THE ROAD RACE.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17220, 1 October 1927, Page 7

THE ROAD RACE.

HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND

CYCLING FIELD DISPATCHED.

NORTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP

Promptly at 9.20 a.m. to-day the important cycling road race from Hamilton to Auckland, which carries with it the North Island championship, began at the Hamilton Post Office and a good crowd assembled to sec the riders leave. The officials at Hamilton were Messrs F. Vickery (organiser) and S. Lorimcr (assistant organiser). Mr W. Jordan acted as starter and Mr P. A. Richards (Auckland manager for the Dunlop Rubber G 0.,) followed in charge of the official car.

Efficient arrangements have been made and a squad of four Auckland .members of the St. John Ambulance Association, under Superintendent Schofield, left at intervals to be on hand in the event of spills. The ambulance followed closely behind the scratch men. The road is In fairly god order, the worst patch being at the Razorback and the leading riders are expected to complete the course between 3 and 3.30 p.m. The conditions for the race were most favourable, there being no wind this morning. The limit men were dispatched promptly at 9.20 a.m. by the Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow) and the remainder of the field followed in batches at intervals of several minutes. Twenty-two riders started. The riders started as follow: 9.20 a.m. —LI. Rhodes, J. Dean, P. J. Reardon (Taumarunui). 9.35 a.m.—F. Loundcs, Archer, C. Slack, P. T. Rickman, G. Reid, R. Wilson. 9.43 a.m. —R. Rae, W. Francis, S. Slansfleld. 9.48 a.m.—Brennan, Llenderson. 9.52 a.m.—W. Hill, D. Storey, A. Sutherland. 9.55 a.m.—S. Hayes, E. Bullott (New Plymouth). 10 a.m.—W. Brewster (New Plymouth), A. White and F. Prior. As he was leaving Reed ran into a dog and crashed. He was unhurt and remounted his cycle, which suffered no damage. He was soon up with the others. The scratch men left at a fast pace. AN ELDERLY COMPETITOR. SEPTUAGENARIAN STARTS. PASSED HUNTLY 6.50 A.M. A feature of the race was the starting of an elderly competitor in the race', lie is Mr E. Breckon, of Nawton Road, Frankton, and will he 70 years of age on October 9. He is an enthusiastic cyclist, and on May 9 of this year he rode from Hamilton to Auckland in 12 hours. A month later he cycled to Arapuni, 42 miles from his home and completed the distance in five hours.

Looking keen and feeling fit, he started at 5 a.m. to-day with a sealed handicap. A report received later stated that he passed liuntly at 6.50 a.m., going well.

ROUTE FOR RACE. The riders’ machines were sealed at Hamilton and the use of single tube patch racing tyres and plain wooden rims ,is not permitted. Special arrangements have been made to provide contestants with food cn route, the feeding stations being liuntly, Mercer, Te Kauwhata and Papakura. The course, which is one of 100 miles, is from the Hamilton Post Office to Huntly, Mercer, Pokeno, Drury, Papakura, Otahuhu, via Great South Road to Greenlane and Epsom Trotting Grounds. Youths under 18 years of age were not eligible to compete. The first prize consists of £2O cash, with the Dunlop Challenge Gup and miniature, and the second £lO casli donated by Dunlop Rubber Company, with a special racing cycle given by Hope Gibson Ltd. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth prizes are £5 cash, £3 3s cash, and £1 Is cash respectively, presented by the Dunlop Rubber Company, while the riders successful in gaining these places will each receive special trophies donated by Vickery Ltd. (Hamilton), the Auckland Cycle and Motor Depot, and Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd.

The fastest time carries with it the North Island Championship Blue Riband presented by the Auckland Cycling Club and the successful rider, also receives £lO cash from the Dunlop Company, together with a £5 5s gold medal from the Dominion Rubber Company. The rider gaining second fastest time will receive £5 cash. Each rider completing the course under seven hours will be presented with a certificate by the Northern Athletic Association and special trophies will he awarded for oustanding performances by unplaced riders.

A PROGRESS REPORT. POSITION NEAJt MERCER. BACK-MARKERS RIDING STRONGLY. A progress report received at noon stated that- all the riders had passed Te Kauwhata and w T ere approaching Mercer, where Breckon, the 7.0-year-old cyclist passed through at 9 a.m. The limit men were still in the lead at Te Kauwhata, hut the back markers were moving up. Hayes, Sutherland and Henderson were pedalling well. The times at which the riders passed through Te Kauwhata w’ere: — 11.19 a.m.—Slack and Rhodes. 11.21 a.m. —Reardon and Dean. 11.22 a.m. —Rickman. 11.23 a.m. —Loundes and Wilson. 11.26 a.m. —Reed. 11.30 a.m.—Francis. 11.32 a.m. —Sutherland. 11.33 a.m—Henderson. 11.36 a.m. —Ilayes. 11.37 a.m. —Brewster, Prior and White. 11.39 a.m. —Hills. 11.41 a.m.—Bullot and Brennan. The scratch men swung through in a bunch at 11.37 a.m., having overtaken Bullot, Brennan and Hills, and having gained three minutes on Sutherland and four minutes on Hayes.