AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1929, Page 3

AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB

RUGBY ROAD CYCLE RACE. J. DONALDSON FASTEST TIME. The New Plymouth Amateur Athletic Club’s series of cycle road races was advanced a further stage on Saturday with a race from Avenue Road to Rugby Road and back, a distance of about 36 miles. . . Five competitors faced the starter, and considering the severe head wind they had to battle -against all the way out a good race resulted, and good times were recorded. On the journey out . the back-markers, riding well, gradually gained on the limit men, and just before the turn for home the field closed up. The riders kept well together on the homeward run, and after a keen tussle over the last quarter of a mile Donaldson drew out to win by one and a-half lengths from Horne, with Reed a length further back in third place and Gillies close up. Gardiner retired before the turn for home. The detailed results, showing actual riding times, are as follow, handicaps being shown in parentheses:— J. Donaldson (scr), lhr 59min 13sec (fastest time) L J. Horne (scr), lhr 59min 13 l-ssec 2 R. Reed (15sec), lhr 59irfin.29sec .. 3 H. Gillies (7min), 21ir Ginin 16sec .. 4 R. Gardiner (4min), retired. All the riders rode well, the backmarkers especially showing good form. Gillies, who is a newcomer among the ranks of cyclists, shows promise, and with more experience should develop into a good rider. J. Donaldson now has a commanding lead of 15 points in the Gran Dance Cup. The following officials were present to conduct the race: —Messrs E. M. Pryor, W. J. Recd, sen., J. 8. King and W. J. Reed, jun., who acted as road, and turn steward. The next race, which is set down for October 12, is to Okato and back, starting from Mission Hill, a distance of about 28 miles. ATHLETIC CLUB COMMITTEE. An enthusiastic committee meeting, of the New Plymouth Amateur Athletic Club was held on Thursday, those present being:—Mr. J. S. S. Medlev (chairman), Dr. P. C. Davie, Dr. G. H. Thomson, Messrs E. Jackson, sen., W. J. Reed, sen., G. H. Weir, A. H. White, L. Webster, F. A. Black, S. F. Varnham, J. 8. King and E. M. Pryor (honorary secretary). Various matters in connection with • athletics were discussed and full particulars as to dates of training runs, etc., will be published at an early date. An excellent programme of events for the first series was also approved, and athletes can rest assured that they are to be well catered for this season. At this meeting a very pleasant function took place, the chairman presenting ’S. A. Blackwith the championship certificates won by him last February at the Wanganui-Taranaki championships held at Wanganui. The certificates were for the 100yds (time 10 l-'ssec), 220yds (time 23sec), and the 440yds (time olsec). In handing over the certificates Mr. Medley congratulated Mr. Black on his excellent performances, and expressed the wish that he would have another successful season this year. He hoped it might be New Plymouth’s honour to have a New Zealand champion as a member of its athletic club. Everything points to a most successful season for athletics, and it is hoped that the public of New Plymouth will show their appreciation of good amateur sport by strongly supporting the club.

BIGGEST RACE IN SOUTH ISLAND. 100 MILES IN 4HRS. 46MIN. 15SEC. By Telesraph.—Press Association Christchurch, Last Night. The biggest amateur cycling road race in the Southj Island, known as the round-the-gorges race, over a distance of 100 miles, was won to-day by N. Berry (handicap 24hiin.) in shrs. 12min. 33scc. L. Buckley (40min.) was second in shrs. 17min. 33 l-ssec., and D. J. Richardson (35min.)' third in shrs. 22 min. 52sec.' Fastest time was made by F. J. Grose, who finished thirteenth. His time was 41irs. 46miu. 15sec. The second fastest time was F. J. Wilcockson’s 4hrs. 4Smin. 12scc.