SOUTH ISLAND ROAD RAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1929, Page 11

SOUTH ISLAND ROAD RAGE

FASTEST TIME TO S. MCCANN G,; MUGFORD (AYLESBURY). WINS. BEST FINISH IN RECENT YEARS. ’ By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Oct. 5. Eighty-five riders of the 91 who entered started in the Timaru to Christchurch road race to-day. The weather was fine but over part of the route the riders faced a nor’-wester. S. W. McCann made fastest time, beating H. G. Watson by a length in a stirring race for" finishing time in the Addington showgrounds. L.. W. Hill, the other scratch man, was a length further back. The. race was won by G. Mugford off the 42min. mark. The most •notable non-starter was' N. Bellringer, New. Plymouth. ■ The roads were in good condition, in-’ creasino- lengths of road now being paved with bitumen or concrete, but there was loose shingle on some of the unpaved stretches, and this slowed up the speed. The riders were despatched on time, and the scratch trio, starting an hour after the limit men, made the pace fast, knowing as they did that conditions favoured the long handicap men. Along the first miles of bitumen they easily made 25 miles hourly. The limit men were caught and left near Hinds by the 46min., group. After the riders had passed ’Ashburton the wind and sweltering heat told and only the real stayers could keep the pace. The usual numbers of men dropped out from weariness, cramp and minor accidents to themselves or their machines. Ralston (Otago) went to hospital at Ashburton, having suffered a broken collarbone in a fall on the Hinds Road. . The journey from Rolleston to Christchurch, all on paved roads, was covered at 25 miles an hour. S. Arnst led over most of the last stretch. He was closely followed by Mugford, Wilton and Gooch. All the riders were much hampered by traffic on the roads, motorears, motor-cyclists and cyclists from the city swarming all along the route from Rolleston. Mugford led into the showgrounds but Arnst passed him. Mugford sprinted pluckily and won by a length and a half, with Wilton two lengths behind Arnst. It was the best finish in recent years. Placings and finishing times are:— G. Mugford, Aylesbury (42inin.), 6hrs. 6min. 31sec. .............. 1 S. Arnst, Christchurch (27min.), shrs. 51min. 31Jsec 2 J. F. Wilton, Christchurch (42min.), 6hrs. 6min. 32sec 3 W. R. M. Gooch, Hokitika (40min.), (Ihrs. smin. Bsec 4, J. F. O’Reilly, Rakaia (33min.), Uhrs, Cmin. 32sec 5 S. W. McCann, New Plymouth (scr.) shrs. 35min. 4Gsec., fastest time 6 W. L. White, Christchurch (Ifimin.), shrs. 51min. 46 l-ssec 7 H. G. Watson, Marshland (scr.), shrs. 35min, 46 2-ssec. 8 L. W. Hill, New Brighton (scr.), shrs. 35min. 46 2-ssec 9 S. A. Jordan, Christchurch (12min.), shrs. 47min. 47sec 10 J. Dawson, Australia, finished thirteenth in 6hrs. 3min. 9sec. Forty-two riders were timed at the finish. I PALMERSTON-WANGANUI RACE. Wanganui, Last Night. The cycling race from Palmerston North to Wanganui on Saturday resulted: G. Spencer (Palmerston North) 1, S. Webber (Wellington) 2, T. McCord (Masterton) 3, R. Sowerby (Feilding) 4, C. Olsen (Palmerston North) 5, Toomer (Wellington) 6. Webber secured fastest time.

BIG AUSTRALIAN CONTEST. FIRST TO FINISH DISQUALIFIED. OPPERMAN SECURES HONOUR. B.v Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 6, 5.5 p.m. Melbourne, Oct. ,6. The Warrnambool to Melbourne 165 miles handicap cycling race, organised by the Dunlop Rubber and Pcrdriau Rubber Companies, resulted;— H. Opperman (scr), Victoria I O. Nicholson (6min.), Victoria .... 2 G. MacLeod (ser.), Victoria 3 H. Marshall (6min.), Western Australia, finished first but was disqualified for alleged outside assistance. The winner’s time was 8 hours 7 minutes 2 1-5 seconds. The finish of the race was sensational, Marshall getting in first by half a length from Opperman, with O. Nicholson a length away, followed by MacLeod, and after him J. J. Ewell, Warrnambool (50min.) fourth. The referee immediately announced that Marshall had accepted food along the route from unauthorised persons, a breach of the regulations, and he was consequently disqualified, the race being awarded to Opperman. Nicholson was placed second. Further excitement occurred when Nicholson protested against Opperman for alleged interference over the last quarter of a mile. The officials will meet to-morrow at ten o’clock to investigate the charge. The first five riders will be witnesses. Opperman also secured fastest time. There was considerable interest along the route.' Crowds assembled in each town, and there were 25,000 spectators at the finish. A strong wind made conditions hard. The scratch men made the pace a cracker from the start. The veteran, W. King, 50 years of age, off the 65sec. mark, led the field crossing Stony Ridges. There were several falls. At Colao Opperman and the back aroup were 32 minutes behind the -leaders, at Winchelsea 20 minutes, and at Geelong seven. Passing through Werribee King still led, but shortly afterwards he was overhauled by the backmarkers, Opperman, MacLeod, Oram, Marshall, Jewell, Foster and Johnson. Four hundred yards from home Opperham drew out for a long sprint, but Marshall hung on and 100 yards from the line drew level, amidst intense excitement, and forged ahead io cross the line with half a length to spare from the Tour de France rider. It was a magnificent effort on Opperman’s part to gain fastest time and veritably win the event. The total prizes amount io £5OO.