CYCLING NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18577, 27 September 1928, Page 3

CYCLING NOTES

ON TRACK AND ROAD.

By

“WKEEL.”

FIXTURES. September 29—Round the Gorges (ama- j teur), 100 miles. September 29—Rakaia Road Race j (cash). October 6—Timaru tb Christchurch. October 13—Ashburton to Christchurch.; October 20—Paparua Club s Road j Race. October 20—Round Mount Egmont Road Race. October 22—Ashburton Sports. October 22—Southbridge Sports. December B—Rakaia Sports. The South Island Road Championship, for cash riders, was decided on Saturday afternoon, under the auspices of the Southbridge .Athletic Club. Contrary to expectations the weather : was fine at Sbuthbridge, and the roads, i although a trifle heavy, were in fair 'order for racing, the exceptionally heavy rain which fell in Christchurch in the morning apparently not being experienced at Southbridge. Forty-six riders faced the starter, Mr \V. J. Walter, the scratchings being L. Pither (scr*, J. Henderson (limin), C. Bright (2itnin>, M. P. Leathern <2imin), K. "Lange <3lmin), J. H. M’Nicholl (oimin). C. Stuart (6;’tnin», A. C. * Hill <6smin>. J. Welsh (9smin, : , M. Briggs (12min). W. Vivian (12min). A. E. Porter (12min). Six of these arrived too late to start and the absence of the prominent back-markers robbed the race of considerable interest. X X X Croat and Bennett (14min) were the first to complete the first lap, 12 miles, and they were followed at intervals by bunches of riders. One bunch comprised Silvester (25). Sowden (25), Weir (15). Mor wood (15), and Austin (15). followed Smin Bsec behind leaders, and lmin 25sec later O’Shea and Hill, the only scratch men passed being 9min 33sec behind the leaders. Hawke (92). who ultimately won the race, w£s 2min 44sec behind the leaders. X ft 58 At twents*-four miles the leading bttnch comprised the 9|roin, 12min and 14min riders, Mills, Hawke and Croat being prominent. Three-quarters of a minute later another big bunch passed, the following being noticed amongst them:—Crofts, Archer. W. K. Weir, Mortlock, Birch and Poulson; Austin, White, Weir, Sowden and Morwood followed lmin 25sec later. Owing to his co-marker puncturing, O’Shea pulled out at this stage. XXX With only 2min llsec between the leaders and the back-markers, the race became unusually interesting, ar\d if was generally anticipated that the places would be filled by the backmarkers. Possibly they tired over the last lap of twelve miles, for they failed to get up and finished several seconds behind the leaders. 3C 55 55 As the leaders neared the finishing line the riders spread out and a dingdong sprint took place between over a dozen riders. Hawke succeeded in crossing the line inches clear of W. K. Weir, with Crofts a close third. Other riders followed closely. Morwood. the first of the back-markers, finished lmin 32sec after the wanner, Weir following 12sec late*. The race resulted:— A R. Hawke (Christchurch), 9lmin, lhr 48min 13sec 1 W. K. Weir fFendalton), Gfmin, lhr 45m in 13 1-osec 2 W. W. Crofts (Spreydon), fit min, lhr 4-smin 13 2-osec 3 C. 11. Mills (Lincoln), 9sec, lhr 47sec 28 3-osec 4 A. J. Archer (Christchurch), Gfmin j lhr 45min Msec 5 J. F. O’Reilly (Rakaia), 92min, lhr 48m in 15sec G C. P. Johnstone (Riccarton), Ofmin, lhr 48min lGsec 7 | L. R. Poulson (Heathcote), Gisec, lhr 45min 17sec - S

i The winner of the championship was A. A. Morvvood (Papanui), who started from 15min, and rode the distance in ’ lhr 4lmin 30sec. The second fastest | time was secured by W. T. Weir i (limin*, lhr 41min 42sec. ' Of the back markers, Austin and ; Weir fell a mile from the finish, and ! Austin received a cut on the head, but remounted. This was unfortunate, as there is no doubt that a great tussle would have ensued between Morwood, Weir and Austin for the championship honours. The race was held over a distance of thirty-six miles, three times around a twelve miles block A comparison of times ridden by Morwood (limin), Hawke (9?min> and Croat (limin) is i given :

A. R. Hawke, the winner, surprised the spectators by his splendid finishing effort Hjs sprint was much.in excess of anything previously shown by him on the road or track, and would have done credit to a much more experienced rider. Ilawke has been racing for several years, his career first commencing in the Temuka district, • where he resided until a couple of years ago, when he came to Christchurch. Ilawke has not done much riding of late, and has not met with any success on the road or track. It is nearly four years since he was successful in a road race. Ilawke has nominated for the Timaru to Christchurch race. .x x , W. K. Weir, second place, rode a sterling race, and narrowly missed securing the major prize. Like his brother, he rides a hard race with a good finish, and was unfortunate in meeting Ilawke when he was at his best. Weir has nominated for the Timaru, and should give a good account of himself, in the big race. W. W. Crofts, third place, excelled himself as far as road performances are concerned. With a third of the distance gone. Crofts looked every inch a winner, as he was riding strongly, and he is a good finisher. X X X C. W. Mills, fourth place, is a Lincoln rider. With the exception of a fourth place in a fifty-mile event at Rangiora in 1925, he has not been successful. He is big and strong, and on his present form should show up prominently in the Timaru. A. J. Archer, fifth place, rode well, finishing close up to the winner. As a ruje, he is a good sprinter, -but on Saturday he evidently found the heavy going a bit too much for him. ♦.* ss • \ J. F. O’Reilly, Rakaia, sixth place, was considered bv the Ashburton competitors to be well treated by the hanuicappers. This proved to be the case as far as South Canterbury riders were concerned, as he finished well ahead of them. X X X A. A. Morwood, who won the championship honours by securing fastest time, is to be congratulated on wioning his first blue riband. He commenced his racing career in 1922, and has competed in many important races since that date, meeting with a fair measure of success. His big win was recorded last year, when he won the Timaru to Christchurch road race after puncturing on the road. Morwood rides with j a very easy action, and from the scratch mark in the forthcoming Tim- • arii is expected to make a bold bid for i double honours. i.x x x j V . T. W eir, second fastest time, is j rapidly approaching his top form, and j on Saturday put up a good ride.

C. Austin was unlucky.’ With his conarkers, he put up a splendid ride for twenty-four miles. After that they seem ed to' tire, and it is reported that they were only registering sixteen miles per hour, while the bunch immediately in front were travelling at twenty, miles per hour. There is no doubt that a spill robbed Austin of his chances of a double win. Punctures were responsible for several riders retiring, amongst them being J. H. Silvester (25), L. W. Hill (scratch), H. O’Connor (35), N. J. Muir (32), E. A. M’Kaskell (55) and ll.’ F. Prebble (62). Nominations for the Timaru to Christchurch road race closed on Saturday last, and the promoters are more han satisfied with the response from riders, there being ninety nominations, which include all the prominent road “iders in the Dominion. The most prominent North Islanders are: 11. Bellringer, of New Plymouth, who won the Hamilton to Auckland race on Saturday last, and S. Good, of Gisborne, who secured fastest time honours in the same event. C. Aroa. a New Plymouth

crack road rider, has nominated. The Otago nominations include T. P. Huffman, of Edendale South, and several districts from Invercargill to Christchurch are represented, a large number nominating from Timaru, including F C. Ward and R. V. Brookland. The West Coast contingent includes riders from Hokitika, Greymouth and Westport. Christchurch nominations include L. W. Hill, C. Austin, A. A. Morwood (last year’s winner), L. Pither, W. T. Weir and J. H. Silvester. Although the entry is not as numerous as in past years, it is fully representative, and the race should prove to be one of the most interesting held over the course. The handicaps will appear in the evening papers of Monday. Mr Bert Blackler was a proud man on Saturday last when A. A. Morwood was announced as the winner of the South Island rpad championship. Morwood is at present under the care of Mr Blackler, who is training him for the Timaru to Christchurch road race. Mr Blackler has a unique record for preparing riders in the' Timaru road race, having trained three winners in successi* —». On his present' form, Morwood should have a big chance of securing championship honours?* XXX The progress of the Timaru to Christchurch road race will be broadcast this year by 3YA, Christchurch. In view of the Dominion-wide interest in the event, listeners-in will appreciate this move. Through the efforts of Mr Reg Stillwell, the funds of the Timaru to Christchurch road face will benefit considerably by the dance which was held at the Caledonian Hall on Tuesday night. Over 700 were present, and a substantial sum was raised for the event. Three bands gave their services free, a committee of ladies’ looked after the refreshments, and voluntary doorkeepers were on duty. The efforts of Mr Stillwell and his assistants are much appreciated by the committee of the race. Riders are reminded of the road race at Rakaia next Saturday afternoon. The distance is fifteen miles, and the race will start from the post office at three o’clock. Several Christchurch riders intend competing. X X X The Dunlop Rubber Company's big road race, -which for a large number of years has been an annual affair, will not take place this year, owing to an arrangement between the League of Victorian Wheelmen and the£ Melbourne Carnivals, Ltd. The league’s council is precluded from granting patronage to a road race after October 30. Owing to these circumstances the Dunlop Rubber Company will proceed no further with the proposed Grand Prix, which the company intended holding in November. The New Zealand road champion this year will not be sent to Australia as in past seasons. The Papanui Amateur Sports Club will hold a 100 miles road race on Saturday next, the course being : from Christchurch through Loburn, Ashley Gorge, East and West Oxford, Waimakariri Gorge, Darfield, and thence to Christchurch, finishing up at the Show Grounds, Addington. Forty-two riders have nominated. F. J. Grose and L. G. Lukey are the scratch men, and they are conceding starts up to 62min. / This race should be in favour of the f back-markers, as the course is a particularly strenuous one and the younger riders will have difficulty in seeing the distance out. Grose and Lukey have had considerable experience in long distance racing, an 4 the course will be to their liking. For fastest time honours, it is anticipated that Lukey ' will have a royal chance of winning. The race will start at the comer of Marshland and Shirley Roadfe at nine o’clock, and is expected to finish at about half-past three. The handicaps for the Timaru to Christchurch road race will be published in Monday evening’s papers. X X X The Rakaia Cycling Club is putting on an ambitious programme for its annual sports meeting to be held at Rakaia on December 8. The big race, the two miles Gala Handicap, is worth £l6, the winner receiving £lO, and other events are one mile Mead Handicap £7, two laps Dash Handicap £7, four laps -M’Carthy Handicap £7, one mile District Handicap £6. The track is being put in tip-top order and the promoters are satisfied that it will prove to be fast. Christchurch amateurs were at their best in the Palmerston North to Wellington road race last Saturday, ~^hen

they filled the first three places, and L. G. Lukey. the Amberley crack rider, registered, fastest time. A. R. Mutton, the winner, has been performing well on the road this season. Last Saturday's performance was an excellent one as he disposed of his co-markers and went on to win as he liked. Mutton on his present' form should prove a tough proposition in Saturday's 100 mile- race. C. Rhodes, second place, has had considerable racing experience, both in the Dominion and in Australia. He has met with a fair measure of success so far, but on Saturday he excelled himself. G. Farmer, third place, rode much better than was expected. He was on a hard mark, but proved to be equal to the occasion. He also registered third fastest time for the race. L. G. is without doubt the best amateur rider in the Dominion at the present time. He rides a solid race from the start and disposes of his opposition by hard, sustained riding.

M or wood. Hawke. Croat. 32 47 35 43 37 14 32 54 36 2 38 46 35 49 36 2S 36 40 101 30 108 13 112 40