CYCLE ROAD RACE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6963, 1 November 1909, Page 6

CYCLE ROAD RACE

TIMARU TO CHRISTCHURCH. WON BY O’SHEA AFTER KEEN CONTEST. TEES 3 ASSOCIATION. OHRISTCHEROH, October 31. The weather was almost perfect for tho Timaru-Christchurch road race yes. tcrday, though the latter portion of tho journey was rendered laborious by a rising north-easterly wind. Melville Hill, the starting point, was crowded with spectators, and tho competitors were dispatched well up to time. It was not until Geraldine was reached that bunches of competitors wore found, and hero L. H. Tozer (Tcmuka), S. A. C, Walker (Wellington), F. L. Knowles (Addington), IV. Price (Belfast), and H. Galletly (Styx) formed tho first “school.” Tyro troubles wore frequent up to this feint. A bunch of fourteen middle markers was noticed near Orari bridge, gradually gaining on the limit men. When Maronan road was entered a largo number found the going too rough and retired. The leading division reached Ashburton at noon. The leaders had a tremendous break on tho remainder of the field. J. Arnst came to grief before ho arrived at Geraldine. R. Arnst was on “tho, big side” but, his efforts during the time he was racing, though spasmodic, were extremely useful to the bunch he was, with. At Sohvyn the leading division had dwindled down to G, H. Birch, .1. O’Shea, E. M. Morris, L. -Maw, and J. McTegue. They rodo at a very slow pace from this point to Plumpton course. . At 3.45 five mon arrived in a bunch, in tho following order—-P. O’Shea, L. Maw. G. Birch, E. M. Morris and J. McTeague. They maintained their positions wheel to ivhee. into tho course. Coming into the straight tho men made a last effort. O'Shea shot out of the ruck and finished in brilliant fashion twenty • yards ahead of Maw, who heat Birch by a bare length, with Morris fifteen yards behind. W. Hill finished alone a few minutes later, followed shortly afterwards by F. W. Crossman, VV. Walsh, and W. J. Garrett. hittls groups appeared at odd intervals, but it was fully an hour before tho majority of tho field was accounted for. Birch, (32min) was the . only one or tho back-markers to run into a position, but tho redoubtable Jack Arnst (scratch), who gained twelfth place,put up the fastest time, 6hr 31-1 mjjn. O’Shea’s (45min) riding time was vhr 6min Sosec, L. Maw’s (39min) 7hr Oman 26sec, G. H. Birch’s (32min) 6hr 53mm 57sec, E. Morris’s (45min) 7hr 6nun 57sec, J. McTeague’s (37min) 6hr sSmin 58sec, E. W. Hill’s (38min) /hr 3min 20sec. Tho order of tho finish of the first twenty-nine men was as follows: P. O’Shea (Sydenham), 1; L. Moir (Dunedin), 2; G. H. Birch (Fendalton), 3; E. M. Morris (Kaiapoi), 4; J. McTeaguo (Halswell), 5; E. W. Hill (Moerald), 6; F. W. Crossman (Hinds), 7; T. W. Walsh (Papanui), 8; W. G. Garrett (Ashburton), 9; M. McTeague (Sprcydon), 10; A. B. L. Smith (Waikari), 11; J. Arnst (Christchurch), 12; A. Birch (Fendalton), 13; J. Coulter (Palmerston North), 14; A. E. Parkes (Hunterville), 15; H. Edwards (Halswell), 16; T. Coleman (Marshlands), 17; A. Hmnm (Spreydon), 18; W. Harris (Waikiwi), 19; P. Hill (Addington), 20; L. Galletly (Styx), 21; W. Broad (Invercargill), 22; T. J. Doran (New Brighton), 23; VV. Arnst (Papanui), 24; D. Flanagan (Leeston), 25; J. Carnegie (Dunedin), 26; J. E. McCarthy (Christchurch), 27; A. G. Donald (Palmerston North), 28; C. Hill (Papanui), 29. Tho fastest times were as follow J. Arnst, 6hr 34min 25sec, A. Birch 6hr B7min 25 2-ssec, J. Coulton 6hr 37min 26sec, R. Rogers 6hr 41min 25 3-ssec, A. B. Smith 6hr 44min 25sec, A. Kumm 6hr 44min 26 4-ssec, G. H. Birch 6hr 53min 57sec, M. McTeague 6hr 58min 38sec, N. J. Garrett 6hr 59min 37 3-ssec, J. McTeague 6hr 58min 58seo.

Prizes for fastest time was not ■awarded, as the League is holding an inquiry into certain alleged irregularities.