HAWKINS’ TITLE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1934, Page 12

HAWKINS’ TITLE

NORTH ISLAND ROAD RACE AMATEUR CYCLE CHAMPION GREEN FIRST RIDER HOME 62 MILES HAWERA COURSE 60 COMPETITORS LN EVENT C. Hawkins, New Plymouth, won the North Island amateur cycling road championship from L. Sowerby (Wellington) in the first contest for the title over a 62 miles course over the Waimate Plains yesterday. Sixty riders from places as far distant as Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Pahiatua, Palmerston North and Wanganui competed, and conditions, except for a difficult head wind from Eltham to Opunake, were perfect. Crowds gathered to view the race at vantage points all along the course, which lay from Hawera via Eltham and Kaponga to Opunake and back to Hawera via Mnaia, The race was excellently organised by the ’ Hawera Ramblers’ Cycle Club.

Although Hawkins by securing fastest time won the championship, the race was won by a 15-year-oldHawera boy, M. Green (18Jm.), who rode a welljudged race to go into the lead with J. E. Ludlam (Stratford) and N. Hyde (Palmerston North) in the last 10 miles. Green led the trio on to the final lap in the Hawera showgrounds and won by five lengths. There were few accidents, only three riders having spills. L, Landers (Hawera) was brought down at Kaponga and A. Brassell (Hawera) came off at the Eltham golf links. M. Green, the winner, touched the wheel of another rider in his bunch at Awatuna and lost 200 yards before he could re-mount, but he caught them again at Opunake. A total of 43 riders finished at the showgrounds, 13 being brought in 'by the emergency vehicles which followed the race. *

The crowd which had assembled to witness the finish was kept in touch by means of a loud speaker with the progress of the race at the main stations on the route. Shortly before 4 o’clock interest was heightened by an announcement that the leaders were at Tokaora. After an anxious wait the arrival of the leaders on the ground was signalled to those at the finishing post. The club officials responsible for the organisation, which was excellent considering that the Ramblers’ club had not before attempted anything on a grand scale, and that the race was the first of its kind in New Zealand, were: President, Mr. W. V. Patterson; committee, Messrs. L. I. Marter, S. Shore, T. Gollins, J. C. Bourke, W. P. Linkhom; club captain, Mr. R. Kelsen; handicappers, Messrs. L. I. Marter, C. Shore; treasurer, Mr. A. H. Guy; secretary, Mr. C. J. Roberts.

FINISH AT. SHOWGROUNDS

STAMINA TELLS AT THE END. f LARGE BUNCH RIDE TOGETHER. The order in which the three leaders entered the showgrounds was maintained as the trio entered the ring. Green kept steadily a few lengths ahead of Ludlam, who was about the same distance ahead of Hyde. Round the bend the order was unchanged, and though each man increased his speed Green was able to maintain his lead, finishing strongly with six or seven lengths .to spare, a longer distance separating the second and third riders. These three were followed at some distance by Reed, who was fourth, and close to him was a line of ten riders strung out with short distances separating them. Hawkins and Sowerby, both 8-minute men, were in front of the group and there was speculation about which would cross the line first. Hawkins kept a slight lead on Sowerby to gain fastest time. The placings were:— M. Green (Hawera), 18m. 305., 2h. 58m. 48s 1 J. E. Ludlam (Stratford), 24m., 3h. 4m. 23s 2 N. Hyde (Palmerston North), 16m. 305., 2h. 57m. 14s 3 R. L. Reed (N.P.), 12Jm., 2h. 54m. 435. 4 C. Hawkins (N.P.), Bm., 2h. 50m. 15s. 5 L. W. Sowerby (Wellington), Bm., 2h. 50m. 17s 6 F. S. Frartklyn (Pahiatua), 154 m., 2h. 57m. 50s 7 M. J. Hanley (Napier), 124 m., 2h. 54m. 56s 8 T. Nixon (Auckland), 10m., 2h. 52m. 26s 9 N. C. Batten (N.P.), 114 m., 2h. 53m. 575. 10 C. Mana (N.P.), 13m., 2h. 55m. 30s. .. 11 C. T. Dwight (Auckland), 154 m., 2h; 58m. Is 12 The next in order were: G. C. Esau (Palmerston North, Bm.) 13, G. Dombroski (Hawera, 24m.) 14, B. Marter (Hawera, 31m.) 15, E. D. Woollett (Palmerston North, 24m.) 16, L. G. Georgetti (Wanganui, 114 m.) 17, J. Bennett (PaIdatua, 134 m.) 18, F. G. Barlow (N.P., 114 m.) 19, J. McMahon (Napier, 13m.) 20. The fastest times were;— - C. Hawkins (N.P.) 2h. 50m. 15s. ...... 1 L. W. Sowerby (Wellington), 2h. 50m. 17s 2 G. C. Esau (Palmerston North), 2h. 50m. 34s 3 T. Nixon (Auckland), 2h. 52m. 265. .. 4 J. A. Guilliard (Auckland), 2h. 52m. 525. 5 L. H. Dwight (Auckland), 2h. 52m. 595. 6 Prizes were awarded as follows:— First place: John Bull Challenge Cup (value £25); racing cycle donated by Messrs. E. Reynolds and Co., Wellington (value £l4 10s); silver cup donated by Messrs. Bennett and Sutton (value £3 3s); open order donated by Dunlop Rubber Co. (value £1 Is); open order donated by Mr. T. Teesdale, Hawera (value £1 Is); riband donated by Messrs. Harrop’s, Ltd.); total £44 17s: M. Green. Second place: Cycle, donated by B.S.A. cycles (value £l2 10s); trophy donated by Jones Bros., Wellington (value £2 2s); total £l4 12s: J. E. Ludlam. Third place: W. V. Patterson’s trophy (value £2 ss); Bennett’s, Ltd., Wanganui, trophy (value £1 ss); W. Elder’s, Hawera, order (£1 Is); total value £4 11s: N. Hyde. Fourth place: W. J. Claringbold’s trophy (£1 10s); Messrs. Worrall’s, Auckland. trophy (value £2 2s); total value £3 12s: R. L. Reed. Fifth place: Trophies donated by Mating and Co., Christchurch, and Messrs. , Gerrand and Son, Hawera, total value £1 Ils 6d: C. Hawkins. Sixth place: Para Rubber Co.'s trophy, value 10s 6d: L. W; Sowerby. Fastest time: North Island championship blue ribbon, donated by George and Doughty, Hawera; racing cycle donated by Messrs. Hope Gibbons, Wellington (value £l2 10s); gold medal donated by i Leicester Rubber Co. (value £5 ss): C. Hawkins.

Fastest time under 17 years: Gold medal donated by E. Morris and Co., Hawera (value £1 10s); blue ribbon donated by C. C. Ward, Ltd.: G. C. Esau. First junior rider under 16: Phelan,

Lonsdale and Co.’s trophy (value £2 2s) and Mr. A. Grant's trophy (value 10s 6d); total £2 12s 6d: J. E. Ludlam. First Hawera' rider to finish (R. Kelsen’s cup): M. Green. First Wanganui rider to finish (Chainey Bros.’ trophy): L. Georgetti. First Taranaki rider to finish (Lightband and Wann’s trophy): M. Green. First Palmerston North rider to finish (centre's trophy): N. Hyde. First New Plymouth rider to finish (New Plymouth club’s trophy): R. L. Reed. Last rider to finish (Corban’s trophy): H. Wills. v The trophies were presented by the Mayor of Hawera, Mr. J. E. Campbell, last night at the Ramblers’ Cycle Club’s annual ball at the winter show buildings.