CYCLING

Evening Star, Issue 23374, 18 September 1939, Page 3

CYCLING

OTAGO AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE TO D. SMART Riding brilliantly, D. Smart, off the scratch, mark, won the Otago 50-mile amateur cycling championship on Saturday afternoon. There were 27 starters in the event, which not only involved this important title, but also the junior championship and the handicap race. The route had its starting point at Mosgiel, and there were many enthusiasts at the commencement opposite the railway station, throughout the route, and at the finishing line. The junior championship was won by A. Annand, and the handicap event; by B. Ross Indicative of the wide interest taken in cycling was the inclusion of many Invercargill riders, and though they were not as familiar with the circuitous course as the Dunedin contenders they wore prominent throughout the race. The route of the race went from the railway station at Mosgiel to Riccarton road, and from there to Wylie’s Crossing. Then the cyclists went to Outran), to Allanton, on to the Main 1 road, and met Riccarton road again. This course was followed twice, with the variation in the last lap that brought in three miles racing in the Woodsidq district. Right from the commencement it was evident that with one of the most interesting number of contestants for many years the race would develop into a hard struggle. And so it proved. The limit men (A. Conn and M. Bardsley), who were off the 33-minute mark, set a very respectable pace from the start. Early, Lyons retired because of a puncture. Incidentally, there were many contenders who retired at different stages of the race be- , cause of a variety of mishaps. There was no upsetting of the handicaps the first time round the course, except in the case of Andrew Tate (9min). lie ; was lapping well, and soon was among i tin bunch comprising Umbers, M'Lacli- ; Jan, and 11. J’atloii (Invercargill),

who were off lOmin. The feature of the second Jap was the way in which llardsley came through on his own. tie was riding confidently and without apparent effort. Conn, who was also on the limit mark, soon found that liiU'dslcy was setting too hot a pace. The 22min entrants were at this stage holding well together. They were Ross. M'Donald, and Webb. From then on the pace was very exhausting. The course itself included patches that fully extended the riders, and they did not spare themselves at any stage. The winner of the Otago chapipionshlp received an ovation from the large crowd when he crossed the finishing line near the railway station. Results;—

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIP. D. Smart (Otago), scr, 2h ICmin 53sec 1 W. Chalmers (Otago), sjmin, 2h 21rain 22sec ... ... ••• 2 K. Jones (Invercargill). 'SJinin, 2u 23min 12sec 3 JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. A. Annard (Otago). s’min, 2h 21 min 22 l-ssec 1 C. Wilson (Otago), Dmin, 2h 24ram 53soc ; " HANDICAP EVENT. N. M‘Donald 1 B. Boss ••• 2 C. Webb ; 3 W. Chalmers 4 GREEN ISLAND CLUB PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE The Green Island Club held the Otago 50-mile championship under ideal weather conditions. IS riders taking part in the race, which was robbed of a certain amount of interest by the fact of U. Vilmott getting a bad spill early in the contest. From then on interest was all centred on the local riders. A big crowd assembled at Henley to witness the start and finish Mr G. Orange (Mayor of Green Island) ■ sent the first man. J. F. Kinghorn, away at 2 o’clock, followed by J. Mitchell and D. Brown two minutes later,

then R. Price and E. Brown, two minutes later. The next to go was C. Ralston and W. Haig Hi minutes later, then one minute after them were the Macartney brothers, followed 1J minutes later by 0. Gardiner and J. Kennedy. with L. Bell-and A, Wood word and J. Woodford, who left 2i minutes later. The two scratch men, U. Vilmott and G. Jackson (Timaru). were sent off 10 minutes later. J. Mitchell and D. Brown were the first to go through Milton, followed by J. F, Kinghorn; then came R. Price and E. Brown, followed by C. Ralston And W* Haig, who were riding at a good pace. Next came 0. Gardiner, J. Kennedy, L. Bell, and W. J. Whiston. This bunch was going well, with the j Woodford brothers and Wilson-Pyno next, followed by G. Jackson, who had lost his co-marker. D. Brown and J. Mitchell were the first to turn on the homeward journey at 3.32, followed two minutes later by E. Brown, who had lost R. Price, the latter haring a spill. Then five minutes later came C. Ralston and W. Haig, with a bunch of fire riders, comprising the two Macartney brothers, who were caught by Kennedy, Whiston. and Gardiner. L. Bell 'dropping out at Clarendon. This bunch rounded the turning_point fire minutes after Ralston and Efaig: then came the Woodford brothers and Wil-son-Pyne 1J minutes later, With Jackson a long way back. The order was unchanged on reaching Clarendon, with the exception that Brown and Mitchell had cried enough. Before reaching. Milton S. Macartney was forced 'to let the big bunch go. On reaching Waihola Ralston’s condition gave out and he fell back. Just before reaching the Henley : bridge Haig, who bad turned on some great laps, had to fall badk, which left Gardiner, Kennedy, and W. J. Whiston in the lead, these three staging a great finish. Kennedy, crossed the line just in front of Whiston, who beat Gardiner by half a length. Haig, who rode very well all the way, was the next to fiinsh, with Ralston fifth. Result:—J. Kennedy 1. W. J. Winston 2, O. Gardiner 3, W. Haig 4, C. Ralston 5. A. Woodford 6, J. Macartney 7. Fastest times : W. J. Whiston ■ (2h 14min 29sec) 1. J. Kennedy (2h lomin SSsec) 2, 07 Gardiner (2h ICsec) 3, A. Woodford (2h 22min Slaec) 4. J. Woodford (2h 22mia 33seo) 5.