ROAD CYCLE RACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3550, 14 October 1926, Page 3

ROAD CYCLE RACE.

WON BY SHORTT.

GOOD PERFORMANCE BY

KNOTT,

The Foxton Amateur Cycling Club’s twfelve mile road race was got off in fine weather yesterday afternoon. The town was lined with spectators to watch the race. The course was once round the Cemetery bloek and seven times round the Johnston St. block, commencing and finishing at the Post Office. The handicaps were as follows: D. Knott ser., C. Shortt, K. Martin 40sec, 0. Coley* D. Satherley, E._ Cunningham 65sec, J. Smith 70sec, H. Huff, Marshall, E. Robinson, W. Newth, J. Oupwell 95sec, I. Wright B. Newth 120 sec, G. Aldridge 135 sec, Newson 155 sec, Parfitt, E. Coley 4Jmin, Sharpe smin. All got away well. In the first round B. Newth, Cunningham and Sharp dropped out. Shortt came up well but Knott did not alter his position and took things very easily. E. Coley and Parfitt kept together in first place in the second round with Shortt running third. The rest all came in bunched together with Knott and Martin half the length of Main St. away. Wright, Marshall and Ed. Robinson dropped out. , , i In the third round Shortt had taken the lead by 100 yards from E. Coley and Parfitt. Newson came in next,' then the bunch, with Knott and Martin well behind. The order was not altered in the fourth round, but Knott and Martin had gained on the bunch. Shortt still kept the lead in the fifth round but was losing his advantage. Knott left Martin 300yds. behind, while Parfitt dropped out. In. the sixth lap Knott had passed the bunch and was running second to Shortt. Martin well down. The last lap proved very exciting and all heads were turned towards the Triangle corner, much speculation being rife as to whether Knott could take the lead from Shortt. Shortt rounded the corner with Knott gaining on him all the way up Main St., but he had left it too late, and Shortt won by 20 yards. N. Huff ran into third place, Smith 4th, Satherley sth. Very little separated third and fourth although they were a considerable distance behind the first two men. Had Knott shaken things up in the first lap, there is little question that he would have won the race. He put up a wonderful performance as it was and something is expected of him in the future.