WADE AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 153, 19 September 1927, Page 11

WADE AGAIN

BRILLIANT CYCLIST WINS AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP WET WEATHER RACING The Auckland Centre of the New • Zealand Amateur Athletic Association struck one of the worst days experienced in Auckland this year for its 50 5 mile provincial championship. The weather on Saturday could not have been worse for road racing. A. bitterly cold wind accompanied by continuous ■ heavy showers made matters very unpleasant for the riders. The result was the survival of the fittest only. Out of 39 entrants, 31 faced the starter, and, of these, only half that number saw the race out. Over the concrete roads to Papakura, the scratch men, J. H. Wade, M. P. Byrnes, L. Wilson and H. Dwight seemed to take things too easy. So much so, that they had gained very little on the whole field at this stage. On the 16min mark was a bunch of eight, who, with A. Sercombe and S. Lichfield at their head, put up good time to Cleveland. The Bmin bunch which comprised seven of the best handicapped riders in the race, also put up great time to Cleveland. Of this bunch, G. A. Clark, W. Dwight, W. Rome, and H. McElroy w'ere responsible for some good pacing. Ten scratch men Yvith the exception of L. Wilson, who had retired, put in a great ride from Papakura t:o Cleveland and back, gaining just on 5 minutes on the field. AT PAPAKURA The first rider to show up at Papakura on the home journey was A. Sercombe (16min). He passed through on his own going strong, followed by S. Lichfield (16min). Shortly afterward came C. L. Russell (12mm) and L. Devlin (12min), both on their own; almost immediately afterward came the Bmin bunch with W. Rowe and W. Dwight pacing strongly at the head of a field of nine. Three minutes afterward came the scratch riders, with Byrnes (who was doing considerably more than his share of pacing) in the lead. It was quite evident that the Cleveland end had taken toll of quite a number, as the "morgue van,” which is always an attraction in these long races for weary pedallers, had a full complement on board when it arrived at Papakura. H. Russell and E. M. Taylor both retired here. Sercombe and Lichfield were still in front at Manurewa, when C. L. Russell retired. The Bmin bunch were now putting the work in. Here it seemed a hopeful chase for the scratch men, who had now commenced to gain on the field. Nearing Otahuhu the pace commenced to tell on the two juniors, Lichfield and Sercombe, the latter collapsing and falling just entering Otahuhu. Lichfield was still in front at Otahuhu, but the Bmin. bunch, headed by C. A. Clarke, had his measure, and took the lead here. The scratch riders were pacing each other in great style, but Dwight here had bad luck to pull his foot out of one his straps, and it took him some time to get it back in again. Shortly after this, Byrnes, who was still doing most of the pacing, and Wade, left Dwight. Passing through Otahuhu they were about a mile behind the leaders. Prom here to the finishing post the Bmin. riders, Clark, Rowe, Dwight, McElroy and Develin, 12min., had matters all their own way. Taking it easy and watching for a sight of the scratch men, they pedalled leisurely till the turn into Market Road. Here the real race took place. Watching each other like cats they approached the "fiinshing cord.” The white line had disappeared. DWIGHT WINS Suddenly W. Dwight jumped to the front, and finishing strongly, won a great race by six lengths from H. McElroy, who beat C. A. Clarke by three lengths for third place. Hardly had these riders crossed the line, when the scratch men, Byrnes and Wade, appeared. It was do or die with these two, as the 50-mile championship of Auckland, carrying with it the Dunlop Tyre Company of Australasia beautiful diamond centre £ 5 5s medal, was attached to this sprint. Over the last 50yds. Wade gradually asserted himself and won by half a length. It was a great finish, both riders being heartily congratulated on their fine ride. Following is the result: W. Dwight (BmlrO 1 H. McElroy (Bmin) C. A. Clark (Bmin) «> W. Rowe (Bmin) * Time, 2hr 43min 55sec. Fastest time and championship, J. H. Wade (scr), 2hr 24min 59sec. Second fastest time, M. P. Byrnes, 2hr 24min 59 2-ssec. There were several punctures during the running of the race, but only one minor accident, V. Baker, one of the smin. men, was bumped of his machine by a motor-car skidding into his back wheel, throwing him heavily. He was attended to by the ambulance waggon. The following are the results of the cycle races held at Alexandra Park during the running of the big event: HALF-MILE JUNIOR CYCLE HANDICAP R. Capp (25yds) J D. Hope (25yds) " L. Aldred (45yds) 6 Time, lmin 27 4-ssec. ONE MILE JUNIOR HANDICAP R. Capp (40yds) \ G. Young (scr) .. - - % F. G. Pinker (120yds) Time, 3min 49sec. ONE MILE OPEN HANDICAP J. V. Gore (35yds* } A. C. Baird (55yds) “ H. G. Brewin (35yds) * Time, 2min 35 2-ssec. VICTORY FOR WANGANUI TARANAKI GOES UNDER HAWERA, Saturday. Wanganui defeated Taranaki in the representative Rugby game here today by 14 to 12. The match was fast and exciting and was favoured with glorious weather conditions. In the first spell Leo Bourke, the Taranaki threequarter, sustained a broken leg in a hard tackle by the opposing wing, Jones. A few moments previously Bourke had scored. H. W. Brown opened Taranaki’s account with a penalty goal in the first four minutes. Leahy replied in similar fashion for Wanganui. A minute later Young scored for Taranaki, Brown’s kick striking the post. An unconverted try by Bourke saw Taranaki leading 9 to 3, but before half- 1 time McLennan and Vangioni scored for Wanganui, Stiven converting one ; try. Wanganui thus led 11 to 9. In the second spell, in which some fine forward play was seen, Fromont ‘ scored for Wanganui and Brown ] kicked a penalty goal for Taranaki. ALL BLACK CANDIDATES The following have been selected to i represent Taranaki-Wanganui against Wellington-Manawhenua in the Ail 1 Black trial match at Wanganui od ’ Wednesday: A. Petty, W. McLennan. 1 H. W. Brown, T. Vangioni. D. John- * ston (captain), W. Wakeling. S. Dun- a can. P. Stiver, J. Walter, P. Leahy, J. 1 R. O’Keefe, P. Ward, YV. : Robinson, E. Coulston. j a