ROAD CYCLING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 21 August 1939, Page 2

ROAD CYCLING

NELSON CLUB’S WINTER SERIES J. COWMAN REGISTERS THIRD WIN . GREAT RACE FOR FASTEST TIME ON SATURDAY The Nelson Amateur Cycling Club held another race of the winter aeries on Saturday afternoon under ideal weather conditions. The course was from the Post Office as usu.nl, to Appleby Bridge, returning to the Wakapuaka Store and finishing in Wainui street, a distance of 42 miles. Cowman off 10 minutes made his third win of the season, by a great effort beating E. Langley (s£min) with Wjddowsen (15miu) a close third. The limit riders Widdowsen, Smith and Weir (15min) started at 2.13 p.m., followed 5 minutes later by Cowman and Mackie (lOmin), then E. Langley and Craig (s),min) and the scratch riders Parßfes and Edwards. All the riders made good time on the first leg of the journey, but on the way back to town the pace began to tell on some. Weir made the mistake of breaking away at Appleby and had to give in . 1 with an attack of cramp near Tahuna. , Smith fell back at Stoke after Langley and Craig had caught up on the leaders. Mackie had the misfortune to be cut off from his bunch at Annesbrook by a herd of cattle and could no regain his posij tion. Langley, Craig, Cowman and Widdow- ’ sen passed through town on the return to Wakapuaka minutes ahead of Parkes ' and Edwards, who shortened the gap by only half a minute over the rest of the journey, and were evidently content to try for fastest lime, which was gained 1 1 by Parkes with only a small margin to • spare. There was an exciting finish for first place in which Cowman beat the veteran i E. Langley by about a length after Lang- ■ ley had ridden with Cowman for the last ! 20 miles of the race. i Approaching the finishing line for about I 200 yards Edwards had about a length j [ lead on Parkes. A few yards from the j finish Parkes made a big effort which gave 1 him an advantage of only part of a wheel 1 , over Edwards as the line was crossed. The judge’s decision in this case met ! , with strong disapproval from a section j j of the spectators. Detailed results were as follows: ’ ,T. Cowman (lhr 59rnin 50sec) 1. E. Langley (lhr 55mjn 21sec) 2. ' W. Widdowsen (2hr 4min 55sec) 3. 1 P. Parkes (lhr 52min 50see) 4 and fast- | est, time. F. Edwards (lhr 52min 50 1-lOsec) 5 and second fastest time. Total points gained so far this season ’ are: Parkes 19, Cowman 9, Edwards 6.1 1 Burn 6. Weir 3, Craig 3, Loveridge. 2, E. I Langley 2. Maiks 1, Mackie 1, Mead 1 Widdowsen 1.

LETTERS FROM SPECTATORS [To The Editor] Sir, —X was very surprised to see the i behaviour of some onlookers at the end of the bike road race, actually doubting the judges (who are above suspicion). It seemed to me a deliberate attempt to bieak up the club by a very bad sport.—l am etc., i| A COMPLETE OUTSIDER.” [To The Editor] Sir, —As a visitor to Nelson I am more than surprised to see the unsportsmanlike behaviour of some spectators at the end of the cycle road race on Saturday. Was if it the same old story of someone trying . to spoil a splendid sport? I take it officials at. your sports club hold honorary posit, lions and surely no one should doubt a judge’s verdict. Officials deserve every- » one’s praise, not doubt. It struck me as being a disgraceful exhibition of petty 1 spite.—l am etc., ’ SPORT SUPPORTER.” When interviewed to-day regarding the above letters, officials of the club who . were on duty at the finish of Saturday’s | race said that some members of the public 1 had disputed the decision of the judge con- ; cerning the placing of the two scratch men. The officials had no comment to . make other than that the club always f had complete confidence in its judge., who i i:i such a close finish was in the best . position to correctly see the result. They , deprecated the fact that some members of the public on Saturday were not sporting . enough to refrain from making disparaging remarks concerning people who give their [ valuable time solely for the benefit of [ sport and the young men engaged in it.