CYCLING

Evening Star, Issue 21821, 10 September 1934, Page 14

CYCLING

DUNEDIN CLUB The bad weather conditions which have prevailed so consistently during week-ends this season again marred what would have been an excellent race had the competitions been handed a fine day on Saturday. Nevertheless, the ten competitors ■who lined up-for the Dunedin Amateur Cycling Club’s race, which was held from Green Island over a block of •eleven miles on the Taieri, which block was covered three times by the riders before returning to the starting point, provided an interesting and well-fought race over heavy roads, the riders having to contend with driving rain ftorn the south-east, which made riding conditions 'most hazardous. : After an interesting race, during which four riders withdrew, C. Gilchrist filled first place, and made fastest time, his time being 2min better than that of the next man, G. Hetherington, who rode his first race for two years, filled second ‘place, with D. M'Callum third. - The starters were C. Lucas, iD. M'Callum, C. Gilchrist, A. Fletcher, M. Paterson (scr), V. Laws, C. Ralston, and G. Hetherington (7min), D. Burnett, and J. Kewish (12min). The limit men were sent away at a fast clip, and were followed five minutes later by Hetherington, Laws, and Burnett. The scratch men left 7min later. A. Fletcher, who made a had start, was left by his co-markers, and had to ride the journey on his own. After covering the course twice he withdrew from the race. ■ On the outward journey to Wylie’s Crossing the riders found the going hard against a head wind. Coming past Mosgiel station the first time round the seven-minute bunch had made up 2Jmin on the leaders. At this stage the remainder of the scratch bunch, Lucas having been dropped, lost, 30sec on the middle bunch. Covering the course for the second time Kewish found his co-marker too slow, and pushed ahead on his own. and at Mosgiel was barely 2min ahead of Laws and Hetherington, who had dropped Ralston. _ Up to this stage Laws and Hetherington had ridden great races and looked like being in the van at the finish. At this stage the scratch men, led by Gilchrist, had picked up 6min on the leader, and with more than half the journey covered were in a good position to fill the placings. Burnett and Ralston, finding the going too hard, turned for home at this juncture. Still riding gamely on his own came Lucas, who, unable to catch his co-markers, also turned for home. Coming along Gladstone road on the homeward journey, Hetherington, riding well for his first race in two years, had taken the lead from Kewish, who had tired badly the last time round. With four miles to go Gilchrist, riding splendidly, dropped his co-markers. His task of catching the leader, however, looked almost impossible, but nearing the top of the Saddle he overtook Hetherington and commandeered the lead. Coming up the Saddle Kewish and Paterson were very tired, but gamely stuck to their task. Coming through Fairfield, Gilchrist, who had ridden an excellent race, increased his lead to win easily from Hetherington and gain fastest time. D. M'Callum was next to finish, being followed by Kewish and Paterson in that order. V. Laws, who had collapsed over the last few miles, filled sixth place. THE PLACINGS. The following were the official placings and actual times of each competitor:— C. Gilchrist (2h 12min) 1 G. Hetherington (2h 21min 15sec) 2 D. M'Callum (2h 14min) 3 J. Kewish (2h 27min 20sec) 4 M. Paterson (2h lomin 25sec) ... 5 The race was ably controlled by Messrs A. C. Paterson, J. Fletcher, C. A. Lucas, A. Gckwejl, F. Greenfield, and JL tovfG