EXCITING FINISH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1940, Page 13

EXCITING FINISH

GRAND PRIX iVIOTOR-CYCLE - RACE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) '■■■■■' CHRISTCHURCH, March 25

I One of the most spectacular finishes seen in. such an ■ event in the district for many years concluded the fifth Grand Prix conducted under the auspices of the Canterbury Auto-Cycle . Club at Cuat today. R. Lnwton (Wellington) beat B. Rosson (Dunedin) .by 4 4-ssec, the distance separating them being about 30 yards. These two riders were among the first five throughout the race, and their duel at the finish kept the crowd on its toes. . Ten laps from the finish Lawton led Rosson by ...lniiu 27sec, but. the Dunedin rider reduced this advantage by the* sheer skill of his riding on the various hazards. Lawton was expected to come In and ■•refuel in the last few laps, but he stopped, checked his petrol, and decided to take the risk and 'carry oa t The decision gave him the race, though he must have had very little fuel to spare when he crossed the finishing line. The placed men were:—R. Lawton (Wellington), 2hr 15min 27 l-ssec, 1: B. Rosson (Dunedin), 2hr 13min 33 2-ssec, 2; H. Currie (Invercargill), 2hr lSmin 58sec, 3: W. Alexander (Christehurch), 2hr 23min slsec, 4: A. Napier (Dunedin), 2hr 25roin 6sec,' 5; G. Haggitt (Dunedin), 2hr 25min SOsec, 6; \V. Ashton (Dunedin), 2hr 32min 32sec, 7.