CYCLING

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1931, Page 6

CYCLING

WAIMATE—CHCH. RACE

[PEE PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

CHRISTCHURCH, October 3. Five riders bunched in a wheel-to-wheel finish, sprinting like track riders at the end of the 145 miles cycle race from Wainjate to Christchurch, roused a big crowd assembled on the Show Ground to witness the finish, to the wildest excitement. T. Lohrey flashed out a fexv yards from the finish, to win by a length and a quarter from C- J- Arnst.. Lohrey’s time was 7 hours 2inins 17 secs. He is 19 years of age. The fastest time, which carries the New Zealand Road Championship title, was made by H. G. Watson, in 6 hours 44min. 49secs. His sprint down the straight to beat the only other scratch rider to stay with him over the long journey, NV. J. Lamberton, xvas almost as exciting as the race for first placeWatson finished in 21st place. The men had perfect weather for their long ride. A light easterly wind blew, which hampered the riders little, if at all- There was bright sun overhead, and the roads were in very fair order-

The scratch bunch made slow pace on the first part of the journey, they waiting for the leaders to come back to them, but as the results show, a fair number kept their long lead. Results: — T. Lohrey (Christchurch), handicap 57min. 1 C. Arnst (Christchurch) 57min. .. 2 J. Calder, 70min 3 J. Quill, 65min 4 J. Mitchell, 50min 5 L- J- Young, 60min 6 J. G. Stack, 46min 7 C. Johnston, 50min 8 J. Welsh, 65min 9 A- Mugford, 70min 10 J. Magee, 60min U C. A- Blyth, 57min 12 W. J. Lamberton was 22nd, two lengths behind Watson. A N. Ralston (Otago), 20min., was 23rd. E. A- Cooke (Hokitika), with a handicap of 54 minutes, finished in 28th place, his time being 7 hours 48min 14secs. W. R- Gooch (Hokitika) finished in 29th place, off 38 minutes, his time being 7 hours 32 mins. 14 l-ssecs. H. Turtill (Greymouth) met puncture trouble before reaching Ternuka, and withdrew from the race at Hinds.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP

DUNEDIN, October 3

Under perfect weather conditions and with the roads in good order the 100 miles New Zealand amateur cycling championship Dunedin-Bal-clutha and return was commenced this morning. A field of twenty-three started. The limit men were sent off at 9.30. The bulk of the entries are from Dunedin clubs, but there are several from Invercargill and Christchurch, amongst the latter being Grose, the present champion. Blackie (45min.) was- first at Balclutha, in 23 hours’ riding time. Grose, riding brilliantly and having distanced the other scratch men, was 22 minutes after him. Grose punctured just before reaching Milton. He had. previously been making up leeway in fine style. Blackie was still leading at this stage. The race was won by J. Richards (Christchurch) scr. by one length from O’Brien (Otago) 6min. Richards secured fastest time (shr 9min 41sec) and the championship. Grose finished fifth, his time being shrs 31min. 15sec. WARRNAMBOOL RACE. NEW RECORD BY LYNCH.

[BY CABLE —PEES 9 ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

MELBOURNE, October 4.

The Warrnambool road cycle race of 165 miles attracted 238 starters yesterday. The riders encountered drizzling rain shortly after the start, but they were assisted by a following wind. The road was in excellent condition. It was early evident that the eightminute bunch would make good time, as they covered the first 100 miles in 3 hours 56 minutes 10 seconds. The scratch men took one minute 40 seconds longer. AV. A. King, the veteran rider, led throughout, and he was unfortunate to break a wheel eight miles from the finish.

The fastest time and the championship were won by Matt Lynch, of Hawthorn, off the eight minutes. Lynch’s time was 6 hours 31 minutes 28 seconds. Lynch broke J. Munroe’s record for the race, which was established in 1909, by 41 minutes. Lynch won comfortably by two lengths. There was half a mile between the second and third men. R. Roberts (51 minutes) was fourth, and V. Ison (51 minutes) was fifth.