ROAD CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 215, 10 September 1940, Page 12

ROAD CYCLING.

RACE TO MATAMATA. MORRINSVIIXE JUNIOR'S WIN. The enthusiasm and energy of Mr. H. Skidmore, honorary secretary of the Matamata Amateur Cycling Club, has made the 100-mile road race from Papakura to Matamata one of the principal races in the province. The first race, held last year, attracted 54 entries, ana last Saturday 57 of the 62 entrants started. A light breeze was evident at the start, and fine weather prevailed until the riders approached Morrinsvllle. after which they rode the remaining 20 miles in continuous rain. These conditions helped to thin the field out and slacken the pace. Of the 57 starters 40 were riders from Auckland clubs. Apart from the climb over the Bombay Hill and the undulations between Mercer and Rangiriri, the course of just over 100 miles Is comparatively flat. Thus bunching of the handicap groups was a feature of the race. At Hamilton. 60 miles out. the field was divided into four groups, the leading one of 21 riders, another, three miles behind them, of 18 riders, and a mile back another of 14 lideis. with the scratch men. Wilson, Thomas. Johnson and Partridge so far in arrears that at Hamilton all bar Wilson retired. The inevitable sheltering by many riders further slowed the pace over the last half, and it was at 77 miles that the 7.0 riders joined the group ahead, making a string of 29 riders as they threaded their way through MorrinsvlUe. L. H. Pittams, of the MorrinsvlUe Club, came out very smartly in the final sprint to win by four lengths. Pittams is a Junior member of his club, and 17 years of age. He commenced racing only last January, and has already displayed remarkable ability and stamina. L. A. Williams, second, is one of the foremost riders in the Matamata Club, and was winner of the mile title at the last Walkato track championship meeting. A tall muscular rider Williams is just the type to excel at distance work. He raced prominently at all the Walkato track meetings last summer, and will be remembered by many as the rider who led the three-mile race at Paeroa last January by almost half a lap. and then fell off on the last bend when assured of victory Liberally treated with 45.0 start. L. J. Stonex revealeu himself as a stayer by finishing third after steady riding throughout. J. Stewart started with him. and the pair did some useful pacing lor 50 miles. Stewart finished 28th. W. R. Walker, fourth, and F. N. Wardell. seventh, were continually at the front forcing the pace among the leaders trom Hamilton on. and but for their unstinting v.-ork this group would have been caught. As it was they finished 4.20 ahead of the next bunch, whicn had then thinned down to 18 riders. Several seasons of Inactivity have not damped R. Campbell's enthusiasm, and his fifth was well merited: E. J. Dimmock made his best effort of the season to be sixth. Veteran Chas. Clarke was eighth, a splendid effort lor one who was Auckland's 50-mlle champion back in 1926. Too Fast For Scratch Men. A strong bunch of seven riders rode from the "break" mark of 7.0, and were never even sighted by the scratch four. Men of the calibre of A. W Stonex, Hughes, Warnock. Ferguson. Barnctt Irvine and Tredrea comprised this division and teamed perfectly. His sprinting powers helped Stonex to ultimately gain time honours when he led home a string of 18 riders. Stonex reduced Robertson's course record by the substantial margin of 18.51. and his group made the race the second fastest 100mile event held in the province. Hughes, second fastest, is a past master at distance racing and in 1937 was New Zealand s 100-mile champion Third fastest was A. Warnock. who was making a great effort on the occasion for during the week he had received r.dvice to report for training at Trentham Camp as a member of the Fourth Reinforcement. Within 15 miles of the finish ,W. A. Barnett skidded on a slippery bridge and L. Hawke. Norm. Pinfold and C. Swlnbourn crashed with him. Hawke. second in the provincial 100-mllcr last year, was the only one to continue, and in spit* of lost ground he chased the bunch and recaught them, finishing Just behind his clubmate Hughes. No Junior rider In Auckland has a record to compare with that of Hawke in distance races. Appreciation of the hot tea. coffee and refreshments handed out by the ladles of the Matamata Club at the finish was expressed by all tbe riders, most of whom finished saturated to the skin and numbed with the cold rain. As the race started from Papakura in bright sunshine most of the riders were too lightly clad for the wet condition* of the last 20 odd miles. u ™