Cyclists Find Going Hard At Championships

Chronicle (Levin), 1 December 1949, Page 8

Cyclists Find Going Hard At Championships

Members of the Levin Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club travelled to Wanganui on Saturday to particii>ate in the West Coast cycling championships. There were some exeellent events and alihough in many cases the Levin riders found the going too tough, they nevertheless ma'de a creditable showing. M. Harper rode well in the 10mile senior championship race, completing 36 of the 40 laps in good time. It was unfortunate that he crashed just as the end was in sight as the result of being pushed over. The 1000 metres sprint was a very good race and the local rider, D. Yeates, rode well to secure fourth place. Yeates does not appear to be properly fit yet -and. there is promise of better things to cotne. R. Harper and P. Elliott won their respective heats in the 500. metres event, but were outclassed in the semi-final. These two juniors rode exeellent races. The two mile open handicap went to S. Bonner. It was a gruelling race all the way. and a mugnificent sprint over the last 150 yards earned the local rider the honours. . .. On The Local Track. At the local meeting on MonI day night the star performers [ were G. Tatana and R. Stnith. I The former went away after the i bell on the last lap of the three I mile open . event and held a co.m- ' fortable margin to the tape. It was an exeellent effort. SmitlL

rode well in the five mile event to gain a merited first place from the Foxton rider, S. Calder. Runners Are Improving, With chances for honours at New Plymouth and Wanganui on December 10, the local athletes are beginning to put in a bit of extra work with the subsequent result that better races are now being witnessed. The junior runner Whelan started off well in the 220 yards event and on the whole ran/well. He appeared to ease up over the last stages and was forced to share the honours with Goodwin, Tfie time though, was 23 3/5 sec., which serves as a compliment to both runners and to the third runner, Walker who was hot on their heels. J. Norton is now showing definite improvement and shculd be well to the fore at the end of the season. He rr n a br'sk 75 . yards on Monday night. The strong runner Goodwin showed a. clean pair of heels to the field in the 100 yards. His long effortless stride might suggest the hurdles as being worth a try in. the future. .The .three women runners K. Green, G. Nyberg and M. Butt had a hard duel over the 75 yards- The time of 9 2/5.. sec. was good. The decisiqn was gained by K. Green. A. and S„ Rose went well in the 220 yards event. Both these girls are starting to assume running tlmes that give promise for the future.