CYCLING WINTRY CONDITIONS FOR ROAD RACING

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 15 May 1961, Page 9

CYCLING WINTRY CONDITIONS FOR ROAD RACING

Cyclist* had to race in wintry conditions on Saturday, but good fields turned out for all races, and times were exceptionally good. AVON CLUB The Avon Club held a group handicap race over 40 miles from Yaldhurst, to just past Barfield and return. From West Melton the riders had to contend with heavy rain, but on this upward grade they had the benefit of a light following wind. The competitors went away in three bunches, the limit men 11 minutes ahead of the second bunch, which was Smin in front of the scratch men. On the outward run the bunches, remained intact. but the middle and scratch men were rapidly closing In on the limit men. G. Robertson and W. Walsh were the first to reach the turn, followed five minutes later by B. Mugford. A. Tucker, and A. Gray, off llmin. These three had picked up six minutes on tlie leaders. Two minutes and a half later came five scratch men—R. Fowler, G. Painter, P. Wood. M. Taylor, and E. Hughes. They were seven and a naif minutes behind the leaders, having picked up 12i minutes. On the return journey Robertson broke away from Walsh and riding through heavy rain was about a mile clear of the field at Aylesbury. The riders chasing Robertson were the five scratch men and Mugford, who linked with them when caught. Robertson was picked up just before West Melton, and the leaders then were Fowler, Painter, Wood, and Hughes. Wood, over the concluding stages, made desperate efforts to break away, but was held. Painter made a break some distance from the finish, but Fowler followed closely, and 50 yards from the finish Fowler shot past to win by two lengths. Wood was a length back, with Hughes two lengths behind Wood. Robertson battled on gamely, but just failed to hold his handicap by 20 seconds. Hughes, who was having his first ride In Christchurch after coming from the North Island, showed himself a solid rider. The novices and boys combined for a flve-mile group handicap. R. McGrath, P. Frlsken, and G. Hutton were the first to reach the turn. On the outward run, C. Farrant pulled away from P. Smith. Farrant was the next rider to turn for home. On the homeward run he rode strongly and just managed to reach the leaders, as they started their run for the finish. He came on strongly, but just failed to overhaul Frisken. Smith tried hard, but just failed to link with the leaders. In both the open and novice races over-all handicaps were also declared, and these went to Hughes and Hutton. Results were:— Open Race—R. Fowler, 1:40.4. 1; G. Painter. 1:40:4.2, 2; P. Wood. 1:40:4.4, 3; E. Hughes, 1:40:4.6, 4; G. Robertson. 2:3:51, 5: M. Taylor. 1:46:2, 6; B. Mugford, 1:57:24. 7. Handicap section: Hughes (ssec), 1:39:59.6, 1; P. Wood (4sec), 1:40:0.4, 2: Painter (3sec), 1:40:12, 3. Novice and Boys’ Race.—P. Frisken. 15:40, 1; C. Farrant, 13:11, 2; G. Hutton, 15:47, 3; R. McGrath, 15:55, 4: P. Smith, 15:55, 5; G. Sword, 13:51, 6. Handicap section: Hutton (2 min 40see), 13:7, 1; Frisken (2J min), 13:10, 2; Farrant (scr), 13:11, 3. PAPANUICLUB

Riders of the Papanul club held a 35-mile out-and-home event from Papanul to the Walmakariri bridge, then along the Tram road and return. After turning off the 'Main North road at the bridge the riders met steady rain, which became much thicker as they went out to the turn. At the turn heavy rain was falling, and it was extremely cold. D Johnson and C. McFarlane, off the limit mark, were the first to reach the turn. A. Good, off the same mark, was forced to withdraw with a puncture just before the turn. Three and a half minutes behind the leaders came a bunch of four riders from the lOmin and Trniti marks which had linked. R. Bryant, off LOmin, had drifted back, and was riding on his own. Four minutes behind the leaders came the break men, riding very strongly, and these were followed 2Jmin later by the scratch men. who at this stage had picked up half a minute on the break men and BJmln on the limit riders. At the end of 25 miles the break bunch linked with the 7min and lOmin riders. Break after 20 miles had lost N. Smith, who drifted back. Smith had ridden very well, but lack of training since a crash when training two weeks ago took its toll. Johnston had been dropped by McFarlane, who was out in front on his own, but only a short distance ahead of the big bunch. The first to cross the Waimakariri bridge on the return journey were the break. 7mln and lOmin riders. Break at this stage had lost R. Bush, who crossed a little behind them. McFarlane, who had been passed by the main bunch, was now 2min behind. Almost immediately came the scratch men. but their chances now of getting up to contest the major placings were not very bright. On the run from the Waimakariri bridge to the finish

the leading bunch started to break up. and at Belfast there were four left. These were L. Crawford and B. Hack, from the break mark, and H. Bush and C. Gane, from the 7min mark. Over the concluding stages Crawford, Hack, and Bush tried to drop Gane. but he was with them for the final sprint, and just failed to beat Crawford and Hack. There was only a tyre between Crawford, who gained the decision, and Hack, with Gane a length back third. The scratch men soon came into view, and C. Hibberd caught the others by surprise 200 yards from the finish. He gained a good advantage, and although the others strove desperately. Hibberd had gained too great a lead and crossed the line to take fastest time from W. Thorpe by four lengths. Results were:— L. Crawford (3min), 89min 9sec, 1; B. Hack (3min), 89min 9.2 sec, 2; C. Gane (7min), 93min 9.4 sec, 3; H. Bush (7min), 93m in 9.Bsec. 4; C. Hibberd (scr), 87mln 25sec, 5; W. Thorpe (scr), 87min 25.25ec, 6. Fastest time: Hibberd. CHRISTCHURCH CLUB G. McGregor scored a popular win in the Christchurch club's race from Halswell to Teddington and return. McGregor is a veteran, and his perseverance was well rewarded. It was possibly his first win for three or four years. McGregor had as his co-marker K. Hogan, and these two. on the limit mark, were 30min out from the scratch men. The two limit men rode exceptionally well, and held off all challenges from riders on marks near them. The four scratch men, B. Berry, W. Hensley, K. Jeffery, and E. Livingstone, just failed to catch the limit riders. In the closing stages Berry went away from his co-markers and strove desperately to catch the leaders, but failed by Imin 57sec to catch McGregor, although he was only 13sec behind Hogan at the finish. Over the concluding stages McGregor moved away from Hogan to win by Imin 44sec. Hensley was the next scratch man to finish, Ifmin behind Berry. Two and a half minutes after Hensley came Jeffery, and he was followed 2min later by Livingstone.

In the boys’ race over four miles D. Bentley rode a welljudged race to hold off a strong challenge from G. Meyerhoff and won by 3sec. K. Clinch, who once again took fastest time, finished only 20sec behind the winner, with D. Gutry, the other scratch man, a second further back. Results were:— G. McGregor (30min), 2:9.37, 1; K. Hogan (30min), 2:11.21, 2: B. Berry (scr), 1:41.27, 3; W Hensley (scr), 1:43.10, 4: K Jeffery (scr), 1:46.40, 5; E. Livingstone (scr), 1:48.40, 6 Fastest time: Berry. Boys’ Race.—D. Bentley (Smin), 1527, 1; G. Meyerhoff (2min), 12.30, 2; K. Clinch (scr), 10.47. 3; D. Gutry (scr), 10.48, 4. Fastest time: Clinch. MAIREHAU NOVICE CLUB K. Young, riding from 2Jmin, had too much in reserve at the finish for his rivals, and won the six-mile handicap event. K. Clinch took fastest time in 10.47. Results were:— K. Young (2Jmin), 15:50.2, 1; M Christian (Umln), 14:36.2, 2: B. Black (ijmin), 14:37.3, 3; W. Browning (Ijmin). 14:38.4, 4. Fastest time: K. Clinch (scr). 14:82. CASH CYCLING On its opening day the Christchurch Cycling Club held a race from Halswell to Springston and return. R. Craig, on 2min, took first place and fastest time. The weather caused many scratchings, only 15 starting Always to the fore was the veteran. L. Amst, who with another veteran. C. Willcox, went off the limit mark. They led the field to the turn and for part of the return journey. Amst then rode away from Willcox, but he was passed by D. Daley. Craig, J. Cummings, and E. McCann. These four stayed together to contest the final sprint, Craig winning from Cummings, with McCann third. Results were:— _ R - Craig 1, J. Cummings 2. E. McCann 3, D. Daley 4, L. Amst 5. Fastest time: Craig (2mln), 50.30. *