CIRCULAR ROAD RACE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 October 1927, Page 10

CIRCULAR ROAD RACE

RECORD FIELD OF SIXTY-SIX. WON BY C. TIPPINS. C. R. PARKER FASTEST TIME.

Splendid conditions ruled at New Plymouth for tiie start of tlie annual

Round the Mountain” eyc.e roaa race at 10.15 a.in. on Saturday last. Of the 77 entrants, whose names were publisned in a previous issue or “Tin rtawera .Star,” 0(5 were despatched by the official starters, Messrs A. George and J. Bennett, on the long circular journey oi 100 miles. Although promise of ideal weather conditions was held out, the riders were doomed to a titanic struggle over the last thirty miles of the race, lor on passing through Eltham for the run northward they encountered a gale ol almost cyclonic; force, against which many could make no headway and were forced to retire from the contest. On the route from Ngaere to Inglewood numerous grim struggles were enacted and failures recorded, full advantage being taken of the assistance of following •‘breakdown’’ cars. The driver ol one Press car was compelled to shake his head to at least twenty requests for a lilt on this particular stretch. Great public interest was manifested in the event, crowds of spectators practically closing to traffic the main thoroughfares of Opunake, Ivaponga, Eltham. .Stratford, and Inglewood during the passage of the riders, while numberless vantage points along the whole route were thronged with young and old of both sexes eager to catch the numbers of the battling contestants.

All arrangements for the start, conduct and finish of the big undertaking were admirably devised and carried out, and it was pleasing to record that not a single accident of any import occurred Irom start to finish of the fixture.

A notable feature in connection with the result of the race was that with tiie exception of J B. Fitzherbert, who hailed from Inglewood, the first seven places were filled by New Plymouth riders, and C. It. Parker, from the same town, recorded the fastest time. The latter’s performance was meritorious, as .starting from scratch with L. W. Hill and A. Moorwood, he and Hill gradually reduced the distance gap which separated them from the handicapped leaders until at Eltham only 22 minutes divided them, at Stratford 13 minutes, and at Inglewood 7 minutes. Parker had enough B#ee ana energy left to beat Hill, atjjpe finish in a spriiit for seventh plaJ|E Moorwood parted company Tjy chpifping back just before reaching Eltham. Pippins (27 minutes), Inch (27 minutes), and Eitzherbert (34 minutes) t aught the 40 minutes men in the run between Ivaponga and Eltham, where they (with Phillips) were the first arrivals at 1.15. They maintained the lead to the finish, reaching Stratford and In”lewood five minutes before theii immediate followers, to whom Phillips ind drowned back on striking the gale at Ngaere

The Ivaponga contingent was somewhat unlucky, G. Payne, F. Lichtwark. I. Iliac/well (winner of the race in 1926). and 11. W. Bocock (winner oi the 50-mile road race at Wanganui on the previous Saturday) for various reasons having to retire before reaching Kith am. L. Gargan (2(J minutes; was the most successful representative of the club, riding into sixteenth place in 51u\ 12mm. 51sec. The eleven non-starters were: H. Henderson, 33min. ; H. Bateman, 25 min. (Palmerston North); W. Gernhoefer. 32min. (Toko); W. MeCaw, 3(5 min.; J. F. O’Reilly, 22min.; C. Austin, scr. ; YV. Mackie, scr. (Christchurch) ; H. S. Herbert, 27min. (Hawera); A. Brewer, 24min. (Hastings): A. Brennan, 24min. (Auckland); R. V. Ilrooklands. 12min (Timaru). The officials directly concerned with the event were Messrs W. Roebuck and R. Lovell. liandicappers; A. George and J. Bennett, starters and timekeepers: W. C. Weston and F. E. Wilson, judges. Opunake and, Eltham were designated check and feeding stations, where attentive stewards rendered much assistance to riders, while at every little township along the route stewards kept check and served milk. PROGRESS OF THE RACE. On the tick of 10.15 Messrs George and Bennett despatched from Queen Street, New Plymouth, the limit (40 minutes) men, comprising A. Gargan (Riverlea), W. Pennington (New Plymouth). T. Hook (New Plymouth), G. Vickers (Midhirst), and J. H. Kopu (Bell Block). From then on until 10.55, when the scratch men were despatched, each batch of the 66 contestants received a rousing send-off from a large crowd of spe..tutors who had assembled to witness the start of the largest field L!:at lias ever fought out the struggle on New Zealand’s finest long-distance road track.

The order at Okato was: 11.8 a.in., Gargan, Ivopu, Vickers, Bennington; 11.11, Phillips, Evans, Ward, Fitzherhert; 11.13, Gyde, Johns; 11.15, Nuku : 11.16, Burrows, Scanlon, K. Stockman; 11.17, Renouf, Brown, A. Mackie, Watson. McCann, Donaldson, Bullet; 11.18. Inch, A. Area, Tippens; 11.19, Hook, Wylie, Hunter; 11.20, E. Stockman, Peel; 11.21, Liclitwark, Lunyvitch, Wilcox, Simpson, George C'. Aroa, Coman, Crutchley, Prebble: 11.23, Harcourt, King, L. Gargan, E. Aroa; 11.24, Heid and another rider imidentilied; 11.25, H. W. Bocoek; 11.26, Best; 11.29, Bellringer, Putt. Finnists, Orton; 11.30, Yardley, Hunter; 11.31, Hellier, Simmonds, Blackwell, Brewster; 11.40, Parker, Hill, Moor wood. The first four to reach Okato were “limit” men, the remaining member ol the group (Hook) having lost 11 minutes on the leadens. Fit/.herbert early showed his quality, arriving at this stage with three others, thre< minutes behind the leaders, on whom he had gained three minutes. Within t':e following six minutes thirteen riders passed, and a minute later saw the an Pal of A. Aroa, Tippins, and Inch, riding well together, Bocoek and Best went through seven and eight minutes afterwards, twenty men having been clucked in the interim. The back markets. Parker. Hill and Moor wood, in that order, rode through strongly at 11.40, haring gained eight minutes >n the limit men in the first eighteen miles of the journey. AT RAHOTTT. The first two bunches to pass at 11.42 and 11.44 were in exactly the same order as at Okato; in fact, much the same order was preserved in the whole field until 12.3, when Simmonds. Hellier, Blackwell and Brewster, followed there minutes later by Wilcox, went through. Parker. Hill and Moorwood passed at 12.10, having improved their Okato positions hy two minutes. Two minutes later Reid (off

24 minutes) arrived alone. He reported having to repair two punctures. AT OPUNAKE. Arrivals at the Opunake check and feeding station were as follows: 12.0 — Gargan, Vickers, Remington; 12.1 Evans, Phillips, Eitzherbert, Ward; 12.10—Johns, Gyde; 12.11—Aroa, Inch, Tippins, Mackie, W. G. Hunter, McCann, Watson, Bocock, Burrows; 12.12 —Scanlon, Sutton; 12.13—Wylie, Peel, Lichtwark, Nuku, Musson, Bul]ot; 12.15 —King, Prebble; 12.16—Harcourt, Aroa, Simmonds, Bocock, Aroa, Coman ; 12.19—Collingwood. From 12.22 to 12.30, Bellringer, Yardley. Finniss, Putt, Hook, Hellier, Brewster. Blackwell, J. Hunter and W ilcox checked in, the last-named, a few seconds before Parker, Hill and Moorwood. Good conditions had ruled to tliis stage, with the exception of a rough stretch of road near Pungn-i-eliu. From Okato to Opunake a kindly following wind lent assistance, and all were riding stiongly at, the latter point. Three or four had already retired in consequence of punctures before reaching Opunake. The scratch men had here made up a shade over nine minutes. Payne pulled out at Pungarehu. AT KAPONGA. The run through to Ivaponga. was greatly eased by the splendid road surface, and in several long ,stretches by a favourable wind, though a hard cross wind in other sections slowed the field. Phillips was the first through Ivaponga at 1.2 p.m., leading a small bunch comprising Gargan, Vickers, Fitzherbert, Ward and John, who had maintained their lead from Okato. At Riverlea, two and a half miles on the Opunake side of Kaponga, and 52 miles from the starting point, Gargan and Vickers led. A number had dropped out of the contest on the journey from Opunake, including Bocock, Lichtwark, Reid, Wilcox and Hook.

Hunter (1.4), Blackwell (1.16). Moorwood, Hill and Parker (1.18) massed the checkers, closely followed by Best, Mackie, Putt, C. Aroa, Collingwood and Nuku. It was a matter of difficulty here, as at Opunake, to pick up the numbers of riders, many carrying satchels which obscured the numbers. At Eltham the leading competitors passed in the below-mentioned order: I.ls—Eitzherbert, Phillips, Tippins, Inch; I.26—McCann, E. Stockman, Hunter, George, Gargan, C. Aroa; 1.35 —Scanlon, Musson, K. Stockman, Coman, King, Finniss, J. Hunter: I.37—Parker. Hill. Blackwell had retired between Kaponga and Eltham, Moorwood had dropped behind Hill and Parker, and other riders had felt the effects of the steadily hardening conditions, the breakdown car carrying two into Eltham. On turning into the Mountain Road towards Ngaere a howling gale, almost head on, was experienced, and the road into Stratford was literally punctuated with “triers” who were at last compelled to give up the unequal struggle.

AT STRATFORD. An immense crowd- cheered Inch. Tippins and Fitzherbert, the leaders, through Broadway at 1.54, five minutes ahead of C. Aroa, George, McCann, Hunter and Phillips. Other times were: 2.4 —Harcourt, Gargan. Ward, Fjnniss, Yardley; 2.5 —Kin” and another; 2.7—Parker, Hill and Hellier, only 13 minutes behind the leaders. It was clearly apparent that only bulldog tenacity on the part- o l ' Tippins. Inch and Fitzherbert* would keep Parker out of first place at the New Plymouth racecourse. Iv. Stockman hero joined Vickers and three others in the breakdown car. AT INGLEWOOD. Still in the lead, Tippins, Inch and Fitzherbert reached Inglewood at 2.54, seven minutes in advance of Parker, Best, Yardley, Coman, Hellier and King, who were also led by George, McCann, C. Aroa and Phillipsby a narrow margin of three minutes. At Mnketawa, when the leaders passed through at 2.45, they were reported to have a lead of 10 minutes of Parker. ENTERING RACECOURSE. Tippins and Inch entered the racecourse together, as they had ridden throughout the entire course. In a final -sprint Tippins went- to the front, and- won by 100 yards. They parted company with Fitzherbert soon after leaving Inglewood.

THE RESULT. C. Tippins (New Plymouth), 27 minutes, riding time: ohrs 2mins 46see 1 'II. F. Inch (N.P), 27mins, ohrs 2mins offset; 2 .J B. Fitzherbert (Inglewood), 34 minutes, ohrs 13mins 45sec ... 3 L. McCann (N.P.), 28 minutes, ohrs fljnins 40sec 4 D. George (N.P.), 20 minutes, shrs. 1 min 41sec 5 C. Aroa (Vogletown), 18 minutes, 41irs othnin 42sec 6 C. R. Parker (N.P.) scratch, 4hrs 43min 41)sec 7 L. W. Hill (Christchurch) scratch, 4hrs 43min 50sec 8 R. Yardley (N.P.), 12 minutes, 4hrs Soinin 51 sec 9 C. Hellier (Lepperton), 10 minutes, 4hrs 53inin 53sec 10 If. Finniss (N.P.), 14 minutes, 4hrs 57mins 52s cv 1J W. G. Hunter (Hastings), '24 minutes, 4hrs oomins 54sec 12 W. Coman (Christchurch) 22 minutes, ohrs omins 55sec 13 R. Phillips (Okaiawa), 34 minutes shrs ISmins 51sec 14 J. R. Musson ('Christchurch) 27 minutes, Stirs 19mins 50sec 15 L. Gargan (Kaponga), 20 minutes, shrs 12mins 51sec 10 R. King (Palmerston North), 22 minutes 17 E. Stockman (Stratford), 2-8 minutes is FASTEST TIMES. 0. R. Parker, 4hrs 43mins 49sec. L. W. Hill, 4hrs 43mins 50sec. THE PRIZE LIST. Hirst Prize——Itlip 1 t lip Britannia Tyre Challenge Cup, valued at 50 guineas; £SO in c-asli (including £25 donated by The -Cycle and Motor Supplies. Ltd., Wellington); also a Gold Medal presented by the N.Z. Athletic and Cycling Union. Second Prize—£2o in cash and Bicycle donated by E. Bennett, Ltd., Wanganui. Third Prize—£lo in cash (including £8 donated by the B.S.A. -Co., Wellington); and a Bicycle donated by Healing and Co., Wellington. Fourth Prize- —£7 in cash and a Bicycle donated by Hope Gibbons, Ltd., Wellington. Fifth Prize—£S 8s in cash. Sixth Prize—£f> (is cash (including £5 5s donated by the. Labour Day Sports Committee). Seventh Prize—£s 5s in cash. Eighth Prize—£3 10s in cash. Ninth Prize—£3 in cash. Tenth Prize—£2 10s in cash.

Eleventh Prize —£2 in cash. Twelfth Prize —£2 in cash. Fastest Times —£20 in cash, North Island Championship Blue Ribbon and a Gold Medal (including- £lO in cash and Blue Ribbon presented by the Dunlop Rubber 'Co., Wellington, and a Gold 'Medal presented by Adams, Ltd.. 'Christchurch). Second Fastest Time —£7 in cash. Fastest Taranaki Rider —Gold Medal presented by -Hayward Bros, and Co., Ltd., Christchuren. First Taranaki Rioer (not. winning any other prize and who has not previously competed) £2 2s, presented by W. C. Weston, Esq., New Plymouth. First Inglewood Ridei —Gold Medal donated by the Inglewood Athletic Club. First Wanganui Rider —Gold Medal presented by Mr. W. Greenlees, Wan ganui. First rider, member of New Plymouth Cycle Club, who has not previously competed—£2 2s, donated by C. 11. Weston, Esq. PREVIOUS. WINNERS. Previous winners have been a.s follow : 1911 — J. Clark, Palmerston North, Ghrs 17min. 1912 — T. G. Gollins, Greymouth, Bhrs- 2min.

FASTEST TIMES. Fastest times in previous years have been recorded a>s follow: 1911— J. Clark.. Glirs 17min. 1912 — N. Wadham, shi\s 54min 26sec*. 1913 P. O’Shea. shrs 25min 14see. 1922 L. 11. Moore, shrs 11 min 30see. 1923 S. W. Crutehley, Shns dm in 39see. 1924 C. Bint. shrs 3min Bseo. 1925 H. G. Watson, 4lirs 54mm 43«ee. 1926 TT. G. Watson, 41irs 37min 37sec.