HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 225, 22 September 1928, Page 11

HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND.

THIRTY-EIGHT MEN START. BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) / HAMILTON, this day. There is a record number of competitors in the classic cycle road race between Hamilton and Auckland, which started to-day. Heavy rain was falling at the start, and the competitors were faced with a head wind which it was expected would force them to walk up every hill. Despite the conditions, Mr. G. Sutherland, an official, said he believed most of the riders would reach their destination by 3 o'clock. Thirty-eight riders started, and the majority were away by noon, the first man leaving at 11.15. S. McCann (New Plymouth), who has captured most of the cycling trophies in Taranaki, and several elsewhere, was the only scratch man. Other men well handicapped are F. Prior, Hayes, and Henderson. The Auckland road is in a fairly good state, although difficulty was expected in traversing the clay in the vicinity of Mercer. The following riders left in the order in which they are named: G. Harris, W. Guy, T. Lane, N. Whyte, R. Clark, P. Thomson, R. Barry, E. Tong, J. Thomas, T. Kennelly, R. Wilson, G. Slack, W. Rinouf, L. Gyde, F. Gibbons, K. Rae, V. Bellringer, W. Tierney, E. Stockman, F. Potter, W. Healey, W. Cartwright, B. Munro, H. Davis, I. Gargen, J. Watts, R. Yardley, J. Broderick, E. Morse, W. Francis, W. Hills, J. Lindop, S. Gooch, J. Henderson, S. Hayes, F. Prior, G. Tippins, S. McCann. •Most of the riders- race under the auspices of the Auckland Athletic and Cycle Club. The others come from Gisborne, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Whakatane, Stratford, Dargaville, Whangarei and Te Kuiti. The prizes total £160.