowden (New Plymouth). shr 27min *' W. Pratney (Auckland), shr 6min... 2 R. Craig (New Plymouth). shr 6min 0 l-ssec 3 G. Staveley (Wellington), shr 30min gOsec H. Bayley (New Plymouth), shr Bmin 30 l-ssec 5 A. Wright (Wellington). shr 37min 15sec 6 |P. Wisnewski (New Plymouth). I shr 35min 15sec 7 IR. Greenlees (Waitara), shr 27min 8 H. Watson: Marshland), shr 15min 9 L. Carr (Ashburton), shr 28min lOsec •• 10 A. Kinkadi (New Plymouth), shr 35 min 10 l-ssec U R. Scott (New Plymouth), snr 51min ', 30sec 12 | FASTEST TIMES. | Pratney. shr 6min 1 ! Craig, shr 6 min 0 l-ssec 2 j Bayley, shr Bmin 30 l-ssec 3 Watson, shr 15min 4