Hollow Win In Cycling

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31108, 11 July 1966, Page 10

Hollow Win In Cycling

Novice cyclists showed considerably more fortitude than their seniors on Saturday morning. Whereas only 12 of the 30-odd entries turned up for the inter-club 40-mile handicap race, the Mairehau Novice Wheelmen had 22 young riders present. The inter-club race was changed Into a group handicap event, with a bunch of lesser lights leaving five minutes before the better riders.

The A grade bunch caught the others before long and two Avon riders, P. A. Skilling and S. J. Stephen, took off on their own. With three miles to go, they were well clear but in the cautious approach to the final sprint, the two riders following them, B. E. Holland (Papanui) and M. J. Fortune (Avon) made up ground and were only about 150 yards behind at the finish. The winning sprint did not eventuate, Stephen striking mechanical trouble and Skilling coasting in just ahead of him. P. H. C, Bedford (Papanui) —who did not cover the full distance —gave Fortune a generous hand and the latter was justly relegated to fourth. R. J. Connelly (Papanui), who accepted the shelter of a van and reached a speed of about 40 m.p.h. was disqualified as well. Result:—

Inter-club 40 mile group scratch race: P. A. Skilling (Avon) 1, S. J. Stephen (Avon) 2, B. E. Holland (Papanui) 3, M. J. Fortune (Avon) 4, P. R. Wildermoth (Avon) 5, R. G. Fowler (Avon) 6, R. Hogarth (Avon) 7, D. 11. J. Kirdy (Papanui) 8, W. C. C. M. Janus (Christchurch) 9. Time: 1:43.1. Sealed handicap: Hogarth (14mln) 1, Kirdy (Umin) 2, Fowler (7min) 3.