ROAD RACING

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 145, 19 May 1930, Page 10

ROAD RACING

SEASON OPENED. EVENT WON BY W. MADDERN. The opening of the cycle road racing season was held on Saturday, when under the auspices of the Manawatu Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club a race was run over a course that had as its starting point the corner of Featlierston and Rangitikei Streets, and proceeded thence to Bunnythorpe, via Rangitikei Line and Boundary Road, and back to the starting point. The distance covered was approximately fifteen miles. Heavy rain fell just prior to starting time, but it was not sufficient to deter the fourteen competitors from participating in the scheduled event. The going was very heavy as well as unpleasant for the riders, who were covered with mud and grit from head to foot when they reached home. Loose metal in places made the riders take the course carefully, but even so one rider, H. Walker, of Feilding, came to grief at a point liaif-way to Bunnvthorjie. He sustained a Jeep gash to one of hie legs as the result oi the spill, and was subsequently removed to hospital bv car, where the wound was stitched up. The finish was very close, there being ten yards between the first and second men, and live yards between the second and third. The times recorded were good, when account lr taken of the great handicap imposed on the riders by the inclement weather conditions and the bad state of the road. The fastest time was put lip by N. Dixon, the scratch man. while \>. Maddern, who also put up second fastest time, was the first rider to return home. Detailed results with handicaps in parentheses follow: P. Maddern, Manawatu (7min) ... 1 P. Cole, Sandon W. Pedley, Sandon (4£min) 3 Fastest times recorded were as follow;—N. Dixon (3min), 3Gmin 18secs; W. Maddern (7min), 36min 44sec; W. Pedley (4Jmin), 36mm 50sec. Also started: B. McKay, D. McGill, P. Larsen, It. Walker (all on 9min), J. Cudd (SJmin), S. Ward, D. Bopewell (GJmin), It. Bromley (Grain), J. Towler (4£min), A McGregor (3}min). Pedlev is the first competitor to score this season in the Boucher Cup. The next race will be round the Feilding block, about 25 miles, .next Saturday, and riders have been invited to compete. The secretary of the Manawatu A.A. and C.C. has arranged to loan cycles to those not possessing them.