McEWEN WINS ROUNDTHE-HARBOUR CYCLE RACE (44 MILES) AGAIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 227, 24 September 1940, Page 13

McEWEN WINS ROUND-THE-HARBOUR CYCLE RACE (44 MILES) AGAIN

For the second successive year A. E. ("Boy") McEwen won the Northern Club's annual "harbour" championship race of 44 miles. Last year McEwen won off 11.30, but had 14.30 last Saturday. The handicapper (Mr. R. Moshiem) evidently took into consideration McEwens painful injuries received early this season wlren he collided with a car. Sixteen years old aud six feet high, McEwen is a remarkably well-developed lad and hoe already revealed himself as a stayer and sprinter, for he led K. Linn (one of the club's oldest members), and J. S. MacDermott over the line by two lengthe. Linn was also second last year and has set a fine example of what regular and conscientious training can do. Jack Partridge, present provincial 100 miles champion left the rest of the scratch group and gained the title with the time of 2h lpm 21*over 6.0 slower than his 1939 time, attributed to the strong- westerly wind. Partridge should be at enough to retain hie "100" Utle this year, for last Sunday he and T. Tanneld cycled to Hamilton and back in just over ten hours for the 150 miles from Onehunga. Clark and Clarke in Limelight. L. W. Robinson (now aged Iβ) has started racing just too late to equal or surpass brother Allan's outstanding record as a roadman. Len won his second race with the Lynndale Club last week, with the opposition well In the background. The sprint between R. E. Clark. W. A. Barnett and K. R. Baldwin for time honours was remarkably close. Clark was awarded the placing, inches only separating him and Barnett. with Baldwin ""clerk has been fastest in four club events this season and has excellent prospects for the "100, in which he finished fifth last year. C. A. Clarke left no doubts about his ability to win when he has the Inclination. Starting off 3.45 in the Manukau Club's annual race for the Cotter Cup, he shared the lead after four laps. With a lap to go, he and W. R. Walker had left the group. Clarke rode away from Walker on the final round and flashed home a winner by 100! yards, probably spurred to such a convincing victory under the impression that his third win in the cup competitions would make it his own. Clarke won it in 1928 and last year off 3.30. The cup was handed to Clarke after the event and he was congratulated on winning it outright. Secretary Cronk searched the 1926 minutes when he arrived home to find, however, that the Cotter Cup must be won on three successive occasions, so all will wish Clarke similar success in 1941. M. C. Johnson rode another of his typical hard races and proved that at circuit racing he has few equals. His time of 39.28 was only a few seconds slower than the record. He. Thomas and Stonex are expected to go near the record in the club's harbour title race on SMurdar. A Strong Quartet. Papatoetoe back-markers monopolised their club's 33 miles event to Cievedon and back, chiefly because the strong head wind on the return journey from Cievedon gave them an opportunity to display their real strength. S. Panckhurst won after pacing out a fine race with D. N. F. Pinfold and W. Ferguson, and A. J. Queen (off 1.30). The same four should be prominent in their club's 47 miles championship over the Papatoetoe-Pokeno-Papatoetoe course next Saturday. Advice has Just been received from Wellington that the Palmerston North to Wellington race will be conducted after all. When the Wellington Centre abandoned the idea for 1940 the Poneke Club officials got together and decided to run the event on October 26, the Saturday of the Labour Day week-end. The event will carry the North Island championship title, which J. A. Robertson (Te Awamutu) won last year. Dutton, who won the Wellington 50 miles title recently, will be coming up for the Auckland 100 miles championship on October 5, along with Scrimgeour, Westbury and Sparkes.