CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 50

CYCLING.

LONG ROAD RACE.

WAIMATE TO CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, October 4.

The Waimate to Christchurch Road Race, of 145 miles, was held to-day, when 68 riders competed. The sky was overcast and a light breeze from the southwest made the conditions ideal for the riders. The roads were in good order. M. Briggs (New Brighton) won by 200 yards off the 44-minute mark in 7hr 3min 13sec, H. M. Watson (Christchurch) made the fastest time of 6hr 23inin 32sec to finish eighth, and S. W. M’Cann (New Plymouth), who made the best time last year, finished a yard behind Watson. Forty-two riders finished, the first 10 being:— M. Briggs, New Brighton (44min), 7hr 3min 13sec 1 S. G. Havill, Hokitika (52min), 7hr 12min 32sec o J. J. Havill, Hokitika (52min), 7hr llmin 49sec 3 G. Mugford, Aylesbury (35min), Ghr 56min 4sec 4 E. C. W. Preen, Dunedin (48min), 71ir lOmin Isec 5 W. R. M. Gooch, Hokitika (44min), 7hr Cmin 53sec (J F. Dawson, Christchurch (44min), 7hr 7niin 39sec 7 H. G. Watsoon, Marshlands (scr) 6hr 23min 32sec 8 S. W. M’Cann, New Plymouth (scr), 6hr 23min 32 l-ssec 9 R. M. Watson, Cust (62min), 7hr ’ 28min 29sec 10

The Mayor of Waimate (Mr George Dash) set the two limit men off at 7.15 a.m. in the presence of a large crowd, and the scratch men left at 8.45 a.m. The scratch men had gained 25 minutes on the leaders at Timaru and five minutes on the 35-minute riders, who were then going well in a bunch. At Geraldine the scratch man dropped L. W. Hill owing to a mishap to his machine. The scratch riders had now gained 42 minutes on the leaders, and were 24 minutes behind the 35-minutes’ bunch—E. A. Bransden, G. Mugford, G. J. Peek, and J. G. Stack. Between lemuka and Geraldine, S. Arnst and Lamberton came down and lost a minute and a-half, but Lamberton was with his bunch again at Ashburton, where the scratch men were 27 minutes behind the leaders, who now included Briggs and T. Dawson. At Dunsandel, Watson and Co. were still 15 minutes behind the leaders, who were, at this stage, Briggs and Havill (52inin).

Seldom has such fine riding been shown by backmarkers, as the scratch men displayed, but their numbers at Ashburton had been reduced by three to six men. Those who had retired were S. Arnst, who fell, Hill, who broke his handlebars, and Luckey. Thousands watched the finish of the race in the Show Grounds. Briggs finished alone, apparently fairly fresh. About 200 yards behind him was S. G. Havill, also alone. J. J. Havill came in 100 yards behind his brother, and was closely followed by G. Mugford, who won the Timaru-Christchurch race last year. Shortly afterwards Watson and M’Cann' scratch men, arrived in the straight. Watson appeared to catch M’Cann napping, and sprinted over the line to head him by half a length. This is the first year the race has been run over the longer distance, and the better riders, for the most part, say they preferred the longer distance. Watson’s ride was a magnificent performance. Over..the Timaru to Christchurch distance lie eclipsed O’Shea’s record, made in 1913, by Imin 26sec, but O'Shea made his time when there were no concrete roads and many open water races.

WARRNAMBOOL ROAD RACE. MELBOURNE, October 5. The Warrnambool Road Race resulted as follows:—J. P. Egan (Victoria), 9hr 3min (off 52mm), 1; A. S. Bailey (South Australia, off 34min), 2; V. J Beasley (Victoria, off 50min), 3; V. J. Atkinson (Victoria, off 48min), 4. R. W. Lamb (Victoria, off scratch) recorded the fastest time—Bhr 20min Isec. The race was of 165 miles, and there were 223 starters. The back markers included Hubert Opperman, the Australian champion. The race was won by a length, with half a length between second and third. ‘