SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23058, 8 June 1938, Page 21

SPORT OF CYCLING

WEEK-END CONTESTS COURSE RECORD REDUCED PERFORMANCE OF LANGRIDGE The leading road rider of the Takapuna Cycling Club last year, E. A. Langridge, who transferred to the Manukau Club last season, by his performances in road races during the past two months must bo classed with the best exponents of the sport in Auckland. Ho has created fastest timo in the three open events he has competed in this year and last Saturday was responsible for reducing the Kuincu 38 miles' course record, established by L. H. Dwight in 1933, by 10m 12s. ■A powerful hill climber, Langridge in tho Auckland Centre's Kumeu raco on Saturday rode away from E. L. G. Hughes on tho stiff climb to tfle to]) of the Swanson tunnel hill, whilo in. the Beach Haven Club's Orewa event on Monday ho again outdistanced Hughes on tho longer,, but faster, climb up the Albany Hill. In the latter event he dominated the rear division riders, lieaching the Orewa turn, 21.2 miles, in 55in 255, ho was then 8m 40s behind A. Broad, of Takapuna, who then led. finishing seventh 2m 49s after A. L. Hawke, tho winner, ho returned a time of lb 57m 51s for the 43 miles.

Hawke, a junior of the Lynndale Club, of 11m, paced a fine race with his four co-markers, E. J. Atkinson, R. Arvidson, A. F. Bramley and L. K. Elia, who were placed in that order in the finishing sprint. Hawke's brother, H. F. Hawke, won the Orewa race in 1936 and was third fastest in iast Monday's event.

Special merit is attached to the efforts of E. J. Atkinson and L. K. Elia. These two Beach Haven Club riders never allowed tho pace to lag when they caught the leaders after 25 miles. Arvidson was having his first long race this year while Bramley, of tho lakaptma Club, was the. best of his club s entrants. X. IT; Harvey rode a splendid race to finish second fastest in a held of 67 -riders. C. A. Clarke, who has raced consistently siivrre 1926, when he won provincial road honours, was the first of about 12 riders to puncture. Ho had travelled only one mile before j lie was delayed. ' I ELIA OUTSTANDING PURDOM SHOWS IMPROVEMENT Owing to tho strenuous nature of the Kumeu course only 31 competitors sttirted in tho event on Saturday. Ideal racing conditions prevailed and the test did not prove as difficult as the last raco over tho course in 193.1, which J. Leather won off 10m 30s. The outstanding performer was A. Elia, of the Beach Haven Club, riding off 6in. Llia was with the leaders after 21 miles, and five miles later went to the front of the field to win easily by 1 m 495. Elia won a 35 miles open race in 19.'iG over tho direct course to Rumen and back off 7ni, and has been one of the leading riders of bis club during the past three seasons. He was unlucky to puncture when in sight of. the leaders in the Orewa race on Monday. Third in two long races last year, i G. R. Purdoni displayed vastly improved sprinting powers- to beat Langridge and V. D. Thomas for second place by half a length. Considering the severe course the percentage of those who finished was .most satisfactory. Twenty-five of the 81 starters completed the distance and nine riders. 'Langridge, Thomas, A. Elia, Hughes, .T. H. Hall, Purdoni, R. A. v ßee'b re",' G. Webb and G. H. Cunningham, finished insido the old course record. The meeting of N. F. Harvey, of the Manukau Club, and 11. R. Baldwin, of the Lynndale Club, in the junior 25 miles' event provided an indication as to their relative merits. Both riders teamed so well that they had caught the leaders after 18 miles, but both fell within five miles of tho finish. Neither was hurt, but Baldwin damaged his cycle. Harvey quickly remounted and soon caught up with the group to win easily by 60 yards and register fastest time, 6*7 m 395. K. G. Picknell, who was second, is one of three brothers who race regularly. Picknell bad mechanical trouble' in the Orewa event but was loaned another competitor's cycle, permissable under the revised rulings. He finished 17th and was the second unplaced junior to cross the line. A. L. Hawke was fourth in this event. Only 12 ridrrs completed the 25 miles within the time limit. The first Manurewa Club rider to compete in an open race. A. N. Young, was third fastest to Harvey. This was an excellent performance* considering his lack of experience.