ATHLETICS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11954, 26 May 1933, Page 6

ATHLETICS

PROFESSIONAL CLUB.. STAN PARKER'S DEBUT. EX-AMATEUR WINS FIRST ROAR RACE.

i Yesterday afternoon, the Poverty Bay Professional Athletic and Cycling Club, held its first road race of season. The weather conditions were unfavourable, heavy min threatening all the time the race was in. progress. The course was from the corner of Childers road and Disraeli street, along Childers road; down Chalmers .road into the mail., road, round the Makaraka Hotel to the Royal Oak Hotel (Matawhero), and back to town along Awapuni rouu past the abattoirs -to Stanley road, into Childers road to the starting

point. Along the hack stretch, from the Matawhero Hotel to Stanley road. The poing was very heavy. Nine competitors faced the slartor. Air. Gritton, and were despatched promptly at 2.15. Two other competitors mere unlucky in arriving too late to start.

E. AY. Davis (Mick), wa s ii l ' s t away olf the limit mark followed hv V. SteggaU, -I. Sutton, C. O’Connell. A. Church. S. Parker and F. AVells and lastly Harry Davis and E. Foster. At Chalmers road. Church caught up with O'Connell and Sutton, and at Makaraka Parker and Wells caught up with this bunch. At the turn for home "Mick” Davis . "as well in front and looked n winner V. SteggaU was next, riding hard, and giving the next bunch plenty to do to get up to him. SteggaU, howover. was caught about a mile from the abattoirs and “Mick’ Davis was passed just before the abattoirs, the hard going having told on the limit men. At this point the scratch men were lying in handy positions, and by hard riding caught up with tho hunch near the Golf club house. On turning from Stanley road into Childers road, the groups were reduced to one bunch, riding abreast to Roeliuek road where a sprint f° l ' positions took place. Near the f> n * jidling post Stan Parker jumped out ahead and won by o length from H. Davis who beat E. Foster by a similar distance.

The winner. S. Parker, who maue Ids side with the "Cash vidww. earned his victory, aiding a fast well-judged race with a little iti !«■ serve for the final sprint- His Line for the S T-o miles was 24min ISsees. while fastest time was made by IT. Davis, 23m in 3see. A large crowd watched the finish which was a ere. dit- to the handicapping of Air. G.ntbo H.

At tlm conclusion et the race. Mr. E. Sharpies presented R- P'd-rliar-'l. who lias been transferred from the district, with a si Ivor lapei badge for gaining second place the 880yds flat championship, extending to him the dub's best wish, es in his new sphere, and assuring him he would he missed in future club races.