CYCLING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 13, 7 September 1912, Page 8

CYCLING.

■ THE RECENT ROAD HACK. Referring to the Round the Moun tain Road Race, T>. C. Collins (Greyniouch), who came in first and thereiore gained the Britannia Challenge Cuj) for the year, chatting to a “Tara--1 naki Herald” reporter, said that he experienced quite in's share of the vicissitudes oi the road, his chain breaking on two occasions. The first time ne was able to mend it with a rivet, hut tin's came out at Inglewood, ami lie had patch it up again with a bit cf wire, which enabled him to get home just ahead of the second man. Indeed, they entered the racecourse together. Tor about (30 miles he rode by himself; tin’s was ti;om Opunakc to Inglewood, where on account of his second mishap, some riders overtook him. After Ivu Collins had had a bath and iconic tea, To looked as fresh as if he had just come in from an ordinary spin, and lie is evidently in splendid racing condition.

Hr H. H. Ronald, the second man, hails from Martinborough, near Featiierston, but his home is at Ballarat (Australia). He is the only rider liom the south of Wellington province, and came up entirely by himself, withcut any “pals.” Ronald got going early, and left the other three on the dOmin. mark. He had three spills on the journey, one due to the crowd on tiie road at Eltham, the second from ihe same cause at Stratford, and the third by skidding in the mud. From ihe Eltham tumble he turned two complete somersaults, and the onlookers helped him on to his machine again.

e rode practically alone nearly all

-.ae way, and did not overhaul the front man till reaching Kent Road, about, six miles from home. When climbing the long lull at the Meeting of the .Vaters, one of his companions suggested that all should walk. This was agreed to, hut proved unfortunate for Ronald, who contracted cramp in the legs. He soon righted himself, and -s a consequence all pedalled up the last hill (Cliff’s). He finished fairly iresh, and blames the large gear of ids machine, to a certain extent, for ais not being able to raise a sprint in uhe straight. Mr A. Danielson, of Palmerston X., who came in third, but a short distance oehind the second man, said that he aad had a very good run, with no breaks or punctures. He kept with the bunch he was in as far as Okato,

where he drew away and got ahead. At Opunakc he and two others were in the lead, but at Kaponga he dropped back, but rallying at Eltham again ran into third place, and from Inglewood on was in company with the two leaders. Mr Danielson has been road racing for eight years, and has also done good work on the track. Mr A. Codd, of Rahotu, came in sixth. Ho had the misfortune to break his chain between Kaponga and Eltham, which, he said, was one of the best bits of going on the course. After this he managed to catch up a couple of men who had passed him, and two more on the Junction Road, while he overtook a fifth on the Mangorei Hill. He is on by 18 years and two months of age. Mr Codd also won flic special prize of a medal valued at £5 5s for the fastest time put up by a Taranak rider under 21 years of age. Mr J. Clarke, of Aromoho, who won the race last year, together with several other prizes, was unplaced, but came in fresh, and stated that the race had been a much more gruelling one than last year. He rode well as far as Opunake, but went off after that point had been passed. Mr Coulter had .been riding with him, and when he dropped out he did not seem to get along half so well, as he had to ride by himself for a long way The road ho described as much rougher than if was last year. Last year Mr Clarke carried off the bulk of the prizes. Two protests arising out of the road race were considered by the appeal committee in the evening. T. C. Geilitis, the winner of the race, was accused of having received assistance from a person other than a competitor. This he denied having done, and for lack of corroboration by the only witness present when the offence was said to have occurred the protest wa‘ dismissed. ThK second protest war lodged against O. Rowlands, for having, it was alleged, accepted pacing from a motor car. A rider who bad given up the race was on board the car, and warned the driver (a Maori) against giving help. This charge was also dismissed for lack of evidence.