HAW’S BRILLIANT RIDE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1935, Page 3

HAW’S BRILLIANT RIDE

LEAGUE CYCLE ROAD RACE FASTEST TIME IN BAD WEATHER. McCANN AND GOODWIN WINNERS. Two road cycle races were conducted by the New Plymouth Cycle and Athletic League on Saturday afternoon. Both events started and finished at Waiwakaiho, tire A grade race being to Inglewood and back (30 miles) and the B grade around the Te Arei Road block (about 11 miles). Nineteen riders took part in the open race and eight competed in the B grade race. Showery weather and a strong westerly wind were against record times being recorded. . ' The A grade race resulted in a splendid finish' in which 12 competitors took part. Sid. McCann, former New Zealand road champion, scored first place in this event with a well-judged sprint which carried him over the line a clear length ahead of L. Stevens, with several other riders close up. A feature of this race was the brilliant performance of the Oakura cyclist, T. Haw, who, riding off the scratch mark, was responsible for an exhibition of first-class pace-making. Haw was with the leaders from Lepperton home but his hard, gruelling ride resulted in him being a spent force when the field lined up for the final sprint. His time, Ih. 19m. 42 3-55., was only 26 3-ss. outside the record for the course established by W. Ashman last year, and when consideration is given to the weather conditions during this race his performance must be classed as good. The B grade race resulted in a good win for a new recruit to cycling in L. Goodwin, Okato. Goodwin, besides scoring first place, also annexed fastest time honours. Second and third places in this race were also won by new riders in N. Hatwell and R. Spencer (second fastest time). This race. was the last of the first series for the B grade and resulted in a win for C. Neighbour, who defeated V. Snowden by one point in the series. Details are:— A grade race, to Inglewood and back from Waiwakaiho (30 miles). Third of a series of six for the Arnold George challenge cup and miniature. (Course record, W. Ashman, 1934, Ih. 19m. 165.):

S. McCann (l]m.), Ih. 21m. 8s 1 L Stevens (Jm.), Ih. 20m. 23 2-5 s 2 H Eva (11m.), Ih. 21m. 8 3-ss. 3 G. Stevens (ijm.), Ih. 21m. 8 4-5 s 4 Won by one length, with half a length between second and third. Smith and Ellis were close up fourth and fifth. Series points: W. Ashman 5, T. Smith 5 P. Dunn 4, S. McCann 4, L. Stevens 3* C. Gilbert 3, L. Wood 2 H. Eva 2U E. Bowen 2, A. Reeve 1, T. Haw 1 and G. Stevens 1. . , L „ With a following wind at the start a fast pace was set to the Mountain Road corner, and few changes took place before reaching this point. H. Snowden retired from the Jmin. group at the aerodrome and L. Wood, from the scratch mark, had dropped back and left his comarker Haw to chase the next group alone. On the uphill grade to IngleWood the less conditioned riders were early found out and at Waiongona Wood and L. Standing had'dropped back from the limit bunch, which had lost over two minutes to the next lot, comprising Greenlees, Brown, Smith and Ireland. Less than a minute behind came a group of eight, McCann, Gilbert, L. Stevens, G. Parker, H. Eva, T. Haw, A. Ellis and G. Stevens. Splendid solo efforts by Haw enabled him to catch Ellis and Stevens at Lepperton, and this trio combined well to be up with the minute markers at Waiongona. . . At the Inglewood turning point the race resolved itself into a duel between two big groups of riders. The limit and the 2j-minute markers were bunched about 40 seconds ahead of all the back markers together. A very fast pace was set at an average of 30 miles per hour on the downhill run from Inglewood, and at Waiongona coming home only2o seconds separated the two groups. The back markers were combining well. Before reaching Lepperton Drinkwater dropped back from the leaders and the back group was up before reaching the monument. Several fast laps were made by Ellis, Haw and Stevens in an endeavour to break away, but a strong head wind in the last few miles made their efforts futile. Horner had the misfortune to fall when with the leaders four miles from home. Twelve contested the final sprint, and 50 yards from the judges G. Stevens and S. McCann were on even terms a little ahead of Eva and L. Stevens with Smith and Ellis handy. With a well-judged burst McCann came away a few yards from the line and G. Stevens weakened to allow L. Stevens and H. Eva to head him off for second and third placings. Smith was fifth and Ellis sixth, and then several crossed together. Haw, the scratch man, was never prominent in the final dash. B grade race, round the Te Arei Road block (11 miles). Final of a series of three for the club challenge cup and miniature: — L. Goodwin (21m.), 34m. 24s 1 N. Hatwell (3m.), 34m. 58s 2 R. Spencer (21m.), 34m. 31s 3 V. Snowden (scr.), 34m. 365. 4 | Fastest time: L Goodwin (2Jm.), 34m. 1 245. Second fastest time: R. Spencer (21m.), 34m. 31s. I Won comfortably by about four lengths

with a similar, distance between second and third. Hatwell started alone and led for a few miles before he was caught by the 21-minute markers, Goodwin, Spencer and Dean. This quartette set an even pace and gained on the back markers. Dean dropped back before reaching home and was passed by the scratch boys, who had caught and dropped Warren and Newall. Approaching the finish in the teeth of a strong westerly, Goodwin drew away and was not troubled to cross the line over four lengths ahead of Hatwell, who was a similar distance ahead of the third boy. The scratch boys had lost 12 seconds to the winner and were a mile away at the finish. A desperate struggle took place between these two, Snowden and Neighbour, who were both in the running for the aggregate. After a neck and neck tussle for the last few yards Snowden won by about a foot. Results of the series are: C. Neighbour 9, V. Snowden 8. The next races will be conducted on August 31, the A grade race being to Puniho and back and the B grade round the Pheny Road block. Both races will start and finish at Windy Point. The B grade event will be the commencement of the second series.