SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22561, 28 October 1936, Page 19

SPORT OF CYCLING

DOMINION AMATEURS

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AUCKLAND RIDER'S SUCCESS Tlio scone nt Palmcrston North last Saturday just before 9.30 a.m. was 0110 of intense excitement., the occasionbei 11 g the startingof tho annual 102 miles road race for the amateur championship title of the Dominion, won last year by tlio crack Canterbury cyclist, F. J. Grose. With a few words of cheerful encouragement, the Mayor of Palmcrston North, Mr. A. E. Mansford, despatched tlio first lidcr, T. Young, tlio oldest starter, aged 58. Fifteen minutes later the next group of four left, rlter which the handicap bunches departed at shorter intervals. The seven scratch men left Jit IO.HO a.m., to the accompaniment of enthusiastic cheering as they took off down the long lane of spectators, carefully marshalled by several of tlio local traffic officers. From the record entry of 1)3, there wero 11 scratcliings. including, owing to injuries, C. S. Hawkins of New Plymouth, scratch. Eleven Aucklanders started, and the seven scratcli men were P. S. Triner and E. L. G. Hughes, Auckland, F. J. Grose and I. J. Taylor, Christchurch, K. Dutton, 0. Disloy and F. Franklyn, Wellington. The start was made in beautiful weather, with a strong following wind to Himitangi, 18 miles. To this point most of the bunches averaged from 21 to 30 miles per hour on the long flat tar-sealed straights out of Palmcrston North. From Foxton, 24 miles, onward the riders changed direction, and had a steady head wind, while the intense heat and almost cntiro absence of any breeze on t.he two miles climb up to tlio top of tlio Paekakariki Hill proved a severe test. Many of the placed men dismounted during the ascent, in spite of the fact that three-speed gears were used bv 70 of the 83 starters.

The worst portion was the three miles of motal surfaces hot-worn Fox ton and the Manawatu River Bridge, whero the road is being raised above the flood levels in readiness for tar-sealing. When this work is completed there will lie a sealed surface for the 102 miles of the race. This section included 200 yds. of newly-laid iron sand, and the heavy going caused many to come to a stop suddenly, and fall without injury. Taylor and Dislov, scratch, fell, and were unable to recover their fellow-markers, although Triner made a determined and successful effort after his fall. Taylor also might have been successful, but he knocked his gears out of adjustment.

THE EARLY STAGES SIX RIDERS SHARE LEAD At 28 miles six riders shared the lead, the big bunch of 11 having broken up on the sand section, where C. V. Aldridge, 45m, was bumped by a following car, without any mishap. The leaders were L. L. Hannan, off 45in, J. Scobie, H. J. 'Williams, S. 1!. Spiers, J. Johnson, and C. A. Ratten, off 40m. The five last-named had taken only 111 16m, but were slowing with the head winds. Tho ultimate winner, W. Sinclair, 30m, delayed by the sand, was then Ihn 40s behind tho leaders and almost two minutes behind three off his mark, T. George, tho only Maori competitor, R. Evans, fourth finisher, and L. L. l'earse. S. Ah'erson, 14m, Auckland, who had loft K. N. Clark and S. J. Raird when the latter dismounted on the sand section, passed 50s before them and 22m after the loading six. Nicholson, Rrown, Cochrane, Auckland, and E. G. Lawrence, off Bm, clocked 111 5m 40s for the 28 miles, but Triner, Hughes, Grose, Dutton and Franktyn had clocked 111 5m 20s, and were 34m behind the leaders. The Paekakariki Hill under the almost tropical heat again proved tho turning point of the race and the riders passed through a lane of motorcars at the summit, where about 500 spectators had assembled. A group of 12 was bunched at the commencement of the ascent, but soon singled out. First to top the hill was D. Evans, Wellington, off 32r:i, who had walked 100 yards. Evans was 10s ahead of .T. Johnson, 40m, while J. Burn, Nelson, off second finisher, was 5m 5s behind. Sinclair, 30m, and G. Amoy, 22m, third finisher, were together at the top and 5m 30s behind Evans. Raird, 14in, Rrown and Cochrane, were tho first Aueklanders up after Crocker, 13m after'the loader and 7m 20s ahead of Triner and Groso. who had loft Dutton, who walked the last difficult section. On the long two miles climb to Johnsonville prior to the descent to the level Hutt Road, Sinclair headed a group of five and started the fast down grade 200 yds. ahead of Rum and Amoy. Sinclair, Burn and A nicy lapped out fast with the assisting wind to the Pet-ono Oval tar-sealed banked cycle track, where several thousand spectators had assembled, 'llie throo riders entered tho grounds with Sinclair third. The last-named made his effort early to come fast with 200 yds. to go and'win by a clear length, only inches separating Burn and Amoy.

THRILLING FINISH TRINER DEFEATS GROSE The first Aucklander to appear was W. Crocker, 32m, who finished 12th. Next a bunch of seven came in and J. Brown went fast to finish 13th and gain third fastest time in 'lit GOm HBs. Then followed S, .1. Haird, 17th, and C. 1\ Cochrane, 18th. Six minutes later the crowd was provided with one of the most thrilling finishes yet staged wben Nicholson and I'riner, Auckland, and Grose, Christchurch, entered the grounds in that order. Nicholson quickened the paco and then Triner moved up, with Grose <*>n the outside. However, Grose, master sprinter, shot around the banking appreciably faster than the Aueklanders and actually got past Triner 'lO.vds. from the line. Tlio 18-ycars-old Aucklander, however, summoned bis last ounce of energy to electrify the crowd by "jumping" his speed so swiftly that he managed to cross the line a clear wheel ahead of Grose, with Nicholson right alongside Triner. It was a triumph of team work, for which Nicholson must also be given due credit. Grose has ridden in many 100 miles races, while Triner has only ridden in two, Hie Auckland 100 miles three weeks previously, in .which he was second fastest to R. L. G. Hughes, and the race on Saturday. Triner, in winning the title with such a great effort, took 4h 49m 2s. Grose, 2(5 years of age, did 'lll 37m 12s last year, when an assisting wind prevailed, and established the course record, while I!. G. Fonbister registered 'lh 39m .'ills in the 1931 race. Triner is road champion of tho Manuka u Club. The official plncings of the Aucklanclers were: —12lh, W. Crocker (.'!2in), 51i 12m 12s; Kith, J. Brown (8m), 4h fiOin 38s; 17th, S. .T. Haird (Mm) 4h Gttm 41s; 18th, C. P. Cochrane (8m), 'lll GOm 425; 24th, R. S. Triner (scr), 4h 49m 2s; 20th. L. M. Nicholson (8m), 4h 57m 2s; 28th, W. R. Walker (ISm), 5h 8m 48s; 37th, J. G. Morris (22m), 5h 17m 495; 38th, K. N. Clark (11m), 5h 9m 575. E. L. G. Hughes, scr, and S. Alderson, 14m, retired with cramp over the later stages.