AMATEUR CYCLING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 159, 7 June 1937, Page 8

AMATEUR CYCLING

RACE TO BULLS AND BACK. AVhen the Manawatu Amateur Cycling Club held its annual road race from Palmerston North to Bulls and back on Saturday, 30 riders participated, including entrants from A\ellington, Masterton, Levin, Foxton, and Feilding. In spite of the threatening weather, there was a good attendance of tho public to see the start and finish of the race, which commenced at the corner of Featherston and Rangitikei Streets.' The limit men, off 14 minutes, were despatched at 1.45 by the starter, iollowed by the 12, 11, 8, 4-minute and scratch men, who at once set down to a solid pace. At Awahuri, Satberley was dropped by bis bunch, Little taking the lend. At the beginning of the ascent of Mount Stewart W. Sheridan and Clark were in the lead, riding together. By the time the top of the hill was reached the field had altered considerably, many finding the climb too much. The 11, 12 and 14min. men were now riding in a hunch led by Fade. On the run to Sanson another change took place, Condon going to the front followed by Manning, Pedlev, Fade and King. Essex, Rogers and Allen, the 4-minute men, were next, riding at a solid pace, but at this stage they had lost nearly a minute on the scratch men, all Wellington riders from the same club, who were teaming well and averaging about 20 miles an hour in spite of the head wind. At Bulls, Manning was the first to turn, followed by Conder, Fade and King. Then came Hayes and Evans. The 4min. men. still riding together, were not far behind ; then came the scratch men three minutes behind. With the wind now in their favour the pace was put on, especially by the back markers, Dutton leading this bunch through Sanson at 30 miles an hour. Manning, Conder and Eade were also going well at this stage, and it could he seen that the winner would come from this hunch.

Approaching Awahuri, dropped his co-markers and yode alone for the rest of the journey. Loader was also dropped by the other scratch men and withdrew. 13y the way the scratch men were going it looked like fastest time honours going to one of them. Four miles from the finish the order was: Conder, Manning, and Eade, who were now tiring hut managed to hold their lead to the finishing post, where Manning stalled off a challenge from Conder, who was followed in by Fade and King in that order. Rogers was fifth. The three scratch men came in to fill 12th, 13th and 14th places, a good sprint by them seeing Ulmer beating Dutton by half a wheel for fastest time honours, Franklyn being close up third. The results wero: —F. Manning (11 min), Palmerston North, 1; P. Conder (llmin), Masterton, 2; A. Fade (llmin), Feilding, 3; G. Sheriman (8 min), Palmerston North, 4. First rider to finish out of a place, R. King (Foxton). Fastest times: R. Ulmer (scr), Wellington, Ihr 39min 39sec; R. Dutton (scr.). Wellington, Ihr 39 min 39 l-ssec; F. Franklyn (scr.), Wellington, Ihr 39min 39 2-ssec.