PAREORA RIDER WINS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20897, 29 November 1937, Page 7

PAREORA RIDER WINS

CHRISTCHURCH TO TIMARU SATURDAY’S ROAD RACE "'INNER ALSO FASTEST TIME Covering the 112 miles in the net riding time of shrs 3min 55secs, G. C. Scott, of Pareora, won the Christchurch to Timaru road cycle race on Saturday from a field of 81 riders. The winner put up a sterling performance under most trying conditions, and in addition to securing first place, was credited with fastest time. It is doubtful if on any previous occasion a long handicap man has secured the double honour of a win and fastest time. Equally meritorious was the performance of A. Henshaw, of Timaru, who is only 16, and who secured second place and second fastest time, crossing the finishing line 16 seconds behind the winner. The pair were together approaching the hill leading to the Caledonian Grounds, and it was here that Scott sprinted to secure the race. Although there have been many contests between Timaru and Christchurch and Waimate and Christchurch, on one previous occasion only, in 1911, was a race run between Christchurch and Timaru. The annual contest between Waimate and Christchurch was held some weeks ago, and a decision to conduct a race from Christchurch to Timaru was arrived at at a recent conference of the North and South Canterbury Centres of the New Zealand Athletic, Cycling and Axemen’s Union, the idea being to give riders an opportunlty to keep fit for the round of sports meetings at Christmas and New Year. That the decision found favour with riders was demonstrated by the entry, 84 competitors signifying their intention of taking purt. Three entrants only failed to go to the mark, namely A, Clemence, of Christchurch, who was on scratch, A. T. Ealman, New Brighton <36mins> and J. M. Robertson, Timaru ',s2mins). Just how gruelling the race proved to be may be gauged from the fact that only 29 of the 81 starters completed the journey, the remainder being patrons of the “misery” waggon. For part of the journey the riders encountered a head wind, but for the greater part of

the trip the wind was side on, and did not constitute such a severe handicap. What did take such a heavy toll of the riders, however, was the heat, which, coming up off the tar sealed roads, sapped their strength. How the first two placed men maintained such a hot pace over the long journey is difficult to understand, for on parts of the trip they reached 25 miles an hour, giving the back markers no possible chance. They actually averaged more than 20 miles an hour for the whole journey. Early Mishaps The limit men, on 52 minutes, r ere despatched from the comer of Lincoln and Asylum roads at 10 o’clock, the remaining bunches being sent away at Intervals of two minutes back to the 32 minute men, when there w’as a gap of seven minutes to the 25 minute markers. The next three lots had five minutes between them, and the scratch men left at 10.52, having conceded a total start of 52 minutes. L. B. Carr, Ashburton, was the only scratch man to finish. J. H. Newlove, Dunsandel. reached Timaru but was disqualified for accepting pace, and Carr was in twenty-fourth place, illustrating just what chance the back men had with the solid pace which was set. The race had not long been in progress when misfortune overtook some of the riders. E. C. Hall, Christchurch, on 25 minutes, had proceeded only about 200 yards when he was forced to return and change his machine, permission to do so being granted by the officials. Ha actually left with the scratch men, and took his turn with the laps. He rode very strongly for some distance, actually taking the longest and fastest laps, in spite of advice from the more experienced men to sit in and conserve his strength. This sound advice was disregarded, and Hall eventually had to withdraw. H. C. Bayley, New Plymouth, one of the scratch men, got on to the grass after having gone about a mile and a half and was left by his co-markers. He plugged on alone for some miles, but was unable to make up the time lost. L. G. Fleming, Christchurch, who had performed prominently in these contests and also in Australia for some years, maintained a good pace as far as Rakaia, but found the heat too much of a handicap, and decided to retire. Rakaia Reached The first to put in an appearance at Rakaia were L. Preddy cfemuka), A. J. Annett (Christchurch), M. Luke (Timaru), F. L. Alleyne (Christchurch), I. Brooks (Timaru), all off 50 minutes, and W. Rouse (Pareora), one of the front markers. Two minutes later came J. McGee (Ashburton), A. Henshaw (Timaru), and G. W. Prebble (Christchurch), who won the previous race in 1911. They had caught up four minutes on the limit men and two minutes on the next bunch. G. C. Scott, the ultimate winner, was one minute behind the leaders at Rakaia. On the run to Ashburton, Alleyne, Luke, Rouse and Annett maintained their lead, Brooks and Preddy having dropped back. The leaders appeared at 12.10 and three minutes later came Henshaw, T. Nevin (Waimate), who had caught up two minutes on Henshaw, and Scott, who also had made up two minutes.

It was on the Hinds road that most of the changes took place, the long un-, sealed stretch finding many of the riders out. Here Henshaw and Scott, drew ahead, and the race was over. The pair exhibited wonderful stamina, and maintained such a solid pace that none of the others had any chance of catching them. The lone riders reached Geraldine about 2 o’clock, followed by A. Annett, of Christchurch, who also was riding very strongly for a long handicap man Parkin passed through at 2.12, followed by Crawford and Nevin at 2.15. The latter eventur’-ly finished in f'urth place, 12mins 41secs behind the winner, on whom he made no impression over the last 30 miles. P. J. Harrison (Christchurch) was three minutes behind Nevin at Geraldine, and he reduced the gap by one minute seven seconds by the time Timaru was reached. He was also behind Crawford at Geraldine, but passed this rider over the concluding stages to secure fifth place. He was the first of the middle handicap men to complete the trip. Finish of Pace There was a fair gathering of spectators at the CaledO' ian Grounds to see the finish of the race, and they gave the riders a warm reception as they rode into the grounds and on to the asphalt cycling track, which they were required to circle once, coming down on to the grass to finish up the straight. Scott, who is a member of the Timaru Highland Pipe Band, the members of which were on the ground to welcome him, rode through the gates at 3.12 to the accompaniment of cheering. He had got half was along the straight when Henshaw hove in sight. Scott was obviously distressed, and collapsed after crossing the finishing line, and it was some time before he was able to stand. Henshaw showed signs of the strenuous ride, but did

not require any assistance. Ten minutes elapsed before A. J. Annett, the third man, arrived, and then the remaining men arrived at intervals up to 4.30, at which time the prizes were being presented. R. Slack, Christchurch, who finished in twelfth place, appeared to have a chance of securing fastest time, but it was eventually found that he had take six minutes longer than the winner. When Newlove, one of the scratch men appeared, it was apparent that Scott had been robbed of fastest time, but Newlove himself informed the officials that he had accepted “pace,” so that he was automatically disqualified. N. W. Yaxley (Kaikoura) and L. Preddy (Temuka)’ rode in together in thirteenth place, and decided to make a dead heat of it. Placed Competitors The first tew to finish were:— G. C. Scott, Pareora (44mihs), shrs 3mln 55sec 1 A. Henshaw, Timaru (46mins), shrs 6mins llsec 2 A. J. Annett, Christchurch (50mins), shrs 20mins 51sec 3 T. V. Nevin, Waimate (44mins), shrs 16mins 55sec 4 P. J. Harrison, Christchurch (36 mins), shrs 17mins 43sec .... 5 T. A. Crawford, Yaldhurst (38mins), shrs 22inins 31sec 6 F. Parkin, Christchurch (42mins), shrs 27mins 7sec 7 A. D. Meadows, Christchurch (40 mins), shrs 26mins Osec .. .. 8 M. Luke, Timaru (50mins), shrs 37mins 12sec 9 M. McGrath, Christchurch (38mins) shrs 26mins 7sec 10 Fastest Times G. C. Scott, Pareora (44mins), shrs 3m ins 55sec 1 A. Henshaw, Timaru (46mins), shrs 6mins llsec 2 R. E. Slack, Christchurch (20mins), shrs lOmins 28sec .. .. ■ . 3 Prizes Presented The president of the South Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand, Cycling and Axemen’s Union (Mr H. H. Fraser) thanked the public for their patronage, and also thanked the riders for the. way they had supported the event. He said that many riders did not appreciate the amount of work done by the officials in promoting ‘he sport, and he hoped that when they gave up riding that they would take up official duties. He congratulated the winner and the placed who had put up splendid performances. The Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell) also congratulated the placed men on their fine performances and said he hoped the event would become an annual one. He also expressed pleasure that there was present on the ground Mr G. W. Prebble, of Christchurch, who had won the race in 1911, and who had started that day. (Applause). South Canterbury men had performed well illustrating that the district could produce men capable of good athletic achievements. The prizes were then presented by the Mayoress (Mrs P. C. Vinnell). Special Prizes Special prizes in the race were:— Youngest rider to finish: A. Henshaw. Fastest time under 18 years: A. Henshaw. Oldest rider to finish (aged 52): E. Milner. First rider 20-35 minute handicap not received other prize: R. E. Slack. First rider over 35 minute handicap not receiving other prize: A. Cusack. First member Timaru Cycling Club: G. C. Scott. First member Tinwald Club to pass Ashburton: J. McGee. First member Tinwald Club to finish: G. Johnson.

880 yards, Bell; one mile, Dare and Clarke; three miles, Crompton; six miles, R. Crompton; 120 yards hurdles, B wie. 440 yards hurdles, Ball and Finlayson; broad jump and hop, step and jump, Brainsby; high jump, Chadwick; pole vault, Ferguson; throwing the hammer, Leckie; throwing the discus, Leckie; throwing the javelin, Clegg and Gillespie. Women’s events: 100 yards and 220 yards, Misses D. Lumley and George; 90 yards hurdles, Misses Munro and Nelligan; throwing the javelin, Miss Mitchell; broad jump. Misses Munro and Mitchell.