SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 21

SPORT OF CYCLING

ANNUAL KOAD EACE SEVERAL AUCKLAND RIDERB LARGE FIELD COMPETES Since the first event in 1026 the annual Palmerston North to Wellington road race has attracted a representative field of riders from all centres in the Dominion. The race last Saturday, the loth amateur event held over the course, was patronised by an entry of 71 riders, of whom 08 started. Auckland was well represented with J. Brown, scr.; H. I'. Hawke, 6ni; \\. Ferguson, Oin; \V. H. Smith and I). K. Knight, 12m; R. G. Whitley, 16m; A. T. Yost and .J. T. Robertson, 19m; W. J{. Walker, 25m; V. Ivey, W. Crocker and 1. McK. Yost, 28m.

Promptly at 9.30 a.m. the Mayor of Palmerston North, Mr. A. E. Mansford, despatched the lone limit rider, 'J'. Young, of Wellington, who was 59 years old last mouth. Fifteen minutes later the next handicap group of three left, followed at intervals of three to six minutes by the rest of the field, with Brown, R. Dutton, G. Amey, O. Dislev and A. J. Lancaster on scratch. For the first 18 miles out to Himitangi the riders bad a slight head wind, but after Foxton, 21 miies, the north-west wind was to their advantage. The riders had' to contend with light showers from Otaki, 51 miles, to Petone Oval, 96$ miles. The 45m trio, n G. A. Allen, Feilding, 1,. Gestro, W T anganui, and S. W. Tong, Wellington, caught T. Young after riding 23 miles, and the trio were first to reach the 25 miles check just before the two miles stretch of shingle south of Foxton. where several riders were delaved bv skids and falls. The fastest riders for the 25 miles were Hawke, V. Blakeway, E. Danielson, D. R. Thomas, P. Roe and W. Ferguson, off 6m, who took 66m 40s, while E. Taylor, Christchurch, off 12m, 1). E. Knight, Auckland. and J. Bum, Nelson, who was second ;n the 1936 and 1937 races, were next best in 67m 20s. The scratch bunch of five clocked 69m 555. but their steady opening pace was evidently the result of paat experience, for from that point on they steadily gained on the others. The loose shingla section completely broke-up the 6tn group, for Hawke and Ferguson, of Auckland, both fell and lost many minutes before they continued. In the next 11 miles' run to Levin the scratch men gained lm 42s on Roe and Danielson, then best of the 6m group! This gain was chiefly through the fast pace set bv Brown, who took the lead on the shingle section.

SEVERE TEST RIDERS STRI'XG OUT The recognised severest test of the whole race commenced at 71 miles with the climb up the famous Paekakariki Hill, two miles of solid climbing up to 780 ft. This test strung the riders out, and C. Sparkes, 28m, was first over the summit, followed by K. Wilson, 19m., ultimate winner only four yards in arrears. Ten seconds later R. Evans, Wellington, who was racing in bis eighth event over the course, led a string of six riders, among whom was 1. Yost, Auckland. Crocker walked a short section, but was only 3m behind the leader at the top. E. Taylor was the fastest to the "horse trough," half a mile before the summit, in 3h 15m 5s for the 72J miles, but Brown and Button, who had broken away from the other scratch men, were climbing mow i:ip'(!ly than any and fast making up arrears to clock 3h 15m 355.

The Haywnrds Hill route w?.s i:sed to rc.i't: I'etone this year, and iiicludisd •many sections of road reconstruction jwor.k and another long climb soniev^hai

simitar rft gradient to the Bombay Hills. It was on this latter section that K. Wilson drew ahead, and he rapidly went further away to win easily by 3m 16s from C. Sparkes. One of the most meritorious performances was that of E. I?. Robinson, Wellington, who outsprinted F. Manning, Palmerston North, and R. Evans. Wellington, for third place. Robinson rides under the handicap of an artificial lower right arm, and therefore cannot use a three-speed gear.

TIME HONOURS SUCCESS OF J. BROWN J. Brown, who won the New Zealand championship over 100 kilometres the prevoius week, finished 2m 20s ahead of R. Button and clocked fastest time in th 26m 7s. If the original course had been available, it is quite reasonable to assume that Brown would have reduced the old record of 4h 37m 12s held by F. J. Grose, of Canterbury. Brown also gained time honours in the 1937 event when ho was 2m 59s better than Dutton, who is the most consistent of the distance riders in Wellington. K. Wilson is a member of the Port Nicholson Club and was sampling the course for the first time. He resembles R. Trlner in build. He is a brother of J W'ilson, who represented the Wellington Province in the Empire Games trials at Auckland last December. C. Sparkes has been a member of the Poneke Club for several years, but had never previously been prominent over a distance. F. Manning, of Palmerston North, fourth, rode solidly throughout only lacking in the sprint, although he just beat Evans, fifth, by a length. Evans was seventh last year, and has competed in 14 events over 100 miles. His first was in the 1928 race over the course. W. Crocker, eighth, was the first Auckland rider to finish and took 4h 51m 12s. Next in order were:—J. Brown, 14th, 4h 26m 7s: R.G. Whitlev. loth, 4h 42m 365; W. R. Walker, 21st, 4h 55m 445; T. McK. Vost. 22nd. 4h 58ni 50s; D. E. Knight, 23rd, 4h 43m 41s; A. T. Vost, 27th. 4h 57m .565; J. T. Robertson, 30th. oh lm 59b; W t . H. Smith, 32nd, 4h 55m 51s; W. Ferguson, 34th, 4h 52m 30s. _ V. Ivev loaned his cycle to Whitley after the latter collided with another rider and ripped several spokes from the roar wheel. H. F, Hawke, Auckland provincial 100 miles champion, was prevented from riding to advantage after his fall near Fox ton, 26 miles. The section where Hawke and others fell will' probably be replaced by the viaduct, now well under construction, in future years. Nothing was more evident from the result of last Saturday's event than the desirabilitv of the event being classed as the New Zealand amateur championship race for all future seasons. The race has invariably been patronised by the best riders from all centres. The race next vear will carry the title automaticallv. as it falls to the Wellington Centre to control the championship.