CYCLING

Southland Times, Issue 22817, 17 February 1936, Page 7

CYCLING

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS. INVERCARGILL SUCCESSES. (By “Pedal.”) The Otago championships were decided on Saturday at a meeting conducted by the Otago Centre at the Caledonian grounds. Weather conditions were good except for a stiff northeasterly wind which hampered the riders somewhat coming up the straight. A big programme was put through including cycling, running and whippet events, also Highland dancing and a display by the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The St. Kilda Band was also in attendance and gave a quickstep exhibition. The Invercargill Club, with eight riders, scooped the pool, collecting all championships and also the handicap race. The Drummond Club was represented by two riders and collected a second place. C.- Nicholson won the gold medal for most points at the meeting with 6 points. L. Johnson won the medal for runner-up with 5 points. The following are the results of the cyclingevents:— ONE KILOMETRE TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP (1094 yards).—C Nicholson (Invercargill) lmin 29 4-ssec 1, T. Egan (Drummond) lmin 30sec 2 L. Johnson (Invercargill) lmin 30 4-5 sec 3. QUARTER-MILE SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP. —C. Robinson (Invercargill) 1, M. Hegarty (Dunedin) 2. Time, 33 sec. This race was run in heats of three riders on a two-life system. When a rider was defeated twice he was eliminated. The event was very interesting and thrilling finishes were witnessed in nearly all heats. The race took considerable time to finalize. With 16 rid.ers, three rounds and a semi-final with six heats in each round were necessary to run off before the final race was decided. C. Robinson was the only rider to go through without defeat, though M. Hegarty, his opponent in the final rode some good races. FIVE MILES CHAMPIONSHIP — This race was the most spectacular event of the meeting, it being run straight-out Pacemakers played a big part in the race (four riders taking the lead doing one lap each, in front, making the pace). The pace was on all the time and the field soon dwindled down to a contest between the three placed men, who completely lapped the rest of the field, catching them in the second last lap. L. Johnson had a convincing win, the issue not being in doubt after the bell was rung for the last round. He headed Homer (Dunedin) by two lengths, with A. Fletcher (Dunedin) 50 yards away. J. Robinson was fourth. Seven riders completed the race. Time 12min 23sec.

ONE MILE HANDICAP.—C. Nicholson (20yds) 1, W. Fullerton (40yds) 2, L. Johnson (scr) 3. Time, 2min 27 4-5 sec.