CYCLING.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17128, 25 April 1921, Page 4

CYCLING.

NEW ZEALAND ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP. O'SHEA WINS BLUE EIBAND. The revival of long-distance load-racing was marked on Saturday by tho New Zealand championship event of 70 miles, the first ui? road race held in New Zealand einco the Timaru to Christchurch fixture was discontinued. Tho event was conducted by the North Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union, and the course vyas from the cricket ground- gates, through [•Lincoln, Leeston, and Southbridgc, thence across to Dunsandel and Irwell, and back through Lincoln to. Canterbury Park. Ii» rrizea were as follows:-First £ls a special prizo of £5 presented by Mr Mackie, and a. gold medal; second £7, and set of lyres; third £i and set of tyres; fifth £2 and eot of tyres; eiith £l Is and set of tyres; fastest time £7 10s and bluo riband; fastest tune (over half limit), sot of tyres; fastest tun* (under 18 years), set of tyres. Great interest was taken in the race, inero was a big crowd to see the start, and. another crowd assembled at Canterbury Park to witness tho finish. The riders were watched with interest all along the route, and practically the whole population of each township turned out to cheer them on as they pas«ad through. By courtesy of Mr EussoU, of Messrs Jones Bros., a. "Press" reporter was enabled to follow the riders throughout. . Twenty-six riders faced the etarter, and ths limit men were despatched at 11.50 a.m. Tho back markers, A. Bonis, (torn) and P. O'Shea (scr), were heartily cheered as they set out on their long ride. O'Shea the Australasian road champion, was called on to concede no lees than dOmin, a etupendousi task for a 70-inilo race. In the latter days of the Timaru-Christchurch event, which wiu* over a course of 113 miles, the limit was only aomin. Bonis waited for O'flheft, and tho two passed through Eiccarton together. Taking turns at pacing, they 6et off at a. great speed, and for some miles avoraged the almost incredible rate of 34 miles per hour. A few miles this side of Doj-leston theyi caught A. George (lOmin), nnd u. little further on picked up M. ¥. Delacour (12miri), who then developed tyro trouble and was left behind. George, also, was left in tho next two or throe miles. Gibbs. Dodd, and Patterson, tho limit men, passed through Doylestoii at 1.3J p.m., and the back markers wont through at 1.33. Patterson retired at Leeston, where tho leaders were still nearly half an hour in-front of O'Shoa and Bonis. Dodd, and Gibbs wero still going Btrong at Southbridge, and Mallard (37m in) and Folthaml viOinin) wero with them, tfto back markers' being then 27-Jmin behind tho loaders. Bonis, who had been riding well, gavo up a couple: of miles past Southbridge, leaving O'Shea t > go on by himself, and as the race_ went on numerous others "pulled out," owing to tyre troubles, fatigue, and various other reasons. At Dunsandel Gibbs, Dodd Mallard, and Feltham wore still ahead, with O'Shea. 21 minutes behind. The journey back against the wind told against many of the riders, and Gibbs had to go on practically by himself. Such conditions suited who rapidly began to mako up leeway, and he had reduced the gap between him and tho leaders very considerably on leaching Lincoln. At Hornby he was up with the majority of tho field, with Gibbs plodding on solidly a few! miles uhoad. Gibbs eventually entered tho gates of Canterbury Park at 4.1 p.m., and, going slowly round the couree, won, though lu> was, "all in" at the finish. Five minutes later, loud cheering announced the arrival of O'Sboii with W. Hill (25min). Tho pair took five minutes to traverse tho track, and a fine sprint at tho end saw O'Shoa, finish a magnificent rido by securing second; place. Somo minutes later H. W. Birch (20min), J. Piebble (30min), H. H. Feltham (40min), and J. C. Heed (35min) appeared, «n<]i finished i» that order, being followed shortly afterwards by H. T. Dodd (40min) and S. G. Mallard (37min). Tho remainder of thoso who finished straggled, in at intervals. O'Shea easily secured fastest time, riding- the distance in tho fine time of 3hrs 84min 4eec. The actual result of tho raco was as follows :

C'.-'H. Gibbs (40min), riding timo 4hraßmin 31sec .. .. .■ ■• .. 1 P./O'Shea (sor), Bhrs 34mm 4seo .. ..2 W. Hill (25min), 3hra 68min 25 l-sseo .. a Tho next in order were:—-H. W. Birch (30min) 4bra 21min 36see; J. Prebble fßomin), 4hrs 21min SEsec; H. H. FeUbam (40min), 4hrs 21min 36sec; J. C. Becd (35inin), 4hw lCmin 36Bec; E. T. Dodd (40rnin), 4hrs 23min; S. G-. Mallard (37min), 4hrs 26min 47eeo. ' .

Pot the greater; ."part,oj the way.the roads were good, though loose metal at 'timee,: and oooa«ioiia-l water-races, made riding hard. Gibbs, the winner, who is only 16 years of age, had to ride a hard race, unpaced for many miles, and he thoroughly deserved, his win. O'Shea'e performance in finishing second wae it magnificent effort, and, while all cxpectod that, barring accidents, Be would put up fastest time, praoticoily nobody thought that he would finish in a place. The fastest time (over half limit) -was secured "by Hillj and Gibbs received the prizo for fastest time under 18 years Whilo the spectators were waiting for tho finish, an old-timers/ race was run. oyer a mile course, for a) cup presented by Mr A. J. Barrett, and resulted in J. McTeigue (30yds) winning, with B. Wall (30yds) eecond.