CYCLING NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18586, 11 October 1928, Page 3

CYCLING NOTES

ON TRACK AND ROAD.

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“ WHEEL."

FIXTURES. October 13—Ashburton to Christchurch Road Race. October 20—Paparua Club's Road Race. October 22—Southbridge Sports. October 22—Ashburton Gaia sports. The 1928 Timaru to Christchurch road race may be put down as one of the most strenuous races held over the course, the conditions from start to finish being very trying for the competitors. Of the eighty-eight starters only thirty-five covered the course within the time limit of 8 hours, many well known and experienced road riders Jailing to do the distance. The percentage of riders to finish was much lower than usual, the bad condition of the road, the dust and heat and insufficient training being factors which were responsible for so many failures. The placed men were all well trained and had it not been for mishaps in the way of punctures and spills no doubt there would have been several changes in the order of the riders finishing. « « Both the winner B. W. Amst and the fastest time rider S. W. M’Cann rode sterling races, and without doubt were the fittest men in the race. M'Cann and Amst both made a breakaway from their respective bunches to finish alone. The finishing effort put forth by both these riders stamps them as riders above the average.

By the time Ashburton was reached many riders had withdrawn from the race, amongst them a number who were expected to ride well. Others with a considerable amount of previous experience had dropped back and with only half the journey gone could be counted as out of the race. The principal riding times to Ashburton were:— Hr Min Sec B. W. Arnst (40m in) .... 3 3 20 A. C. Hill (37min .. 3 0 20 A. S. Curran (40min) 3 3 20 L. Mortlock (35min) 2 58 20 H. \V. Birch (3Smin) 3 2 20 G. W. PrebbJe <36min) 3 5 10 N. Bellringer (20min) 2 50 40 E. B. Taylor (33min) .... 3 3 40 C. Aroa <2omin) 2 50 40 C. W. Mills (33min) 3 3 40 S. W. M’Cann (scr) 2 51 55 Great things were expected of X. Bellringer and C Aroa, but they met with bad luck. The latter had trouble between Ashburton and Chertsey when lie punctured. Bellringer was riding remarkably well near Rakaia in company w’ith -Pedley (Palmerston North), but after that he was not heard of. With the exception of the New Zealand road championship which was won by S. W. M’Cann, of New Plymouth, the chief places were filled by Christchurch riders. This was only to be expected as over half the competitors were local riders. Amongst the visiting riders were several good performers over shorter distances. Over the strenuous Timaru course however they failed to materialise or else had the misfortune to spill or puncture. For seven years the winner has hailed from Canterbury, and there is no doubt it would do the sport good if a rider from an outside province won the big event. Out. of the first seven placed men only E. C. Pedley rode in the Timaru last year. Pedley rode off 37min last year and was placed thirty-second, his riding time being 6hrs 41 min 32sec. This year Pedley was on 37min and finished sixth in 6hrs 15min 55sec. The ages of the first five riders to finish in the Timaru are as follows: Arnst. 19 years; Pass, 19 years; Hill, 17 yearsr Crofts, 16 years; and M’Cann, 39 years. The average age thus being IS years. Each of these riders put up a sterling performance considering his age. The handicapping was a difficult matter, as a large number of riders were practically unknown as far as performances were concerned, a considerable number of maiden riders being included in the entries. Other riders such as Cranstovn, Hoffman, Woods. Harris, Ralston and Tayler had good performance sheets, but the company they had competed in was evidently not up to the standard of the Canter bury performers. Si Si Si

I). W. Arnst, the winner of the Timaru to Christchurch race, has done a fair amount of racing as an amateur fluring the present season. He has ridden off a lair mark on the road without figuring prominently. Arnst's chief success was the winning of the "Round The Gorges" race on Saturday week, lie has been disqualified for that event by the Papanui Club and the matter

is to be further considered at a meeting of the controlling body to be held to-night. Arnst is without doubt a coining r id champion. The manner in which he disposed of his opponents was an eye opener to*, those who were in the vicinity at the time. He set a solid pace and did not ease up until the Show Grounds were reached. There is no doubt a strain of the famous Arnst family in Bert.

Pass, the second rider to finish, put up a very creditable performance an*! ( bd particularly well for a rider "'ho had not previously been prominent as a racing cyclist. Fass unfortunate in meeting a rider of the calibre of Arnst in the deciding stages of the race.

A. C. Ilill. third place, has been pertormmg well on the road this season. Although not vet seventeen ypars of age. Hill rode like a veteran and thoroughly deserved bis place ti Si Si

U- Crofts, fourth place, was one of the youngest riders in the face, lie has been riding well during his training operations and was expected- to finish - well up on the list. Spills were responsible for his losing valuable time.

3 Si The failure of four out of six of the scratch men was a source of surprise to followers of the sport. Mof wood was not at his best, .as he was suffering from boils. L. W. Hill was expected to do better than he did a.s he had proved himself over the distance. He, how. ever, rode very disappointingly and failed to cover the distance. W. T. Weir also failed to justify his inclusion amongst the backmarkers as he did not reach Ashburton. He is a particularly strong rider and a much better performance was expected of him. L. Pither did much better than others of his co-markers and finished the course, although his time was 2Smin 32sec slower than that of M’Cann.

C. Austin registered second fastest time and in doing so he recorded his best performance in the Timaru road race to date. In filling ninth place in shr 42min 17sec he put up a very creditable performance. S. W. M'Cann, the present road champion, is a road rider , above the average, having proved himself on previous occasions in the Timaru and “Round the Mountain" races. Although only nineteen years of age M’Cann is strong and powerful and with ordinary luck should have a very successful cycling career. M’Cann won the fifth prize, the road championship and the fastest time prize for an outside rider. He left for his home in New Plymouth on Tuesday. The Southbridge sports are to be held at Southbridge on Labour Day, October 22. The following cycling events are on the programme: One mile handicap, total prize money £5; half-mile second class .£5; . two miles Southbridge wheel race £23, one mile handicap £7. three-quarters of a mile first-class handicap £B, one mile derby handicap (under eighteen years) £3. Entries close on Saturday next with the secretary, Mr D. N. Hayes, Southbridge, or with Mr P. C. Lucas. A good programme of cash and amateur cycling has been arranged for the Ashburton Gala Sports to be held on . Labour Day. The cash events include a two-mile gala wheel race £25; halfmile dash £7; one mile and a half handicap £7 and one mile invitation scratch race £B, for which pace makers will be provided. Nominations close with the secretary, Mr G. V. Furley, Ashburton, or may be given to Mr P. C. Lucas. The big amateur road race, Ashburton to Christchurch, will take place next Saturday aTternoon, under the auspices of the Christchurch Amateur Cycling Club. N’ ity entries have been received, including representatives from Dunedin. So far, no North Island riders have nominated. L. G. Lukey, the Amberley rider, has not nominated, and F. J. Grose, T. O’Brien and G. Farmer are on the scratch mark. There will be a considerable gap between the scratch men arid the next bunch. The limit is 23min. A feature of the race is the large number of new riders and men who have not competed in any other event this season. The limit men will be despatched from Ashburton at half past twelve, and the first riders are expected to arrive at the Show Grounds at about, three o’clock. _ a a Several Christchurch riders, have nominated for the Round the Mountain race, to be held on October 20. amongst them being W. \V. Crofts, 11. F. Prebble, C. Austin, L. Mortlock, L. W. Hill and A. C. Hill. The team comprises some good riders, who should do well over the one hundred mile ~onrse. L. W. Ilill and L. Mortlock have been successful in previous races.

TOUR DE FRANCE.

HARRY WATSON’S EXPERIENCES

Harry Watson, who last year was the New Zealand road champion, returned to Christchurch on Tuesday morning after an abrcnce of about , seven months. Watson, who accom- ! named the Australasian team to France to compete in the Tour de France, is very pleased to get home again after his strenuous racing, j The following are extracts from an interesting article written by Watson for the Melbourne "Sporting .Globe":— The Tour de France! llow these words act like magic to the riders on the Continent—the thousands of ambi- | tious young wheelmen who strive to be one of the “elect" to secure a ride in this world-famous, road race! Jn France alone there must be 20,000 racing cyclists of all grades, and, when it is considered that the field in the Tour de France is limited to about 150 it can 1»e readily seen that it is a high | honour even to take part, regardless of • where one finishes. I As for the race itself—well, it is a ; case of memories and nightmares! One has to compete in this mighty event t- be able to realise its wonderful inv j portarjee and its magnificent manageFirst and foremost, the group riders the trade team) are the ones who •ount, as it is a veritable battle of wits from end to end. This year J regional riders—-that is, representatives 1 from the different provinces—were inj eluded in the field, and the individual

riders, known as the Routiers, also helped to make up the classic field. But the Regionals and the Routiers are mere puppets in the play. Thev generally set out with high ambitions, but in the three weeks’ ride many of them fall out, while others are eliminated. In this year’s contest Henri Desgrange, the director and originator of the race, forced all the Routiers to retire at the end of the 20th stage. Conditions react very harshly on these riders, who have to make their own arrangements en route, whereas the trade riders are cared for just in the way racehorses are for the Melbourne Cup. Regardless of the various hardships, the Routiers relish the . racing, and their various towns willingly subscribe towards their expenses, regarding it as an honour if they get through. Conditions are so arranged that a Rout.ier can never win the Tour.

We were all proud to be representing Australasia, and the ovation we—especially "Oppy”—received made us l'eel proud of our native land. At every stage interest in "Oppy's" doings became intensified. At every control it was a case of "Vive Opperman. Vive les Australiens."

Often at the end of a long, tedious journey—dog tired, weary and sick of our job—we were stimulated by the

chorus of Australians who urged us or to victory with the familiar "coo-ee,’

and, not infrequently, the Maori warcry. Believe me. it made our task a whole lot easier.

As Opperman pointed out in his article, we were handicapped from the very outset by having a small team. Of course, I know it is all right being wise after the event. But if sufficient money had been forthcoming, and we had had a team of seven or eight, then we would have won several stages. As it was, we were second in one stage, land it was only mad luck that we did not win.

While the Continental riders were able to relieve their team mates in the hard stretches, we were battling along against incalculable odds. In most of the teams they had what they call "domestics"-—first-class riders who were deputed to look after the first string, and to pace them and assist them generally.

As the Tour proceeded, wc began to get accustomed to the trying ordeal. But when we came to the mountains — the majestic Pyrenees and the Swiss Alps—we got quite a headache. It makes the Blacks’ Spur in the Grand Prix look just like a pimple.

When I think of the mountain climbing, the "mad rushes downhill, and the riding at night in pitch darkness, well, it is a .veritable nightmare! I used to go hot and cold as we dashed down hill, almost taking a leap in the dark. In spite of this, it was a wonderful experience. The Continentals relished the business. They looked upon it as a huge They are a happy bunch and like the spirit of adventure. The race came to an end. We were overjoyed when we came to the start of the last stage into Paris! Nicholas Frantz, the winner, the mighty man of the road, proved the victor for the second year in succession. He won the last stage. It was thought that Andre Leducq, the idol of France, would win the last stage, but he rode a bad race.

Opperman was the surprise packet, and was with them to the very end finishing in the first bunch.

Frantz' was given a great ovation, but "Oppy’s" reception. was like a veritable tornado of' applause. The crowd went absolutely mad with jo>\ They demanded that Opperman should make a circuit of the track on the Parc des Princes, where the race finished. Oppy was carried shoulder high off the ground, and for a while it was feared he would be injured. There was no mistaking his popularity. The French people were intoxicated with joy. Had he been a Frenchman, Oppy could not have .met with such a tremendous reception.

It was an unique experience, and I think we gained cons.idera.ble knowledge, making us 50 per cent better cyclists. .

Wo are 25 years behind the times in Australia and New Zealand when it comes to the use of single tubes for road racing. There is no comparison between them and the ordinary light road tyres (skin sides), which are used to a large extent here. The road “single" is specially constructed and, fitted on to the wooden rim (three-piece), makes for fast riding. In the case of a puncture they are quickly changed, saving minutes over the ordinary tyres and tubes. As for punctures, well, we went through several stages without having any trouble. Having used the ordinary tyres in Australia and experiment cd" with the singles, I can say unhesitatingly that singles arc far ahead ol anything else, and the sooner they are adopted the better for the sport here. Another thing I am convinced about is this: There is too much tinkering with road races here—too many small events. llow can we hope to produce champions if wc do not foster longdistance racing? There should be at least one longdistance race every month during the road season, and none under 100 miles. What is to stop the clubs joining forces anrl holding combined events? I am quite confident that we have the "goods,”- but just at present we uo not know how to fit them. Until we fit our riders for the Continent., it is useless-sending them abroad. Just a final word in parting. The visit of the Australasian team has done more to advertise Australia and New Zealand than anything else could have done. Of course, the "Diggers’ paved the way in 1914, and I suppose that, is whv we were so immensely popular fourteen

If racing cyclists in the various road races \vould' give the same attention to their cycles and the selection of tyres fitted to the machine as they do to training,- they would have a much better chance of securing some of the prize money. The last three road races held, viz., Palmerston-to-Wellington, 100 mile amateur Round the Gorges, and the Timaru-to-Christchurch, have proved conclusively that choice of tyres is one of the main factors in riders obtaining a place. The results of the various races are; as follow: PALMERSTON TO WELLIBTOTOIf. Fla*'r-. Tyres. Lukey Ist fastest John Lull Speeo time 100-UDjC AMATEUE. Arnst let place John Eull Speed Bearman 2nd place John Bull Speed Grose Ist fastest John Bull Speed Lukey 2nd* fastest John Bull Speed time XIMAEU TO CHRISTCHURCH. Arnst Ist place John Bull Speed Lass 2nd place John Bull Speed And six others in the first twelve riders were on John Bull Speed Tyres.. One brand of tyre practically scooped the pool in these races, as all these riders were using John Bull Speed Tyres. John Bull tyres are noted for their consistent good quality, both Roadster and Racing Types, and are one hundred per cent British, as the name implies. Obtainable from every cycle trader in the South Island. Wholesale Distributors ON LV > : CHAS BENNETT, LTD., 623, Colombo Street, Christchurch.