CYCLE ROAD RACE.

Evening Star, Issue 14002, 8 March 1909, Page 3

CYCLE ROAD RACE.

WON BY G. DAWSON. Bicycle road-racing is an exceedingly popular sport in Australia and in other parts of the Dominion. In Dunedin, too, some years ago, road-racing was. a common thing, but of late, owing to regulations regarding furious riding, etc., our wheelmen have had to rest, it therefore came as a pleasant surprise to those interested in cycling when the Otago Centre of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen announced their intention of running such a race from Mosgiel to Waihola and bade, a distance of thirty-five miles. The event was looked forward to with a deal of interest, and much training was done. A record entry came in from riders as far north as Christchurch and all along the line to Southland. Twenty odd was the largest number got previously, but this time thirty-three cyclists entered. And, what is more satisfactory, oat of that number thirty-two started. The event took place on Saturday, the officials being Messrs S. D. Minn (starter and handicapper), A. J. Sullivan, D. Wall, and T. B. Williamson (timekeepers), G. Nelson (secretary), W. R. Frost F. E. Bell, T. M. Smith, J. Scoulkr, and W. R. Frost (turning stewards). The limit man left Mosgiel about ten minutes to three o'clock, and the remainder started on the journey at close intervals during the next few minutes. The following shows "the order in which the competitors started: —Ferry (llmin), Doyle, Dawson, Reid (9min), Perrin, Murray, J. Roxburgh (7min), Loudon, OKane, Bateman (6imin), Stevenson, Christie, De Silva, Riddell (6min), Bridson, Hurlev, Behan (simin), Collins, J. Wilson, Mackenzie (smin), J. R. Roxburgh, Craig, Hansen (4imin), Cusack, M. Wilson, M'Lean (4min), Cole, Goodall (3£min), Wroble, Smith (lmin), H. Withey and A. Carnegie (scratch).

All the competitors, after being warned not to bunch and told to ride carefully, got a fair start, excepting Stevenson (6min), who was knocked over by a man a few yards from the starting point. He got on again, however, and made good the time lost. The road was in the best of condition and the weather was perfect, as were all other conditions, had it not been for an unpleasant occurrence. Some individual had strewn one side of the road with tacks, and this was responsible for no less than a dozen or more cycles being punctured. The tacks were distributed in larger numbers this side of AUanfcon, as will be seen by the fact that at that place one contestant picked up about half an outfit tin of sharp-pointed tacks in a very short time. One of the turning stewards received a number of punctures to both of the heavy tyres fitted to his motor cycle. The "tin-tack" trick is a despicable one, and it is to be hoped that the perpetrator of such an act will be brought to book. Had this unfortunate incident not happened a closer and better-contested finish would no doubt have been witnessed. Apart from this, the raoe was absolutely free from accident of any kind. The officials arranged matters well. Stewards were placed all along the road, and these reported favorably on tho way in which the Tace was run. As each contestant reached Waihola he handed to the steward stationed at the turning point a card upon which his name was written. The riders were in the following order when Waihola was reached : —Reid, Doyle, Dawson, De Silva, Murray, Christie, O'Kane, Craig, Collins, M. Wilson, J. Wilson, Behan. Loudon, Wroble, M'Lean, Withey, Ferry.. Eighteen riders went tho whole distance. <

Xhe to Ja&a .Dawsoq,, of

and he was cordially received as 1 he dismounted and walked away., The! tune was lh 34min 45sec, and Dawson, >ho \ is quijfc a lad,,is to be congratulated on'his creditable performance, he being the young- i est competitor. » j, * R.Bridson (of Riversdale) got second j place. He rode a fine race, doing the distance in lh 33min 37sec. "His time was the I fastest. ■'. ■-■■ \

F. De Siilva>.(of Roxburgh) came in third, following, closely behind the second man. His time was lh.! 34min 2sec., ' M. Wilson (Oamaru) was next to arrive, being followed' by.Murray (Mosgiel), Rejd (Dunedin), Cusack (Christchurch), Hurley (Waikaia), and Collins (Riversdale). Doyle (Timaru), who with the winner had a 9min start, led from the latter, and kept in the van for twenty-eight miles. Dawson was riding strongly, not far behind, when he got. a puncture, which he menderj immediately and started again. 1 Doyle then had a good lead, and Dawson, after a fine sprint, had the misfortune to have his tyre explode. He, however, secured a wheel from a passing cyclist, and again set chase. Doyle, who was riding splendidly, then lost a shoe, and afterwards a pedal. The resourceful Dawson therefore won a deserved race. Much sympathy goes to Doyle, who had such misfortune. The prize for the fastest unplaced time goes to D. Murray, whose time was lh 56min 46sec, and who finished fifth.