AMATEUR CYCLING

Evening Star, Issue 22686, 28 June 1937, Page 5

AMATEUR CYCLING

A. SHAND WINS H LACHLAN GUP The M'Lachlan Cup race round a course leading from the Mosgiel Junction to Allanton and back to Silverstream via Woodside, Allanton, and Wylie’s Crossing, attracted a record entry of 31 competitors. The cup was presented to Otago cycling by the late Mr W. M'Lachlan in 1927, and since then the annual competition has grown in popularity until now it is regarded as a local classic. At 2.30 the starter (Mr H. R. Greenfield) set the limit men, R. Denton, D, Tillyshort, and J. Reynolds, on their 21i-mile_ journey.. The rest were sent away in seven bunches until the scratch men, G. Homer, W. Chalmers, and M. Paterson, started lOmin later. The front bunches were making a fast pace to Allanton, the middle-markers and back men being slpwer except for the Imin 45sec bunch,' which was maintaining an average of 28 miles per hour at this stage. At the Outram power station the three front groups were hunched together, S. Scoles, D. Ralston, and A. Woodford showing the way. Two minutes later Quigley, Tate, and M‘Lachlan passed through, having lost. 15scc on Scoles and the others with him. A minute later Slemint and Smart passed the station, having dropped, their co-mark-ers. Both were pedalling very strongly. Several stragglers passed the station, Boyd, Henry, Wilson, and Garden following closely. The scratch men were split up at this stage, Homer being dropped due to a fall. Just before Woodside, Slemint and Smart caught up with Quigley, Tate, and M'Lachlan, and the pace slackened a little. After the turn at Woodside had been made an effort was made by this bunch to catch the front-markers, and the speed was quickened. It was over 2min behind the front bunch at this stage. Apart from one or two riders, who dropped out owing to chain trouble, the front bunch was intact going through Outram on the return journey. After tho Outram bridge the second hunch comprised only D. Smart, R. Quigley, A. Tate, and M. M'Lachlan, who were setting a good pace. By Wylie’s Crossing they were only half a mil© behind Scoles and A. Shand. In the finishing straight at Silverstream the remaining riders of the front bunch sprinted for the line, A. Shand winning by a small margin from S. Scoles. R. Denton, Quigley, Tate, and Smart were only 100yds away, after a spirited attempt to catch the leaders. Their riding over the latter part of the journey was responsible for them gaining time honours. Tho race was well controlled by the club’s officials, Mr J. Fletcher acting as referee. Results:—• •A. Shand (Bmin 45sec) ... ... 1 S. Scoles (7min 45sec) ... ... : ... 2 R, Denton (lOmin) 3 A, Woodford ("rain 45sec) ... ... 4 D. Ralston (7min 45sec) •... . 5 L. Shand (Bmin 45sec) 6 The fastest times were:—D. Smart (4min losec), 56min 58 4-sseo; R. Quigley (6min), 57min 43 2-ssec; A. ,Tate jOmin), 57min 43 3-sscc; S. Scoles, sSmin 55 3-ssec; A. Woodford, 58min 57sec; D. Ralston, 58min 59soc. The time of the scratch men, headed by Chalmers, was GOmin 1 l-ssec.