CYCLING CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19739, 12 September 1927, Page 13

CYCLING CONTEST.

. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. ' '■ SUCCESS OF AUCKLANDERS. *"-'' '• ' ' - WADE'S GOOD PERFORMANCE. The 60 miles amateur cycling road race championship of New Zealand, run on Saturday under the auspices of the Auckland Centre, resulted in a triumph for local riders, who filled the first six places, and i secured fastest and second fastest iime. i The winner, J. H. Wade, had matters his own way all the - finish, crossing the line with a good deal in hand. He also secured fastest time. Only 16i years of age. Wade is a most promising cyclist, and before Saturday's event his prospects of success were bright. C. G, Galbraith, who gained second fastest time, was on the same muck as Wade, finishing 22 a after him. The scratch divißion did not meet with aucecss, McPedriea and Carswell (Wellington) being the only two to finish. Lukey (Canterbury) met with a puncture twice, M P. Byrnes (Auckland) retired with cramp, while H. J. Morris (Wellington) and C. Ericsson (Wauganui-Taranaki) both I met witb mishaps which treatment in hospital. The conditions for the race were unfavourable, a cold wind and heavy showers of rain having <jn effect upon the contestants. The course was from the Sir John I«ogan Campbell monument to Clevedon and back, via Papakura. _ On tlie journey out to Papakura the 16m riders, witb L. Devlin, H. h. Russell and A. C. Steen the most prominent, were averaging 20 miles an hour. Here a bunch of 12m competitors, paced chiefly by if. lusher, W. Kowe, P. "Piatt and W. Pinker, had gained 2m on the limit men. JLhe 8m riders had gtiined Um on the 12m bunch, wiiile the 4m< division had picked up 2m 10s. H. Dwight retired at this stage. All the scratch men were still in the race, but they had lost lOs to the 4m division. C. Ericsson iell in the Great South Road and again at Otahuhu. Although laikey met with a puncture at Papatoetoe, he repaired and set after the field again. , The J2m riders were going particularly well at this point, especially N. Fisher and W. Rowe. At the Clevedon turning Devlin was still in front, followed by Russe'i, who shortly afterwards loit his pedal strap. Devlin waited, but his partner retired. When the various bunches had reached the turning, the 4m division was only 100 yds behind the 8m men. On the return journey, at Papakura Lukey again met with a puncture, and retired, after having ridden a fine race in an endeavour to catch his division. The riders straggled out from this stage to the finish. Wade left his division shortly after passing the Clevedon turning; 1 and riding aloe© oaught the 12m and 16m men near Otahuhu. He went-to the front at Takanini, and came home an easy winner. Then followed Fisher, Wilson and Galbraith in a bunch. Following are the results:—J. H. Wade (4m), 2h 26m 275, 1; N. Fisher (12m), 2h 84m 465. 2; L. Wilson (8m). 2h 30m 475, 8; CTG. Galbraith (4m), 2h 26m 495, 4. Fastest time"~and championship, J.- H. Wade; second fastest time, C. G. Galbraith. McFedries finished seventh and Carswell twelfth, STEEPLECHASER'EVENTS. During the progress of the amateur cycling championship two steeplechase championships were decided on the outer course .at Alexandra Park. It was intended to hold other events, but the heavy state of the track compelled the Auckland officials to postpone these until a later date. The fields were very, poor, a good nnmber of the intending competitors being under the impression that the meeting had been abandoned. The junior two miles run was won by J. Green, who made an impressive showing. In the senior event, run over a similar distance, N. F. Cooper, who has been a consistent performer this season, outclassed his five opponents. He led throughout, and -Won with the greatest of ease. The results are as follows: . Two Miles Junior Green, 1: F. Adams, 2. Also started: P. Hulbert. Green won easily by about 200 yds. > Hulbert retired after completing half the distance. Time. 12m 37a. ■ „ „ Two Miles Senior Steeplechase.—-N. _F. Cooper, 1; E. P. Henshall, 2', C. Gilchrist, 3. Also started: L. Barker and W. Watt. Henshall went to the front early, but after the field had gone 600 yds Cooper was the leader, followed by Barker and Henshall. Cooper had too much pace for his opponents. and won easily by 200 yds. ,In a fine finish ..Henshall just beat. Gilchrist for second place. Time, 11m 50s. The Chamber of Commerce was crowded on Saturday evening, when the medals and trophies won at the Auckland -provincial amateur championships were presented by Mr. W. Morton, president of the Auckland centre of the N»w Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. The winners and ranners-up in the champfonßhjn events tecMW* medals. Mr. Morton also presented J, H. Wade with medals for first and fastest time in the 50 miles amateur cycling road race championship. PROFESSIONAL RACE' The 25 miles professional championship of Auckland was decided at Mangere on Saturday. Weather conditions were unfavourable, aa the race started and finished in a downpour ot rain. A time limit put on by the officials had the desired effect, the' race being a particularly fast one considering the conditions. Seven of Auckland's leading cash riders started, and set such a fast pace that at •the end of 12 milen four riders, Sutherland. Peckham, Storey and A. Brennan, retired. The last lap was devoid of interest until 800 yds from the finishing post, when ,F. Prior rushed to the front, and,„ sustaining his effort, won by two lengths. Following are the results:—F. Prior (Auckland), 1: A White (Auckland), 2: 'J. Harcourt (Hamilton), 3. Won by four lengtha. Harcourt was 10 lengths away. Time, lh 10m. TIMABU TO CHEISTCHTJRCH. OVER HUNDRED COMPETITORS EXCITING SPRFNT AT FINISH. [by telegraph.—press association.] CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday Over 100 cyclists started from Timaru this morning on the long ride to Chrietchureh, a distance of 112 miles. The roads were good, but on the early part of the journey greasy patches, gave the riders_ a spattering of mud. A light north-easterly breeze was against the riders. There were few falls, but a fair nnmber of tyres were punctured. The winner, A. A. Morwood, of Papamii (handicap 16m), had a puncture at Temuka, and lost 6m, but joined the 10m handicap buncb and led them along At the finish nine 'men . entered the Show Grounds together, and a desperate sprint over the track for the finishing line * ended in Morwood gaining the lead by half a-length. Results are: —A.' A. Morwood (Papanui), J6m- 1: E. A. (Christchnrch), 43m. 9; L. W. Hill (New Brighton), 10m, 3; K. Lange (Yaldhurst), 20m, 4: J. "W. Parsons (Ashburton). 44m, 5. The next to finish were: A. F. Putt (New Plymouth), 83m; E. G. Fuller (Mairehau), 38m; W. L. Power '(Kaiapoih 37m: R. V. Brookland (Timaru), 25m; R. G. Watson (Cust),.44m; J-, . O Reilly (Rakaiq), 44m jS. Arnst (Chnstchurch), 20m: R. McGrath (Islington). 20m: ;A. Mackie (Christchnrch). 50m: D. C. Hill (Papanui). 40m: S. A. Jordan (Chnstchurch), 25m; R. H. Orton (Timaru). 30m; G. Croat (Leeston). 50m; H. G. Watson (Marshland), scr: J. W. Jordan. (Christ chnrch), 10m. The winners' time was 6h 14m 15s. The fastest time wss registered by IT G. Watson (Marshland), scr, 5h 55m 30s. and the second fastest time by -1,. W. Hill (handicap 10m), 5h 58m 18s. S : ' J