CYCLING ENTHUSIAST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19952, 20 November 1926, Page 19

CYCLING ENTHUSIAST.

AN UNOFFICIAL STARTER. ENTRY TOO LATE FOR RACE. (Special to Daili Times.) AUCKLAND, November 19. The crowd that waited at the Show Ground gates yesterday afternoon to see the Marathon cyclists arrive after pedalling all the way from Hamilton, cheered the first rider home, L. Bates, of Hamilton, but this young man was not allowed to ride round the ring. He did not have the number on his jersey. In fact, he was an unofficial rider. Bates’s entry was received too late, and he unsuccessfully requested the promoters of the race to allow him to take part. Yesterday morning he was at the starting post bright and early, thinking that he might bo accepted as a post entrant. This request, of course, had to be refused. “Put me anywhere you like. I’ll start off with the scratch men,” he pleaded with the starter, Mr George Sutherland. Bates said that he had had a cycle specially built for the race. He started off a few minutes in front of the limit men and rode the whole way from Hamilton to Auckland on his own. Bates showed a neat riding style, and when he arrived at the Show Grounds he was as fresh as when he started. His time was not taken, but it was particularly good. Bates is a real cycling enthusiast. Although disappointed at not being able officially to take part in the contest, he was quite satisfied, for he made up his mind tat he would ride from Hamilton to Auckland.