SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 24

SPORT OF CYCLING

DOMINION TITLE EACE SURPRISE BY AUCKLANDER TRIAL FOR EMPIRE GAMES Tho winning of the New Zealand 100 miles cycling championship title bv E. L. G. Hughes, of the Lynndale Club, came as a pleasant surprise to Auckland enthusiasts. Although he had not performed' with any brilliance in open road events locally this season, his efforts wore all consistently good. This is not tho first occasion on which Hughes has furnished a surprise, for when he won the Auckland provincial 100 miles title last year he was, at his own request, rehandicapped from 8m to scratch just before tho commencement of the event.

Several weeks before last Saturday's championship he had intimated his intention of racing, irrespective of whether he qualified for the team. He certainly proved that his confidence in liis ability over ]OO miles was fully justilied. His time of 4h 37m 17s compares very favourably with the best time produced by F. J. Grose, of Canterbury, who has been fastest in seven races over the "round the gorges" course and holds the record at 4h 32m 30s. The event attracted 79 starters and all riders who wished to seek selection for the British Empire Games, 14 in all, rode from the scratch mark. The Aucklanders, Hughes, R. S. Triner, J. Brown and L. M. Nicholson, found the Hat going for the first 40 miles slightly monotonous, but us soon as Glen Tui Gorge and the first incline of any severity was reached the Aucklanders came into prominence. Finding, that they had gained ground on reaching the top of the climb, they rode with much more confidence and nt the Ashley Gorge, 45 miles, Hughes, Triner and Brown left the other scratch men. Later Hughes dropped back. Meantime Grose and Taylor chased hard, dropping A. Lancaster in the process. Just before Taylor caught Hughes, Grose had tho misfortune to puncture. Once with Hughes, Taylor set a strong pace to catch Triner and Brown. Brown slowed after SO miles, while Hughes, Triner and Taylor continued together to sprint to the finish.

Hughes beat Triner by two clear lengths with Taylor another three lengths behind Triner, while Brown came in two minutes later. Triner, tho winner of the title last year at Wellington, also rode impressively, possibly spurred on by his success in tho 4*o miles race at Christehurch the previous week when he outsprinted Taylor to be fastest in lh 47m 19s. J. Brown was mainly instrumental in making the pneo for the initial breakaway and apparently his energetic efforts over this stage had the effect of slowing him over the final 20 miles. Nicholson could not respond when the pace was quickened by his team mates and from then on slowed appreciably.

SECOND TRIAL TO-DAY CONTEST AT CHRISTCHURCH The second trial for selection in the Empire Games team will be held over a 100 kilometres course north of Christchurch to-day. In this event there will be no handicaps, for all x starters will go off in massed formation and the race winner will naturally be the fastest. If the result of this event should still leave the selectors with any serious problems, in all probability the annual Palmerston North to Petone race of 102 miles, scheduled for next Saturday, will he recognised as the third and final trial. In the .latter race Auckland will be represented by 12 riders. The -record for the Palmerston North to Petone event is held by F. J. Grose at 4h 37m 12s. With favourable conditions prevailing, there is every prospect of this time being lowered next Saturday, as in the provincial 100 miles race Brown clocked the New Zealand record time of 4h 28m 255, while. Triner was only fractions of a second slower.