ROAD CYCLING NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 May 1948, Page 2

ROAD CYCLING NOTES

MARTIN AND SHARROCK SHARED RACE HONOURS A splendid exhibition of solo riding was given by C. Martin when he won the Wanganui Amateur Road Cycling Club’s 12-mile event on Saturday, starting from the 3min. 30sec. mark, he broke away from his bunch at the turn in company with G. Sharrock (who later fell), and established a good lead. He faded over the final stages and lost ground, but held off a challenge from the bunch behind to finish four seconds ahead of C. rieswarick. T. Philpot filled third place and P. Turner rode his best race to date to finish fourth. A short distance past the turn, the 2min. 45sec. bupches picked up the group from which Martin had cleared out, and, thus strengthened, they steadily overhauled the leaders. Less than 45sec. behind them again was a strong combination, comprising the 1 min. 30sec. and virtual scratch men. When the rough going across the Kaimatira was encountered, the stronger riders asserted themselves and closed the gap quickly. The two strong bunches tailing the field finally united with less than two miles to go, but it was obvious that they would not catch the leading quartet of riders—C. Martin, C. Beswarick, Trev. Philpot and P. Turner. An exciting sprint for time honours was seen when the large group of back markers approached the finishing line. A Sharrock headed off the promising first year rider G Wakely to return best time of 29mln. 37sec. This is equivalent to an average speed of slightly more than 24 miles per hour, and is fast moving for so early in the season.