CYCLING EXCELLENT TIMES IN CLUB EVENTS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 17

CYCLING EXCELLENT TIMES IN CLUB EVENTS

Cyetoti bad a perfect day for their weekly races on Saturday. There ear a sh<ht head wind on war of the courses, but this was not sufficiently strong enough to prevent excellent times Seine recorded. It was a very full day for riders. In the morning the Avon club conducted an open hill climb time trial from the toot of Hack tborne road to the Sign of the KiwL In the afternoon the riders teok part in w eekly club rassjd. AVOW CLUB In the hIU climb O. Wood 'Avon) and P. Wood (Avon) filled first and second places D. Wood covered the distance in ’Sniin 13sec and established a new record for the climb, beating the previous record by two minutes. P. Wood, who won this event fwo years ago rode the distance I‘imln faster than his previous time, in ISmin 42sec. L. Crawford (Papanun. finished third one minute eight seconds behind the winner. In this event the riders went away on their own at oneminute intervals. D Wood tracked on the pace and at the top of the first rise had caught the rider who started one minute ahead of him. The next rider on front of Wood was K. Jones (Papanui) and Wood was gradually closing in on him but about quarter of a mile from the top Jor.Cs made a very determined effort and drew away to cross the line five seconds ahead of Wood. Run in conjunction with the time trial was a sealed handicap and W. Straight (Papanui >, a very sound plodder, rode steadily up the hill, taking 19mm Msec, but with a handicap allowance of 4'imin his time was good enough to win from D. Wood by 21sec.

Results are:—D. Wood (Avon), '.lm in Ilsec. 1: P. Wood (Avon), ISmin 42sec. 2; L. Crawford i Papanui). ISmin 20sec, 3; K. Jones (Papanui), 17min 7sec, 4; W. Thorpe (Papanui). 17min

llrec 5: B. Hack (Papanui). 17 min 17sec. 6; P. Hughes Christchurch), 17min 27sec. 7; R. Bush (Papanui), 17min 30sec.

Sealed Handicap.—W. Straight 'Papanui). (4>,min), 14min Slsec), 1; D. Wood (Avon), 'scr). ISmin 12sec. 2; L. Crawford (Papanui), (linin). ISmin 20sac. 3; B Hack (Papanui? lSmin 32sec. 4: D Gutry (Christchurch). (Strain) ISmin 33sec, 5.

After the hard ride in the hill climb the Avon club riders went out for a 25-mlle handicap event on the Yaldhurst course in the afternoon. The race was an out and home event up the West Coast road ar.d return. The limit riders. W. Walsh and G. Robertson, held their advantage until shortly before the turn when they were overhauled by the next bunch of riders.

D. Rogers was the first to turn for the homeward run but after three miles of the return journey had been covered, the five-minute markers had linked up with the leaders. A. Tucker and P. Davis forced the pace to try and keep away from the back markers. Their efforts naid dividends and it appeared as if these two with D. Rogers and B. Mugford would fight out the finish.

About one mile from the finish trouble struck these four. Davis was out with a puncture and then Rogers had to retire with an attack of cramp. There was then a desperate struggle between Mugford and Tucker and as they approached the line Tucker managed to get his wheel in front and win by inched.

The scratch men rode very strongly right from the start and caught the break men on the outward run. These two bunches now formed a very solid combination, held together for most of the journey and strove very hard to get up to the leaders but failed by two minutes. In the final sprint for time honours D Wood made the first move but the great tactician. R. Fowler, bided his time and at the appropriate moment went up inside Wood to gain third place and fastest time.

For the novice riders there was a 10-mile scratch race which was won by C. Farrant. After losing some ground early in the race Farrant rode strongty to link up with the leaders just before the turn. After the riders had turned for home four broke away from the others and remained together for the rest of the journey. P. Smith made the first forward move but it proved to be a little too early, for Farrant,

with a late run raced past him to take the decision by one second.

For the boys there was a three-mile handicap event and in this the Taylor family came out on top. Barry Taylor held on to win from his brother Ben. with P. Frisken. the scratch rider, getting up for third place. Results are:—

Ooen Race. A. Tucker 'sm!n). S4min 2sec, 1; B. Mugford (T>4min). 68min 33sec, 2: R. Fowler (scr). Simin 23sec. 3: G. Painter (Imin), SSmin 24sec, 4: D. Wood (scr). dlmin 2Ssec. 5: L. Bishop (Imin). 62mtn 26sec. 6. Novice Race—C. Farrant. Mmin Msec. 1: P. Smith. 28min 15sec, 2: G. Sword. 28min 16sec. 3; W. Browning. 28min 19sec. 4: I. Stldder. 30mln 53sec. 5. Boys’ Race—Barry Taylor <3'<min>. lOmin 4se**. 1; Ben Taylor (2mtn), gmln 59sec, 2: P. Frisken iscr). Tmin 15sec. 3; G. Hutton (>,jmin) Tmin 52sec, 4. PAPANUI CLUB Honours tn the Papanui club’s 30-mile gear controlled handicap race definitely went to W. Thorpe, a scratch rider, who rode outstandingly to cover the distance in the amazing time of (ffimtn 54eee. Thorpe was

with the other two scratch rider*. C. Hibberd and R. Mann. *» they reached the tu ™- .He was the first round, and when he looked round to see where the other two were. ” w . **»* h ' itod Quite a lead on thetm This caused him to a--d he ee< off on his own. After nine miles on the return ourney on tda own he caught B. Hack, who stayed with Hun for „ PAPANUI CLUB Honours in the Papanui club's gS’SXsfg W: Thorpe * scratch rider, who rode outstandingly to- cover the distance in the amazing time of 62 minutes 54 seconds. Thorpe was with the other two scratch riders, C. Hibberd and R. Mann, as they reached the turn. He was the first round and when h« !o °ked round to see where the other two were, saw that ne had quite a lead on then. This caused him to take advantage of his gain and he set off on his own. After nine miles on the return journey on his own he caught B. Hack, who stayed with him for a little. Thorpe then forged ahead to continue his solo ride to the finish. -s even riiiles from the finish Thorpe was only 30 seconds ahead of his two co-marke-s but over the remainder of the journey he forged ahead to a clear-cut win lor fastest time. On the previous two Saturdays Thorpe has had to take second place to R. Mann. On the outward ran the three limit men teamed well with W. Straight doing most of the work. This seemed to take a lot out of him, for seven miles from the finish he started to drift a little with C. McFarlane holding the lead. K. Jones, who was riding from toe break mark of one and a half minutes, was now with L. Crawford off three and a half minutes and these two were only one minute behind the leader. At this stage Thorpe was only one minute behind Jones. Crawford started to drift over the concluding stages. Jones carried on and C. Gane. off six and a half minutes, and T. Findley, off eight minutes, linked up with him. These three carried on and were toe leaders with less than one hundred fards to go. Both Gane and indlay put up excellent sprints but could not hold off Jones, who won the final sprint. Jones rode an excellent race throughout. He made the pace too solid for his co-markers although Hack stayed with him for the greater part of the journey. In the morning the novices went out for their run when A. Leggett rode a great solo race over three and a half miles to go through and win from the scratch man, G. Stanley, with the other scratch rider, P. Green, up for third place. Results are:— Open Race.—K. Jones (l)min). 63m in 3&>ec, 1; C. Gane (Simin), 68min 36.25ec. 2; T. Findley (8 min), TOmln 38sec. 3; T. Hammond (Bmin), TOmln 38sec. 4; P. Dempsey <Bmlnl. 70min 40sec, 5; L. Crawford (3)min>, 66min IBsec, 6. Fastest time: W. Thorpe (sen, 62mln 54sec. Novice Race—A. Leggett (Ij min), lOmin 58sec, 1: G. Stanley (scr). 9mln 50sec. 2: P. Green (sen, 9mln 502 sec, 3. CHRISTCHURCH CLUB Riders of the Christchurch club were out in full force for a 25-mile handicap event on Saturday afternoon. The race was won by E. Livingstone, who made a break away from -his eo-marker. D. Gutry. and went on to finish 53 seconds ahead of him. Gutry’s ride was a very good one considering that this is his first season in open company. He was riding only a few weeks ago as a novice where he showed outstanding form. K. Jeffery, who has ridden very prominently over the earlier races this season, took fastest time, covering the distance tn 58 minutes 39 seconds. The Malcolm Robertson Cup for the most points gained in t|ie first three races of the season went to the veteran rider P. Hughes with eight and a half points K. Jeffery was second with six and a half points. The boys' race over four miles went to a newcomer to the sport. W. Long. Long rode through the limit riders for a good win. K. Clinch, after establishing a new course record with the Mairehau Novice Club in the morning, was well in form in the afternoon and took fastest time in the four-mile event. Results are:— Open Race—E. Livingstone (3 mini. 87min, 1: D. Glitzy (Smin), 67min 53sec. 2; G. McGregor (13min). 6Bmln 46eec. 1 Fastest time: K. Jeffery, 53min 39sec.

Boys’ Race.—W Long (4min). 13mln 45sec. 1: B. Bentley (4J min). 14min 40sec. 2; D Cook (l)mln), 12min 15sec. 3. Fastest time: K- Clinch (scr). lOmin 54 sec. MAIREHAU NOVICE CLUB K. Clinch, riding from the scratch mark, broke the nlnemile course record when he covered the distance in 21 minutes 26 seconds. He rode from the scratch mark on his own and gave away 30 seconds to a bunch of three riders in front of him. M. Christian, riding from the one and three-quarter minute mark, was the winner. Results are:— M. Christian I. G. Sword 2, T. Tobek 3. Fastest time. K. Clinch (scr>. 2lmin 26sec (record).