THE RACE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144196, 12 September 1913, Page 6

THE RACE.

SHEPPARD SCORES MERITORIOUS VICTORY. WINNERS- INTERVIEWED. Muck 'interest waa evinced in the progress reports which came through from tho various centres on tho route' of tho Taranaki Circular Bicycle Road Race on Thursday, and had it been a fine day there would. have been a record crowd at tho finishing point. During the forenoon the townspeople generally sought the information contained in the progress , reports posted ■ ’ in the Herakl window. The weather, which-had been so uu-' propitious in the morning, continuedvery wet until about three- o’clock,, when it clearcd up. By this,time a faircrowd had.assembled.on.tho racecourse. Tho tracks wore.so heavy and slippery 0 as the result of the rain that it was: found-expedient to .postpone-the motor-, cycle races until Saturday. Most of the riders, however, had arrived with , their machines and after'much-prelim-, inary running, decided to hold an exhibition five mile race for the benefit of tho public. The handicaps were ad-hered-to, but- thoiinajority of the riders were content to go slow. B. ■ Emery, on an HALO., was the only; rider tosreally- extend-,bissmaohine, andi he won comfortably by nearly a milefrom. P. Coleman and W. H. Chong-on, tho .smaller Douglas. Boucher and R. J. Jones on Triumphs, F. Goldsmith on a Royal Ruby, and P. R. Dewson on an HM:O, also started. Tho.’hunt-, ing events were considerably delayed, bnt those who competed gave an interesting display. These events! wero hardly completed - when excitement became intense as news-came through that the first rider' wassnearing his destination. From the*, information that had oomo through tho interested spectators were confident ■ that ho must bo Sheppard, of Kaponga, who had led most of the way. ‘ When first sighted along the Avenne Hoad, Sheppard was riding very strongly, and' finished with, a dash past the post. No sooner had ho dismounted and keen carried triumphantly off the track, than the second man, Crutchley, came into view- He passed the post very fatigued. It was six minutes later before Wallace and Bonis wore seen. They had ridden together most of tho way and catered the course simultaneously, when the former won in thp straight. Tho next two wore O’Shea, and Henderson, who also camo on logthor. Tho scratch man was “done," and Henderson left him in the sprint. After that tlie placed men came in singly at closo intervals. , Of those who did not complete the course Cooper, Groenless, Bennett and Tano were tho first to return from various causes, after journeying but a few miles. Shortly afterwards Brennan and Nipport met with trouble at Timaru and retired, while M'Garriglo retired at Pungarehn. One of tlie local boys, R. Bell, began to crack up after passing Strafford, although ho and Christiansen rodo together to Inglewood. Bell was very hungry when ho dismounted and considered tho riders were not given sufficient food for the long ride. Christiansen came to grief a few miles from homo, and assistance had to bo sent out to bring him in. S. Oaknhott, tho Inglewood rider who finished tenth, collapsed off bis machine at tho poet. He was almost dazed and could not hare boon fit for much further. He wins a special presented by Mr. G. Gudgeon for tho first Inglewood rider to finish. Tho following riders returned by train:—H. Kirkhaul, flumm, Williams, Greenlees, Mason, Danielson, Lewis, .Greener, Hamilton and Wells. There were numerous minor mishaps during tho course of tho race, but nothing of a serious nature. THE PRIZE LIST. Tho detailed result* wero as follows; First prise; The Britannia Tyre Challenge Gup (annual competition), valued at 50 guineas; also £SO cash ami gold medal, value £5, presented by New Zealand Athletic Union.—E. J. Sheppard, Kaponga, (3-fmins.) 6hrs. oOmins. lOsocs. Second prize; £ls caijh and 1913 Model Road Racer value £ls 15s.—S. W. Crutchley. Wanganui (32mm.), shrs. SOmins. 49secs. Third prize: £lO cash, and 1913 Model Road Racer value £ls 15s.—G. Wallace, Christchurch (17mins.), 6hra. 41mins. 2lsocs.

Fourth prize; £5 cash, and 1913 Model Road Racer value £ls 15s. —A. Bonis, Christchurch (Emins.), shre. 41mins. 25socs. Fifth prize: £1 Is cash, and 1918 Model Road Racer value £ls 16s.—H. Henderson, Palmerston North (smins.), ohrs. 29m.ins. 40secs. Sixth prize; 1913 Model Road Raoer value £lri 15s.—P. O’Shea, Christchurch (scratch), shrs. 2omin. 14soc, Seventh prize: £2 2s cast, and sot of Hutchinson tyres value £2 10s donated by Arnold George, Now Plymouth.—J. Coulter, Palmerston North (Smins.), shrs. 41mins. 21secsEighth prize; £2 2s cash, and set of Continental tyres value £2 10s donated by Continental Rubber Co.—L. V. Young, Hamilton (ISniins.), Shrs. 47mins. 19seca.

Ninth prize; £2 2s cash.—A. V Gunson, New Plymouth (30mins.) : 6hrs. smins. Ssocs.

Tenth prize; £1 Is cash.—S. Oakshort, ' Inglewood (33mins.), 6hrs. lOrains. 39secs.

Fastest time: £2O cosh (including £ls los donated by Britannia Tyro Co.) and gold medal value £5 os (donated by tho Dunlop Rubber Co. of Australasia, Ltd.). —P, O’Shea (Christchurch), Shrs. 25mins. Msecs. Second fastest time: £5 cash.—H. Henderson (Palmerston North), shrs. 29mins. 40secs.

Fastest time under 21: £5 cash.— A. V. Gnnson (New Plymouth), Ohrs. Smins. Sects. Fastest time Taranaki rider; Silver cun. value £5 ss, donated by George and Johnston, Waitara; to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. —E. J. Sheppard (Kaponga), shrs. SOmins. 49secs.

Special prize of £2 2s, presented by Mr. Geo. Gudgeon for tho first Inglewood rider to finish..—S. Oakshott (Inglewood), 6hrs. lOmins. 39secs. After thiV tenth man followed G. 0. Kay, Palmerston North (29mins.), 6hrs. ISinins. 30sccs.; G. Snell, Australia (scratch), ohrs. 46mins. 25eecs.; Gcldioutt, Tiraaru (SOmins.), ■ 6hrs. ISmins. 36sccs.; B. Bell, Now Plymouth (31mins.), 6hrs. 22mins. ISsecs.; and Macldndcv, Inglewood (35mins.), no time taken. Theso were the only riders to complete tho course. PREVIOUS WINNERS. 1911. —J. Clarke (Palmerston North), 6hr. 17min, 1912. T. 0. Gollins (Greymouth); 6hr. 2min. ssoc.

PREVIOUS FASTEST TIME WINNERS. 1911. —J. Clarke (Palmerston North), 6hr. 17min. 1912. —N. Wadman (Onohunga), Shr.j :54min. ,26sec. WINNERS INTERVIEWED. E. J. SHEPPARD (THE WINNER). E. J. Sheppard, tho winner, is a son of Mr. J. H. Sheppard, and is well known throughout this district. During the last two or three years ho has been residing at Kaponga, and to him belongs the honour of being the first Taranaki ridor to win the big race. As he passed tho winning post ho was accorded an enthusiastic reception, and was immediately besieged by a largo crowd of friends, all anxious to extend to him their congratulations upon his success. His trainer and one of tho ■race officials got him away from the crowd as soon-as that was possible, and ; after reporting himself, he was escorted to a room in tire -stewards’ stand. “What' will you do, Ernie? Como and have a bath -straight away, or do voa want -some afternoon tea first?” ■was-a query put to. Sheppard, who, except for tho fact that his hands were somewhat cramped and cold, appeared .very little the worse for' the gruelling ride ;ho had just -completed. “I want something to oat,” was his-, reply ; “I’ve had nothing all day.” “Well, will you wash some of the, mud off first:?” “No! I’m hungry, and can have a hath and. a rub down afterwards.” With this the hero of the race was' Ted away to the dining room underneath the grandstand, but noticing a . “firo burning in the adjoining kite firm ho preferred -thecomfort thus afforded, and after his hands had been warmed, as the result “of -what would appear to the Jay mind at any rate, of the rough, usage they received at the hands of the trainer,, Sheppard had a refreshing, cup of tea.and, to use his own expression,, “a.good feed.” He certainly appeared to enjoy it. Whilst satisfying the demands of the inner man, he chatted interestingly to a Herald reporter, who was anxious to -get his experiences of the day. • “Well,” he said, “it has boon'a hard, ride, hut I had a good run 1 through, and never Heft my bike from the time I ' started until I passed the post.” Continuing, Sheppard went on to say that he caught the limit men at Moturoa, and as they were not making any pace he left them and rode by himself to about a mile or two miles the other side of Rah'otu, when ho saw another competitor after him. “I did not hustle myself, however, and tho rider, who turned out to bo Crutchley, caught me. I knew I must have company over tho bad road between Opunake and Kaponga,” ho said, “if I was to pet through.” Tho two rode together as far as Kaponga, and then Sheppard began to draw away again. Ho had- a very hard ride on from Eltham and Inglewood, where tho weather improved considerably, and he made good time for the rest of the journey. , . “What was the weather like? “Well, it rained all the way from Now Plymouth to Stratford practically, but I really don’t know what it was like at Stratford, because I was putting it in there,” he added. To sum up, Sheppard said it had been a terribly hard ride, and no had had to make his own pace practically all the way from Moturoa. Ho has done a little track riding in the neighbourhood of Kaponga, and has secured several prir.es and also ftnaihed second to Hilt in a 2J miles road race. Sheppard has started in each circular race and finished seventeenth the first year off tho -lOmin. mark and fifteenth last year off 30min. S. W. CRUTCHLEY (SECOND). Tho second man, S. W. Crutchley, of Wanganui, liad an mieventful ride all the way. Giving the winner two ’mimites’ start, he caught him fairly early, and the two rode together most of tho way ahead of everyone else. Cmtchley considers ho made tho pace hot too early., in his endeavours to latch tho leaders, and on tho rough road from Opunako to Kaponga this told its tale. That piece of road, he considers, is what really hoot him, as he has been used to good surfaces m his training. When Inglewood was reached ho had tired very much, and Sheppard had got away from him- but after passing Inglewood he recovered himself and picked Up smin. on tho winner.' Crutehloy has not done much road racing. Ho started last year, but had the misfortune to break the forks of his machino at Kaponga. Two years ago he won and put up tho fastest time m a race from Alton to Hurloyville, and has many good track performances to Ins credit. Ho bar, just turned 22 years of age, and is a native of M anganui. Although ho finished very fatigued, he soon recovered his good spirits, and concluded a short talk with a Herald reporter by jocularly remarking that he hod saved a “fiver” with tho winner. G. WALLACE (THIRD). Q. Wallace (Christchurch), 17mm., the third man in, rode all the way with A. Bonis, a companion from the same town. Starting from New Plymouth, the pair kept well together, and made good progress until nearing Okato when Bonis had a lot of trouble with the screw of his chain, which kept on coming out. This retarded progress for some time, until Bonis made use of a blacksmith’s shop, in which ho nyetted the screw. The trouble remedied, ho soon caught up Wallace, and the southern bovs again settled down to steady work.' They passed all the riders except Sheppard and Crutchley, and came up the Avenue Road to tho Racecourse entrance close together. Rounding tho High School bend, however, Wallace drew away from his mate, and sprinting up tho straight, finished several yards ahead. Wallace is a wellknown Canterbury rider, with several good performances to his credit. Tho first year ho rode, ho como fourth in the Timam-Christchurch race, and last year got into fourteenth place from a handicap’of 13min. Ho took part iu tho Circular Road Race -last year, coming in tenth off tho 17min. mark, having bad luck with his tyro. Wallace’s actual riding time was shr, 41min, 21sec. A. BONIS (FOURTH). A. Bonis, who finished fourth, told a Herald reporter that he had a lot of trouble with the chain of his machine during the early stages of tho race, and lost several mimites between hero and Okato, because ho had to frequently dismount and screw up the bolt nut. At Okato he ran into a blacksmith’s ship to got the thing fixed up, but there was no one about, and so he rivetted the thing up himself and then rode on for fifteen miles or so alone. Ho then caught Wallace up again, and the two kept together for tho rest of the way. “It’s the hardest race I’ve ever tackled,” he said, “and tho road between Opunake and Kaponga is bad and takes it of you. By Jove!” he added, “talk about rain, didn’t it just pelt down; I never saw anything like It.” H. HENDERSON (FIFTH). SECOND FASTEST TIME. Harold Henderson (omin.), the wellknown Palmerston North rider, was fifth and also registered second fastest time. Ho had a good run, with no mishaps. The scratch men caught him at

Opunaka, and drew away from Jana Ho did not- overhaul two of the three until they got punctures, while ho caught up to O'Shea at Inglewood and eventually passed him. Henderson has boon racing for twelve years, putting up several meritorious performances, Competing both in 1911 and last year in the Circular Road Race, he won the prize for second fastest time each year, being placed sixth in 1911 and twelfth m 1912. Last year he lowered tho record for the Timam-Christchurch race by ton minutes. J. Clarke, winner of the Taranaki race in 1911, was taught his riding by Henderson, whose uetnal ’ ing time on Thursday was shr. 29mm. 40sec. P. O’SHEA (SIXTH). FASTEST TIME.

P. O’Shea, who holds several records and is admittedly one of the most consistent riders in Australasia, finished sixth and again recorded the fastest, time. He, like several other of the competitors, said it had boon a terribly hard ride, but he had hiul no mishaps and never once got off his hike all tno way. The scratch men kept together until after passing through Kaponga, and then Snell dropped back for some reason or other. O’Shea and Don Kirkham then rode on together from Stratford, hut just after leaving the latter placo the Australian punctured one of his tyres and O’Shea came on for ■-the remainder of the journey practically on his own. Between Inglewood and town he sighted two or three riders ahead, but could not get up to them. The hard going had taken too mnen out <?f him. AUSTRALIANS HARD LUCK. G. Snell, tho genial Australian giant, ifinished very fresh as the last .of tno first dozen. He was going very strong with tho other two scratch mon, Don Kirkham and Phil O’Shea, when ho ■struck serious tyro trouble, just after passing Kaponga, where the back markera expected to make up most time. He ran a rusty 4in. nail in his tyre, and owing to the rain could not mend the tube, but had to take the hack wheel out and put in a fresh tube. This completed, Snell was hardly on his way again when ho got another puncture. The others had gone on, and having no spanner to take out his wheel again, he had to sit down and wait, losing'43 minutes thereby, and so being put out of tho race- He nnishea very fresh, and quickly despatched .two full glasses of water on reaching tho checking stand. Don Kirkham, the host known of tho Australian cracks, had only a littlo shorter life than Snell. Ho got a puncture at Stratford,_ and having Dothor about repairing it, decided to tako tho train homo. SNELL’S IMPRESSIONS. Chatting to one of our representatives, Snell, who was the only Australian competitor to finish, had a good word to say for tho management of tho raoo, which he considered was equal to any race he had over taken part in. It was a particularly good idea to make arrangements whereby riders who could not finish could get homo in the trains. “IVe never get anything like that on the other aide.” The route is a capital one, tho roads being in splendid order except for the bad stretch between Opunako and Kaponga. The hills ho did not consider severe. “Ah, well,” said Snell, “I just finished out of tho money, bnt I have secured a very interesting souvenir of the race, which takes the form of a four-inch wire nail.” This was picked up shortly after getting on to the ashphalt road this side of Kaponga. It was on from “ oro that tho scratch men expected to make up a lot of time, but tlie mishap spoilt any chance Snell might have had, and hi.s companions had to go on without “Altogether,” ho said, “that nail cost me 43 minutes, before I could got my bike fixed up. "When I got going again I pulled up between ten and fifteen minutes of this between Eltham and New Plymouth.” “Sheppard won on his merits, said Snell, “and I don’t think anv of the scratch men could have caught him, but if 1 hadn’t punctured at Kaponga, and Don Kirkham at Stratford, 1 think it is pretty certain wo (the three scratch men) would have finished second, third and fourth—at any rate vorv closo up.” ~’. , Snell considers that the circular race has a great future before it, and that it will attract the best riders of Australasia, and “when that ten miles ol road is put into something like tho order of the balance of the route, some pretty fast times will bo put up. Our representative gathered irom Snell that ho and his four companions from Australia intend starting in tho Timaru-Christchurch race. Asked if he would be likely to make the trip next year, Snell said, 1 Well, you never know. If lam riding 1 expect I tehail Rive it another £O. I always swear off every year, hut somehow seem to get the fever again.'

MOTOR-CYCLE RACES.' Owing to the heavy rain having made fast motor-cycling a matter of possible danger, the committee resolved to postpone the motor-cycle races until Saturday, when tickets issued for yesterday will again bo available. So as not to disappoint the public, the motor-cyclists ran an'exhibition five-mile events, tor which there were, oighf competitors. The result was as follows: —13. C. Emorv (L.M.C.), 1; P. Coleman (Douglas), 5; W. Chong (Douglas), 3. JUMPING COMPETITIONS. There was not a large field for the jumping competitions, which wbro judged bv Messrs. E. AY. Wheatley and H. D. Matthews. These resulted as follows; , r , Hunters’ stylo, for trophy-—Mr. A. J. Kihbv’s Victor 1, Mr. L. George s Red Hazard 2, Mr. B. H. ChaneyfA Drudgery 3. .• Steeplechase style, for trophy.—-Mr. L. George’s. Red Hazard 1, Mr._B. 11. Chaney’s Drudgery 2, Mr. B. H. Chaney’s Star Lass 3. Mr. J. Bennett’s Cup, for horse scoring most points in the two classes, urns won by Mr. L. George’s Rod Hazard.