CYCLING

Southland Times, Issue 24184, 22 July 1940, Page 10

CYCLING

R. BLACK WINS THIRD AVON CUP RACE RECORD ESTABLISHED BY H. MITCHELL Conditions were again excellent for cycling on Saturday when the Invercargill Club held the final race of the Avon Cup series over the 25-mile Woodlands-Rakauhauka course. The feature of the race was the record time established by H. Mitchell (4min), who rode the course in Ihr 2min 32sec, which was Imin llsec better than the previous record. Three riders tied for the Avon Cup, R. Black, the winner of Saturday’s race, having five points, equal with Mitchell and D. Ward. Each will hold the trophy for four months. The race was marred by a bad spill between Kennington and Mill Road on the wav home. D. Ward collided with C. Waddick, and A. Waddick and T. Leal crashed over the top of them. Ward had to receive medical attention but the others, apart from minor bruises and abrasions, were uninjured. Twenty-one riders competed. At Woodlands Milne and C. Waddick had been caught by the 7Jmin bunch. The 4min men, who were setting a hot pace, had caught the smin bunch before Woodlands and about half a mile past they caught the 6min markers. This big bunch of 10 riders turned at Rakauhauka 45sec behind the leaders, A. Waddick, C. Campbell and J. Murdoch. H. Jones and T. Waddick were 4min behind the big bunch, and K. Jones and R. McDougall a further Imin 7sec behind. RIDERS DROP OUT The terrific pace set by A. Jones, H. Mitchell and H. Hubber was beginning to tell from Roslyn Bush, the less fit ones gradually dropping out. When the crash- occurred seven riders were left, but Jones and Shand dropped out a mile from home, leaving J. Black, R. Black, Blackburn, Mitchell and Murdoch. R. Black won the sprint by a foot from J. Black, with Blackburn half a length away. Mitchell and Murdoch were a further three lengths away. Mitchell gained fastest time from J. Black by just on a minute. Results: — R. Black (6min) Ihr 4min 31sec 1 J. Black (smin) Ihr 3min 31 l-ssec 2 R. Blackburh (6min) Ihr 4min 31 2-ssec 3 . Fastest time.—H. Mitchell, Ihr 2min 32sec (a record). Final placings in the Avon Cup are: H. Mitchell 5, R. Black 5, D. Ward 5, C. Campbell 3, J. Black 2, R. McDougall 2, J. Murdoch 1, R. Blackburn I.

The race next week will be the Roslyn Bush-Makarewa event, finishing on the Winton road.