AMATEUR CYCLING

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1935, Page 3

AMATEUR CYCLING

THE WINTER SEASON OPENS. i HALFORD’S SEALED HANDICAP. The New Plymouth Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club’s series of road cycle races opened on Saturday with a sealed handicap event from Windy Point to Oakura and back, a distance of 13 miles. The race resulted as follows: — G. Halford (3m), 37m 33s 1 M. Charteris (ss), 39m 28s 2 S. Julian (3m), 39m 34s 3 R. Rundle (21m), 40m 6s 4 M. Charteris with 39m 33s secured fastest time. i 1 Dr. G. H. Thomson was timekeeper and Mr. D. Saunders starter. Owing to the fact that a big road race is being, held at Auckland to-day a number of the riders did not compete in the race. The day was perfect except for a slight head wind on the outward journey to Oakura. Five riders faced the starter, and, it being a sealed handicap, all riders started off together. From the start Ambury and' Charteris broke away from the others and kept (together until Omata was reached, when Ambury was forced to see to his tyre, which was giving him trouble. Halford, a new rider, had broken away from his bunch and was making a solo effort -to catch Charteris, who had a good lead. Charteris was first at the turn, reaching it about half a minute ahead of Ambury, who had remounted and chased Halford. The latter was next to the turn, closely followed by Rundle and Julian, who had gained a little ground over the last two or three miles. With the wind behind him Charteris clapped on the pace and gradually pulled away from the. field. Ambury was forced to retire owing to tyre trouble again, allowing Halford to pass and take a' good lead from him. Rundle and Julian, two B grade riders, were riding splendidly at this stage atid it looked likely that they would catch Ambury, who had remounted for the second time. / Charteris was first to appear at the home stretch, putting in a final sprint over the last 100 yards. A minute later Halford appeared, riding strongly, and he also finished with a splendid dash. Ambury was next, closely followed by Rundle and Julian, who had ridden together all the way. These two had a great struggle for a place but Rundle found the sprint too long, Julian getting home first by half a chain. Points were gained as follow: Halford 5. Charteris 5, Julian 1, Rundle i, Ambury i- . Next week’s race will be from the Waiwakaiho flat to Waitara and back.