LINDOP’S GREAT RIDE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 485, 15 October 1928, Page 6

LINDOP’S GREAT RIDE

WINS AUCKLAND ROADTITLE STRONG FIELD BEATEN In a bitterly cold wind, that was al- i most a gale at times, the AuckNnd 1 Athletic and Cycling Club held life an- I nual road championship on Saturday. The distance this year was 14 miles, | or two circuits of the AX an ge re course, j starting and finishing at the Mangere j Bridge. The field-, though small, was ; a well selected one, and contained j among others Auckland’s premier cash road performer, F. Prior, who has more . fastest times to his credit than any other rider this season. The result was a surprise to most "followers of the sport, as J. Lindop. the ex-West Coaster, finishing with a remarkable turn of speed, won by two lengths. The consolation race run before the big event was responsible for a fine performance by N. Whyte, who started off the lmin 45sec mark, and won easily. Following are the results: Seven-mile Consolation Handicap Race, for all riders who have never won a first prize during the season.—X. Whyte, lmin 45see, 1; H. Lee, 2min, 2;.P. Rickman, lmin 45see. 3. Time. 24min 6sec. Fastest time, D. Storey, scr., 22min 42sec. R. Barry, 2min losec, was first away, followed by the remainder of the field at intervals. The front-markers, the lmin 45sec, 2min. and 2min 15sec riders soon got together, and pacing each other in real first class style, were never really troubled. When it came to “collecting,” there was only one in it, and that was the winner. He opened up a gap at the top of Alangere Hill of 20 lengths, which he held to the finish. There was a gap of ten lengths between second and third. D. Storey had a lone ride to snatch fastest time by 21 seconds. Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club 14mile Road Championship.—J. Lindop, 1; F. Prior, 2; K. J. Alatheson, 3. Time, 40 min 45sec. From the word go Prior shot to the front, closely followed by Alathieson. Lindop, and Francis. Turning round the Black Bridge, Lindop raced to the front, and opened up a gap of 10 lengths, which he was allowed to hold till well into Robertson’s Road. Turning put of Robertson’s Road, Clark, who had been riding very erratically, ran off at the corner, but climbed back again, and picked’ up the field, which was moving slowly here. Shortly afterwards he touched Lindop’s wheel and came down, bringing Francis over the top if him. The latter, however, quickly remounted, and raced after and caught the field. From here to the top of Mangere Hill there was little or no change with the exception that riders were all on the lookout to get that “jump” in first. Lindop was the first to get going, but was closely pressed by Prior and Alathieson, the latter at one time being in front. Over the last 100 yards they simply flew, a blanket covering the field, but once in the firing line Lindop simply left the others, winning by two lengths, Prior beating Alathieson by a wheel for second place. The winner was warmly congratulated by the big crowd of cycling enthusiasts present, and was presented by G. Mathieson with the club’s 1928 champion sash immediately after the race. HARPER WINS CYCLE RACE l*ress CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. The Ashburton-to-Christcliurclx road cycle race held yesterday was won by H. J. Harper, by a small margin. With a following wind the long handicap men made the pace fast, but the roads were bad and many riders had falls and punctures. Following were, the first 10 placed men:—H. J. Harper (19m). 2h 27m 475, 1; W. F. Wilcoxson (9|m). 2h 18 m 375, 2; H. Quill (14m). 2h 31m l-ss, 3; A. McNickel (23£m). 2h 33m 30 l-ss; J. W. McNab (19m). 21i 31m 28s: S. Campbell (8m), 2h 21s 45 l-ss: T. W. Gifford (12m), 2h 26m 44 4-ss: F. Healey (Dunedin) (14m), 2h 30m AOs: A. Mackie (9£m), 2h 27m 7s; C. Poulson (21m), 2h 40m 10 l-ss. Wilcoxson made the fastest time and earns the title of amateur road champion of Canterbury. I I | | !