ROAD RACING.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18480, 7 September 1925, Page 13

ROAD RACING.

SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

Fins weather conations favonrad tfe running of the 60 mile* Sooth «HI cycle championship, which waa bald - aft Eangiora on Saturday afternoon under tha auspices of the Rangioira Athletic '»—■- tka. Out o£ an entry of 73 riders, «7 <«H the starter. The competitors throe orsck Christchurch whselaia. C. »"i -fct. O. Watson and A. Lsathsfla wfeo vat oft the scratch mark. A notable ahsaats* was H. Burnand, who, **' i f iliid to start, did not arrive in time. W. C. Maclue started' on the two minute W. J. F idler was also a starter, his handicap being: Si minutes. The track oould hare been in math, better. order. The .recent sp«ll of fine weather had hardened the course, but the rain on Friday undid ail the good that waa dona. As a oonsequence, a good stretch cf tka course was very muddy. The worst part, so far aa the mod waa concerned, was boa Loburn to Oiruku and from Okokn to Oka* tui, where the rood has recently been regraded. At Okuku, fairly good going experienced. On arrival at Oxford the riders found a nor'-wester awaiting them and this aided them on their jouraey back along th* Oxford road as far as Cadston, where tho wind changed to south-west, being still behind -the riders. The road from Oxford to Fernside was the best stretch of the co&ise, but from Female home the road was in a very bad state. The riders experienced sunshine all the way, although a aharp shower of hail and raiu fell in Rangior* ' during the progress of the race. The winner was W. L. Power, of Kaiapoi, who started off tho limit, 14 minutes. H* gained a good lead on the run home from Oxford, and »t Oust was leading a bunch of 20 riders. He maintained his lead, and riding consistently, raced homa a winnsr by about half a , mile. He was followed By a bunch of 11 men, and the three scratch men ram A in hy themselves, a short time after the second bunch. A. Leathern (scratch) annexed the riband and prize for fastest time. Tho following are the results:— W. h. Power, Kaiapoi (lGmin), £96 ..1 B. G. Puller, Christchurch {l3Jmin), HO 9 C. Blyth, Christchurch (7min), £5 .. S C. N. Mills, Lincoln (lSimin), JE4 ..4 N. Ar«Aer, Christchurch <l«min), £3 .. S F. Smith, Rangior* i3 • A. N Archer, Christchurch (lfiain). 11 .. 7 The winner's time waa 2his Stmin 3laee. Fastest time: — A. Leathern, Christchurch (aer), 2hr 27mm 4€eec .. 1 H. G. Watson, Christchurch, (acr), *l»« 27min 46 l-ssec .. ..8 C. Bell, Christchurch (scr), 2ha SKaata <7sec .. | Leattam and Wataon rmt up % aooA battle at tha finiah, both ||7 and Leathern winning by imJ>— Tiia thsm takes tha champion bb» «iU«t' £5 Medal and *lO. / .

Mr w. j. Walter oarrUd tni tfa«4p*W oi timakceuet-