KAFONGA

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 September 1934, Page 6

KAFONGA

CYCLE ROAD RACE CRASH

THREE PERSONS INJURED

(From Our Own Correspondent). The finish of the Kaponga League Cycle Club’s road race on Saturday afternoon was marred by a. collision resulting in three persons being injured. Thq injured were: Mr A. Melville, handieapper to the club, C. Pittams, a Stratford competitor, and Mr J Collins, a /spectator. Mr Melville is suffering from a severely sprained wrist arid bruises, Pittams from a gash in the leg, necessitating several stitches, and My Collins from concussion. The crowd at the finishing mark had surged well on to both sidles of the road in order to get a view of the finish being put up by the back markers when Mr Melville, thinking that all the riders had finished, stepped across the track to speak to Mr Collins. At that moment Pittams loomed in view, riding fast and with head down, endeavouring to make fastest time. Pittams suddenly saw the blocked track and called out. but owing to the pace he was travelling at. he crashed into Messrs Melville and Collins before either could separate far enough, although it appeared as though Pittams could just get through the opening between the two. The two spectators ware thrown violently to the ground and Pittams was also heavily thrown, landing in a heap on top of his machine, which was badly damaged. Messrs Collins and Melville were temporarily knocked out and Pittams was seen to he bleeding profusely below the knee. Subsequently, Pittams received medical attention, having a number of stitches inserted in his leg. Mir Melville recovered sufficiently to proceed to his home, but Mr Collins had to be taken to the nearby residence of Mrs AV. C. William®, where he was put to bed. Medical attention was necessary, and it is understood that it will be some days before he will be able to be, removed to his home on the Lower Rowan Road.

0. Pittams and his brother, L Pittams, rode over from Stratford to take part in the race, both i ideas being in training for the circular road race next month. Pittams was later taken home by car.

The . race was twice round the Palmer Road block and was closely fought out at the finish by B. AA ralker and B. Williams, the former winning by inches. Both riders were off the limit of 7 minutes, R Edgecombe from virtual scratch of It minutes, being ten seconds away third, just ahead of a. bunch of back markers. Fastest time for the race was made by R. Edgecombe, who took 56mm 45 sec for the journey.

The boys’ race round the stock r< ad was again won by Fitzgerald, with •O’Donoglnie second and Cameron third.