ROAD CYCLING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 2, 3 July 1939, Page 5

ROAD CYCLING

OPEN CLUB RACE

TRICKY CONDITIONS

A Port Nicholson rider, M. Williamson, with a start of 13miu, won the club's open .senior race of 35 miles held on Saturday afternoon, and a Poneke Club rider, R. Dutton, made fastest time. The finish was at Derwent Street, Island Bay.

Although there was an absence of wind, road conditions were tricky as a result of the rain which fell before and during the race. There were 25 competitors, but manj failed to finish. Among the more prominent senior riders to withdraw during the race were O. Disley (P.N.), A. Pennington (Petone), and K. Alexander (Poneke). J. Wilson (P.N.) was left behind by the other scratch riders on the first lap re turn from Brooklyn, when he had gear trouble From then on he covered the course at an easy pace. The remaining scratch men, G. Amey (P.N.) and R. Dutton (Poneke). caught the exPoneke (now Palmerston North) rider, R. Loader (2inin), who was with K. Alexander, 2 mm (Poneke), and C. Sparkes, 4min (Poneke) at Houghton Bay. Sparkes withdrew soon after and Alexander was dropped at the end of the lap, leaving Loader, who hung on doggedly to finish with the scratch men. Amey, who gained fastest time, lhr 33min 46sec last year,'was beaten on the line by Dutton. Only five of the ten juniors who started out to race over one lap of the same course (17y 2 miles) reached the finish without mishap. The limit riders had lost only one of their number at Lyall Bay. The scratch men did not fare co [well, H. Laurie (Petone) being the only one ito finish. Results:—

Seniors.—M. Williamson (ISmin) (P.N.),, time lhr 43min 0 2-ssec, 1; C. Jelly (13min), (Poneke) Xhr 43min 16sec, 2; C. Clark (6 mm) (Poneke). lhr 36mln 23sec, 3; G. Howard (6 mm), {Poneke), Ihr 36min 28sec, 4. Fastest times: JR. Dutton (scr), (Poneke), lhr 33min 28sec, 1; G. Amey (scr), (P.N.). lhr 33min 28 2-ssec, 2: R. Loader (2min), (P. Nth.), lhr 35min 28 2-ssec, 3. Juniors: E. Wagstaff (4limin). (P.N ). 50min 59sec, I; P Andei son (Grain), (Poneke), lhr lmin 30see, 2; R I Hammond (6min), (P.N.), Hn 2min 13sec, 3;i D. Ogden (6min), (P.N.), lhr 2min lGsec, 4. Fastest times: E. Wagstaff (4%min), (P.N.), 59min 59sec, 1; H. Laurie (scr), (Petone), lhr Omin 33sec, 2: P Anderson. (6min> (Poneke), lhin lmin 30-sec, 3. Abbreviations: P.N., Port Nicholson; Pon., Poneke; Pet., ePtone; P.Nth., Palmerston North. I . SPECTACULAR FINISH. . Three Australian riders provided a spectacular finish to the Wellington Cash Club's 35-mile road race held on Saturday afternoon. The limit men were not caught until one mile from home. Seven riders entered the half mile straight together, namely, San ders. Harries, Glover. Clarke, Mosen, Williams, and Harris. In a desperate finish Sanders and Harries could not be separated: Glover was only Inches away, and the other four were. close up. W. Sinclair, riding alone off scratch, had a hard race and missed making fastest time by about 1% minutes. The result of the race will mean five riders off the scratch mark in future and this should lead to good times being recorded. There will ba no race nest Saturday because of the race traffic. Results: —L. Sanders (l^min), and H. Harries (2%min), dead heat, lhr 31 mm 50sec, 1; R. Glover (4min), lhr 33min 26see, 3. Fastest time: L. Sanders, lhr 30min 50sec.