CYCLE CLASSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1928, Page 13

CYCLE CLASSIC.

HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND. HARD GOING ALL THROUGH. TARANAKI RIDERS’ SUCCESS. Seldom have cyclists experienced worse weather conditions than those whicn made the Hamilton to Auckland road race on Saturday a gruelling test. Rain fell almost without a break, and there was - a strong wind, while parts of the road were very rough. The result was a triumph for Taranaki, the first three men to finish, N. Bellringer, I. Yardley, and L. Gargen, all hailing from that province. The fastest time honours and championship were won by S. Gooch, of Gisborne, who covered the long journey in 4h 39m. There were thirty-eight starters. When the competitors lined up outside the Hamilton Post Office it was blowing hard and raining heavily. After leaving Hamilton, McCann, the scratch man, rode well, passing through Hopahopa at 12.45, closely followed by Tippins and Prior. At Taupiri H. Davis had a puncture and R. Wilson fell. At Huntly, Prior and McCann were riding together. McCann then gained on Tippens and Prior, while F. Potter dropped back. Broderick and Thomas began to tire. Nearing Rangiriri, Cartwright and Kennelly were passed, and shortly afterwards Turner, Rae Healey, Guy Thompson, Watts and Morse were overtaken. Commencing the dumb up Rangiriri the strain began to tell, and it was then that the scratch man started to gain. Nearing Mercer, on the down hill grade, the pace was fast, despite the pouring rain. Some of the riders simply flew through Mercer. McCann, Prior, and Tippens were all together, riding well. Barry was passed riding with Henderson and Hills. Just entering Mercer the biggest bunch of riders was overtaken by the official car. Hayes, Francis, Lindop, and Gooch were riding together, and they were not exerting themselves. The first rider to pass through Mercer was Bellringer, the winner, being 100 yards ahead of a bunch, the time being 2.10 p.m. Nearing the Razorback.

At this stage McCann sustained a puncture. Tippens was the first back marker to go through Mercer, McCann following a minute after Tippens. Hayes was well ahead, and going strong at this juncture. Approaching the Razorback several riders were paired, including Hills, Healey, Kennelly, Lane, Harris and Davis. Over the first big hill McCann had passed all these riders, including Tippens and Henderson. It was now raining hard and blowing strongly. At this stage McCann was only five yards behind Hayes, who was the same distance behind Francis, Lindop, and Gooch. Stockman was 150 yards ahead of the last three riders. Down the first steep hill the riders made fast speeds, no traffic interfering with them. Breasting the top of Bombay settlement there was no sign of the leaders, but Bellringer could be seen. Going down Bombay Hill on to the flat Slack was passed, travelling at 30 miles per hour, riding half a mile in front of Gargen. Once on the flat Bellringer was passed half a mile ahead of Slack, going well. Two miles further on Yardley was passed by the official ear, riding well. This looked as if the race had been decided as Yardley was riding exceptionally well and looked fresh. Passing through Drury Yardley was leading by a mile, pedalling at 16 miles an hour. Again McCann’s rear tyre punctured, forcing him to retire. When again on the road within a few minutes McCann was riding well, facing a strong wind and more heavy rain. When going" through Papakura the leader of the first six men was Yardley, Bellringer, Slack, Francis, Gooch and Lindop following. The last three men, covered in mud and soaked in rain, made efforts to defeat Yardley in the final spurt. Yardley and Bellringer were holding their own at Wiri, Yardley being a mile ahead. The rest were in a bunch. McCann Unlucky.

Again McCann was unfortunate in getting another puncture, and this time he turned it in altogether, coming into Auckland by motor car. Clark, who pulled out at Pokeno, also came in by motor car. He fell over Slack at Huntly. About 4.15 p.m. Yardley, Bellringer and Gargen, who passed through Otahuhu together, were discerned returning into Green Lane to race for the Show Grounds gate. Bellringer and Yardley were still together until 100 yards from the gate, when Bellringer forged ahead of Yardley, who tired badly over the final few yards. Bellringer finished well, and won by a quarter of a lap of the paddock inside the grounds. However, both were done up when they finished, and had to be lifted from their machines. Gargen was not so tired. Gooch arrived shortly afterwards to get fourth position, and then came Lindop, Francis, Hayes, Stockman, Tippins, Slack and Henderson.

Result:—• N. Bellringer. 22m (New Plymouth .... 1 I. Yardley, 18m (New Plymouth) 2 L. Gargen, Im (Kaponga) 3 S. Gooch. 12m (Gisborne) 4 J. Lindop. 12m. (Whangarei) 5 W. Francis, 15m 6 Fastest time and championship honours were won by S. Gooch (Gisborne), 4h 39m. Second fastest time was made by J. Lindop, 4h 39m 14s, who missed the big honours of the race by the narrow margin of 14s. Interviewed after the race, the winner, Bellringer, who is a nephew of the member of Parliament, said that the ride from Hamilton to Auckland had been a particularly rough one in heavy rain and wind. “I never wasted a second the whole way, and I never thought that I had a chance at any stage, but I’ve won. I have ridden 12 firsts, but I have never yet won such an important race as this Last Saturday Yardley beat me by a minute in the 30-mile championship.” The first, second and third placed men are all from Taranaki, and rode well throughout the race. Slater Hayes was quite fit and well after he finished and appeared as if he could have done a longer distance.

Owing to the rough weather not more than 100 spectators were present to see the finish, and there was little excitement when the riders ploughed their weary way round the circuit of

MANUKAU CLUB’S RACE. AITKEN FIRST MAN HOME. The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club’s eleven-mile consolation road race was contested among eight enthusiasts on Saturday in torrential rain. The race was restricted to members who had not won a trophy during the present season. The secretary, Mr. Wilson, officiated as starter and timekeeper. The first rider away was A. Reed, 4m 30s, followed by J. Aitken, 4m; R. Sercombe, 2m 30s; H. Borland, and K. Spragg, 2m, C. A. Clarke and R. G. Foubister, Im 30s, and A. G. Baird off the minute. On the first lap A. Reid fell when trying to negotiate the Robertson Road corner, thus giving J. Aitken the lead, which he just managed to hold to register a comfortable win. The final placings were: J. Aitken, 4m, 1; C. A. Clarke, Im 30s, 2; H. Borland, 2m, 3. The fastest time of 31.10 was recorded by A. G. Baird, who rode the distance alone, being unable to overhaul the 1.30 men, who finished 13 seconds ahead of him. Next Saturday the Cotter Cup event over 17 miles will be decided.

HUTTON WINS. PALMERSTON TO WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON 1 , Saturday. The cycle road race from Palmerston North to Wellington resulted:— Hutton (Christchurch), 35m 1 Rhodes (Christchurch), 35m 2 Farmer (Christchurch), 16m 3 The fastest times were registered by Lukey (Christchurch), 6h 22m 44 2-ss; Farmer, 6h 38m 445; Webber (Wellington), 6h 41m 20s. “The roads were better but head winds all the way made the race far harder than last year,” said Lukey after the contest, and this about sums up the conditions experienced by the riders. It was a trying race, and a large number of starters failed to see out the distance. Grose, on scartch, ■with Lukey. had the misfortune to puncture a tyre, and as he was feeling the strain of the contest, retired. Mutton, who has been riding about four years, finished at the Basin Reserve several minutes before Rhodes, whom he assisted to mend a puncture at Paraparaumu.

SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

MORWOOD FASTEST TIME.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The thirty-six-mile South Island Cycling championship resulted: — A. R. Hawke 1 W. K. Weir 2 W. \V. Crofts 3 A. A. Morwood registered fastest time and won the championship, his time being one hour 41 minutes 30 seconds.