CYCLING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 September 1925, Page 3

CYCLING.

TIMARU-CHRISTCHURCH RAOE

SENSATIONAL FINISH.

(by telegraph—press association CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 19

The annual Tiniaru to Christchurch bicycle road race was held to-day, 170 out of IS3 who entered taking part. The arrangements worked like clockwork, no hitch whatever occurring. The day was fine, and the. roads in good order, with kere and there patches of shingle, but unfortunately the riders had a strong wind to contend with, which increased in violence as the day wore on, and as the leading men were, completing the last lap at the Addington trotting track one gust nearly toppled them from their machines.

The * conditions in the early stages caused many retirements. The Selwyn river was in inhospitable flood that forbade a passage. The path of the cyclists lay to its brink, and then it: was necessary to dismount, walk under the railway -bridge, climb up a bank carrying the bicycles, and to pick a way over the sleepers that were laid with six-inch gaps. Several rode over the bridge, but others bopped over the sleepers. Will on D. E. Nicholson (wnnganui) appeared at'the bridge there was no official to guide him, and lie .pimped off his bicycle, and plunged into the flood, forging through the waters chest high and carrying his bicycle. He gained ground by this, however. The first into Templeton was A. C. Walker (22min), and at his wheel came C. Bright (19min), who had been coming on with a great burst on the final stages. Behind them came a fleet of cars and cyclists so close that had one of the men fallen there would have been a series of collisions These two had established such a lead that, barring an accident, it was unlikely that they would be passed.

Never before has such a finish been seen to the big race. A roar of cheering arose as Bright rode into the ground about fifteen yards ahead -of Walker,, Slowly and wearily they pedalled round. the back stretch. Bright rose on. liis pedals and his shoulders rose and fell in a last exhausted effort. Walker, riding with his head down, gradually overhauled him, but coming up the straight Bright, in a last desperate effort, pushed level with Walker, and they wobbled together past the finishing line at a walking pace. The crowd was on its toes wit’n excitement, and cheer after cheer thundered, ever the ground as they rolled up together The first men arrived at 3.27, and at 4.20 fifty-two had finished. The placings were:—

C. Bright (Christchurch), 19min ■. t A. 0. Walker (Christchurch) 42min t

t Dead heat E, A. Nicholson (Wanganui), 15min 3 R. Lovell (New Plymouth), 19mm 4 O. G. Oakley (Christchurch), 43min 5 D. George (New Plymouth), 31min 0 R. McGrath (Islington), 37min .... 7 L. A. Wilson (West Coast), 25min 3 R. ,T. Mussen. (Rangiora), 46min .. 9 E. Nankive.il ('Christchurch), 31min 1(1 I). E. Nicholson (Wanganui), ISmin 11 W. MacKie (Christchurch), lOmin 12

R. A. Nicholson, made fastest time

A protest was entered by Walker, who contends that he won by half a wheel. The, times in the road race were: Bright, shrs 56min lsec; Walker, 6hrs 19min lsec. Fastest time: R. A. Nicholson, shrs 50min 40scc; second fastest time, Bright. Large numbers of protests have been entered for illegal placing. R. A. Nicholson, of Wanganui, this year’s road champion, is 21 years ot age. He and his brother rode strongly till near Ashburton, when R. A. Nicholson had a- puncture. The champion was with Bright right up to Selwyn, where he nearly fell off, and this cost him time. He has been a fairly consistent competitor in North Island events. Last year he was, tenth in the round Mt. Egmont race, in which lie started on the, 13min mark. In 1923 he finished sixth and secured fastest time under 21 and the junior road championship of the, North Island. Nicholson will 1 leave for Melbourne shortly to compete in the Warrnam-bool-Melbourne race.

GOULBURN TO SYDNEY. NEW RECORD CREATED. BY OABLB—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Sept. 20. • The Goulbu/n to Sydney cycling road race over a distance of 129 miles was held in cold but fine weather. The roads were good. There were 79 competitors in the amateur and 57 in the League wheelmen race. The amateur race resulted: R. W. Lamb (scr) I, N. Quinton. (12min) 2, A. Quinton. (12min) 3. All are Victorians. The winner’s time was 6hrs 17min 55sec. He gained fastest- time and also a record for the course. ■The League race resulted: D. Brooks (Bathurst) 40min, 1; R. Cruise (Victoria) 17-Imin’, 2;■ R. Moody (Parramatta) 27min, 3. The winner’s time was Glirs 50min lOsec. R. Cruise made fastest time-.(6hrs ll6min 35sec).