CLASSIC CYCLE EVENT

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12248, 21 September 1925, Page 8

CLASSIC CYCLE EVENT

TIMARU TO CHRISTCHURCH DEAD-HEAT FOR FIRST PLACE AN UNPRECEDENTED FINISH Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, September 19. The annual Timaru to Christchurch bicycle road race was held to-day, 170 of the 183 who entered taking part. The arrangements worked like clockwork, no hitch whatever occurring. The day was fine, and the roads were in good order, with here and there patches of shingle, but, unfortunately, the riders had a strong wind to contend with, which increased in violence as the day wore on, and as the leading men were completing the last lap at the finishing point on the Addington trotting track one gust nearly toppled them from their machines. The conditions in the early stages caused many retirements. The Selwyn river was an inhospitable flood that ebrbade a passage. The path for the cyclists lay to its brink, and then it was necessary to dismount, walk under the railway bridge, climb up a bank carrying bicycles, and to pick a way over the sleepers that were laid with six-inch gaps. , GRIM AND DUSTY At 2.8 p.m., Walker, grim and dusty, was greeted with cheers. Two minutes later came Oakley, and a minute after him J. H. Parsons, C. Bright, J. H. ATussen, D. George, C. Clark, L. A. Wilson, R. Lovell, A. Henry, K. Nankivell, and R. Nicholson. Several rode over the bridge, but the others hopped over the sleepers. Twelve minutes later G. Busbridge headed a bunch. When D. E. Nicholson, Wanganui, appeared at the bridge there was no official to guide him, and he jumped off his bicycle and plunged into the flood, forging through the waters chest high, and carrying his bicycle. He gained ground by this, however. The first into Templeton was A. G. Walker (42min), and at his wheel was C. Bright (19min), who had been coming on with a great burst in the final stages. Behind them came a fleet of cars and cyclists. So close were they that had one of the men fallen there would have been a series of collisions. These two had established such a lead that, barring an accident, it was unlikely that they would be passed. They were riding strongly on a road with a good surface, while the wind was not nearly so strong now thsft the more sheltered a'rea was reached. Some distance back, riding in a bunch, were C. Basher, C. Clark, R. Lovell, and Oakley. LAST EXHAUSTED EFFORT Never before has such a finish been seen to the big race. A roar of cneering arose as Bright rode into the ground, about 15 yards ahead of Walker. Slowly, wearily, they pedalled round the back stretch. Bright rose on his pedals, and his shoulders rose and fell in a last exhausted effort. Walker, riding with head down, gradually overhauled him, hut coming up the straight Bright, in a _ last desperate, effort, pushed level with Walker, and they wobbled together past the finishing line at a walking pace. The crowd was on its toes with excitement, and cheer after cheer thundered over the ground as they rolled up the straight. The first men arrived at 3.27, and at 4.20 o’clock fifty-two had finished. The placings were: C. Bright (Christchurch), 19min ... - A. C. Walker (Christchurch), 42min * R. X. Nicholson (Wanganui), lomin 3 R. Lovell (New Plymouth), 19min... 4 O. G. Oakley (Christchurch), 43min 5 D. George (New Plymouth), 31min 6 *Dead-heat. R. McGrath (Islington), 37min, 7; L. A. Wilson (West Coast), 25min, 8; J. R. Mussen (Rangiora), 46min, 9; R. Nankivell (Christchurch), 31min, 10; D. E. Nicholson (Wanganui), ISmin, 11; W. Mackie (Christchurch), lOmin, 12. D. E. Nicholson made the fastest time. A protest was entered by Walker, who contends that he won by half a wheel. The times of the winners are given unofficially as:—Bright, shr 56min lsec; Walker, 6hr 19min Isec. A YOUNG CHAMPION RECORDER OF FASTEST TIME TO COMPETE IN AUSTRALIA. R. A. Nicholson, who made the fastest time, compelted the journey in 5 hours mm The second fastest time was made by Bright. A large number of protects have been entered for illegal pacing. R- A. Nicholson, of Wanganui, this years road champion, is twenty-one years of a?e. He and his brother rode Wrongly till near Ashburton, when It. A. Nicholson had a puncture. The champion was with Bright right up to Selwyn, where # be nearly fell off, and this cost him time. He has been a fairly consistent competitor in North island events Last year he was tenth in the round Alount Egraont race, in which lie started on the 13min mark. In 1923 he mushed sixth, and secured the fastest time under twenty-one and junior read championship of the North Island Nicholson will leave for Melbourne shortly to compete in "Warmambool-Mel-bourne race. GOULBURN-SYDNEYRACE AMATEUR MAKES RECORD TIME THREE VICTORIANS PLACED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received September 20, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 20. The Goulburn to Sydney cycle road race, over a distance of 129 miles, was held in cold, fine weather. The roads were in good order. There were 79 competitors in the amateur race, and 51 in the league of Wheelmen race. The amateur resulted: R. W. Lamb (scr) 1 N. Quinton (12min) 2 A. Quinton (12min) 3 All are Victorians. The winner’s time, 6 hours 17 minutes 55 seconds, was the fastest time, and also a record for the course. The League race resulted:— D. Brooks (Bathurst), 40min 1 R. Cruise (Vic.), I7jmin 2 R. Moody (Parramatta), 27min 3 The winner’s time was 6 hours 50 minutes 10 seconds. It. Cruise made the fastest time, 6 hours 26min 35sec.