THE BIG ROAD RACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11215, 22 October 1914, Page 9

THE BIG ROAD RACE.

TIMARU TO CHRISTCHURCH EVENT RUN TO-DAY. URGE FIELD AND FAIR WEATHER. I A. SUTHERLAND GETS FIRST. The Timaru to Christchurch road race is probably the one classic cycling event in the Dominion that has stood the test of time and maintained its status as a hardy annual, and although the tremendous fields that the race attracted in its early days find no parallel in these degenerate times, the entrance of fifty riders for to-day's event shows that road racing, always the cleanest and healthiest side of the sport of cycling, is still popular in this country. The event this year is under the control of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union. FEEDING AND CHECKING. The course this year is absolutely the same as last year, and the checking and feeding stations are the same. Competitors leave check tickets at GeraJdine, Ashburton and Dunsandel, a feeding station has been established on the Ashburton traffic bridge, and milk stations have been provided for at Rangitata, Ashburton and Dunsandel. THE PRIZE LIST. The following is the list of prizes to be awarded in connection with to-day's event:—First prize, £2O cash and £5 gold medal; second prize, £ls 15s bicycle and £5 cash; third prize, £ls 15s bicycle and £2 2s cash; fourth prize, £6 trophy and £3 cash; fifth prize, £3 3s trophy and £2 2s cash; sixth prize, £2 15s trophy and £1 10s cash; seventh prize, £2 2s trophy and £1 Is cash; eighth prize, £2 2s trophy and 103 cash. PREVIOUS WINNERS. Following is a list of the previous winners of the race, with their handicaps and actual riding times:— H. M, S. 1899 G. Metcnlf, Temuka, 49min 740 45 1900 and 1801 (no race) 1902 A. Kalston, Duneclin, scr . 7 15 0 1903 S. Barrow, Palmerston North, 25min . . . 734 30 1904 C. G. Smith, Hastings, 20min . . . . 6 19 2 1905 P. M. O'Connor, Cricklewood, 45min . . . 6 57 0 1906 G. Meharry, Hokitika, 38mia 622 18 1907 and 1903 (no race) 1909 P. O'Shea, Christchurch, 45rnin . . . .' 76 55 1910 "W. Arnst, Christchurch, 25min . . . . 537 45 1911* G. W. Prebble, Christchurch, 35 min . . . 60 22 1912 J. Sutherland, Christchurch, 37min . . . . 5 38 31 2-5 1913 P. O'Shea, Christchurch, scr 5 14 58 ♦This year the ra-ce was from Christchurch to Timaru. FASTEST TIMES. Following is a list of the riders making fastest time in each year the race has been run:— H.M.S. 1899 A. Rolston, Dunedin . .780 1900 and 1901 (no race 1902 A. Ralston, Dunedin . 7 15 0 1903 J. Arnst, Tai Tapu . . 725 0 1904 C. G. Smith, Hastings . 619 2 1905 P. M. O'Connor, Cricklewood . . . . 6 57 0 1906 H. E. Mertens, Spreydon . 6 17 16 1907 and 1908 (no race) 1909 A. Birch. Fendalton . . 637 25 1910 A. B. .L.. Smith, Christchurch . . . . 5 30 27 4-5 1911 P. O'Shea, Christchurch . 537 311-5 1912 H. Henderson, Palrncrston North . . . . 520 31 1913 P. O'Shea, Christchurch . 514 58 THE FIELD. A start was made from Timaru this morning at twenty minutes past nine. The weather was fine, and there was a slight southerly wind favouring the riders. All the men were got off punctually to time, P. O'Shea and A. Bonis,

the scratch men, being given a hearty cheer as they set off on their long chase at ten o'clock. The following is th,e list of starters in to-day's event : Scratch—P. O'Shea (Christchurch and A. Bonis (Christchurch). Bmin—F. Shatters (Cliristchurch) and T. Kerr (Hornby). lOmin—H. H. Gilson (Christchurch) and P. Humm (Christchurch). 17min—J. M. Smith (Christchurch), E. Dass (Geraldine) and G. Goodall (Christchurch). 19min—M. G. Riordan (Christchurch) H. Cant (Christchurch), and M. F. Do La bour (Richmond). 21min—P. Hill (Eltham) and G. W. Prebblo (Sydenham). 33min—T. Booth (Christohurch) and H. Sutton (Napier). 25min—W. J. Waller (Papanui), F. A. Sutherland (Timaru) and H. A. Long (Christchurch). w^"?-" 11, M'Faddon (St Albans), C. M Fadden (St Albans), E. Waller (Papanui), D. M'Kenxio (Timaru), and M. M'Kenzio (Timaru). 32min-P. Tutty (Timaru), A. C. England (Oran), F. H. Stevenson and P. Waieh (Papanui). 83min—J. J. Wellwood (Wairnate), and P. Kryal (Timaru). 34min—G. Summerfield (Timaru), P. Kyne (Temuka) T. C. Tutty (Ashburton), and W. Gray (Hilton). -36min—G. Lott (Spotswood) and P. J. Allan (Oxford). 38min-J. H. Millingion (Now: Brighton), H F. Prebble (Sydenham) and A. H. Yaxley (Kaiapoi). iOmin.—J. "Wosley (Kaiapoi), B. Yaxley (Kaiapoi) and R. A. Nightingale (St Albans). THE START FROM TIMARU (Special to the' "Star.") TIMARU, October 24. Tnough there were only fifty entrants in the Timaru-Christchurch road race, public interest was not less keen than m former years. Large crowds assembled this morning at the starting point on the hill overlooking Caroline Bay, axid gave the cyclists a oheerinz send off. Seven entrants failed to answer to the call, forty-three going to the post. The limit men wore despatched promptly at 9.20, the scratch men getting away at ten o'clock. The weather conditions were pleasant and the temperature warm. The light easterly breeze should not handicap the riders to any appreciable extent, and the looseness of the roads, due to the dry season will probably be the worst obi On the whole, the conditions "inf mair *°*«* ° f «"* *&>•

AT ASHBURTON. (Special to the "Star.") (Received 1 p.m.) n%» t ABI * BU ™N, October 24. thefirst h°J"b S V he ord6r in which rngale (40 m in), G. Jierfjd % min? D M^ m Sutherland (25 Se n) (2Bn;iJ). IVenZle < 2Bmin) > M - »'*«- T M^' 40 /?-™:-; 0 .- Holt (36mm), W. M. Smith (17mm), J. H. Millington (38 man) H Cant (19min), M. P De La Cour (19min). A* 12.50 p.m.—G. W. Prebble (21 mm), H. H. Gibson (lOmin). At 12.53 p.m.—P. O'Shea (scr), A. Bonis (scr), F. Shalders (Bmin), W. T. Kerr (Bmm). At 12.55 p.m.—P. Kryal (33min), J. Wosley (40min). At 12.57 p.m.—M. G. Riordan (19 min), J. J. Wollwnod (33min). AT RAKAIA. The first through Rakaia, at 1.34 p.m., were:—D. M'Kenzie, 28min (Timaru) ; A. C. England, 32min (Orari); F. H. Stevenson, 32min (Richmond): R. A. Nightingale, 40min (St Albans); followed by P. O'Shea (scratch) and a group of backmarkers at 1.52. THE FINISH. There was a lair sized crowd at the Canterbury Park Trotting Qlub's

{rounds this afternoon to sec tho Jnish. A snocial train service was put on by tho Tramway Board, but was ntit particularly well, patronised, tho majority of tho spectators arriving by bicycle or motor-car. Tho grand stand at Canterbury Park was fairly well filled by half-past two, and then followed an interval of patient waiting. Progress reports suggested that tho winner could not arrive much before 3.30 p.m., and tho only relief for the spectators was tho advent of the trotting horse Dillon Bell, who covered an exhibition mile in creditable time. It was 3.10 p.m. before the first man came in sight, Two riders, Sutherland' and D. M'Kenzie, bustled through tho gate almost shoulder to shoulder, but onco on tho grass track Sutherland ran right away from his mate, and, finishing strongly, won by quite 250 yds. There was more excitement about the second bunch to arrive. Six riders came, in .closely bunched, and there was some fast riding and clever manoeuvring for third place. The battle finally resolved itself into a tussle between Hill and O'Shea, and " Bhil," though as _ plucky as ever, was too much fatigued' after his hard gruelling ride to respond to Hill's final spurt. The result was: E. A. Sutherland (Timnru), 25 min riding time, 6hr lOmin 42scc 1 D. M'Konzie (Timaru), 2«min, 6hr 14min 12sec .... 2 P. Hill (Eltham), 21min, Chr" 12min '32aec 8 P. O'Shea (Christchurch), scr (shr Blmin 33cec, nnd fastest time) 4 G. Lott (Spotswccd, 36rain . . 5 A. Bonis (Christchurch), scr . ■ . 6 J. M. Smith (Christchurch), 17min 7 M. F. Do La Cour (Richmond), lOmin 8 AFTER THE RACE. After the race the prizes were awarded on the Press stand balcony amid the great .applause of tho multitude. O'Shea, on receiving the blue ribbon for the fastest time, was given quite an ovation, but modestly declined to favour the audience with a speech. O'SHEA'S STORY OF THE RACE. "How was tho race?" said Phil O'Shea, interviewed just after his rido by a " Star " "reporter. "Pretty rocky tor mo. Bonis gave me a lot of help tip to Aahburton, and Shalder was with me up to Burnham, but after that I had to ride alone. Of course I was with a lot of other riders at different times, but they didn't stay with me. No, I had no punctures and no spills. I haven't been off my bike since the start." THE WINNER. The winner, F. A. Sutherland, of Timaru, is a young rider who has shown sufficient ability in road events in his own locality to warrant him being placed in the middle division- He rode a good, plucky race, and was not hampered by falls or punctures. His time, Ghr lOmin 42sec, while not remarkable, was good considering the looseness of the roads and the persistent nor'-easter which bothered the competitors almost every inch of tho way. The prize for tho rider under twentyone making fastest time goes to J. M. Smith, of Christchurch, who won this prize _ last year. Smith's time on this occasion was Ghr Bmin 37sec.