AMATEUR CYCLING

Evening Star, Issue 23699, 5 October 1940, Page 6

AMATEUR CYCLING

"ROUND THE GORGES" RAGES

The team of riders to the annual'“ Hound the Gorges ” 100 miles race at Christchurch was probably the strongest to leave Dunedin to compete in this classic event, but notwithstanding it was dogged throughout by misfortune, and the first to finish were B. Ross (thirteenth) and A. M. Boberg (fifteenth). After covering only 15 miles, while still on the bitumen road, A. T. Tate had the misfortune to puncture. Carrying no spare tyre, he was forced to wait until his clubmate, J. M‘Connell, came along to enable him to effect the change, thereby losing 10 minutes, but again his luck was against him with his second tyre being inclined to pull off in the heavy gravel. At this point Tate retired. m

The next misfortune befell C. Flowers, wbo was riding so well that until his wheel collapsed <25 miles) he had actually gained lime on the scratch bunch.

B. Muuro, who it was hoped would annex the junior title, was affected by the bitter conditions prevailing, and after covering 30 miles lost contact with his bunch, but nevertheless completed the journey alone to finish just outside' the time limit. J. M'Connell, after being dropped in the very heavy grave! encountered at Boburn (30 miles), and having almost made up the leeway on bis bunch, had the bad luck to misjudge a bend in the Ashley Gorge, and crashed heavily over the bank.

Notwithstanding these mishaps, when Oxford was reached, where the first check was taken after 60 miles had been covered, Dunedin riders appeared to bo riding comfortably in excellent positions. The first through was N. M'Donald, riding at this stage with the riders whe eventually took fastest time, only eight minutes behind the leaders, who had a handicap of 45min. Shortly behind M'Donald came A. M. Boberg and B. G. Ross, wbo was but 15mm after the leaders, having made the substantial margin of ZOmin m tlie first half. When the scratch men, including W. S. Haig (Dunedin) came past only two minutes had been made up on the lOmiu bunch led by Ross, and it appeared that the Dunedin rider had an excellent chance for the time honour. However, in the next 20 miles atrocious conditions were encountered with a strong head wind and driving rain (at limes even hail), accompanied by bitter cold, and it was hero that first M'Donald and then Haig were forced to retire. With the remaining two representatives riding together, it was likely that Ross would take fastest time and that Boherg would finish high up in the placings. But it was found that the northern riders were out to take the greatest possible advantage from the strengh with which these two . were lapping, and before long Christchurch riders in particular commenced to takfe laps. Wisely, Ross and Boherg decided tc apply the same tactics to these riders, who had much greater experience in' distance riding, with the result that when the check was taken at Darfield the ISmin bunch was exactly smin ahead of Ross's team off lOmin, the scratch men gradually losing time at this stage. At Kirwoe. the final check, the position was worse, with 3mm having been lost over the 15 miles, and the scratch riders rapidly making up time, but for them it was a futile effort, for it was impossible for them to make up the leeway with only 15 miles to the finish. Brora this stage, a steady pace was maintained. but the opportunity which had been in their grasp had passed for the lack of harmony among their co-markers, and fine sprints for the Tine resulted with Ross leading his bunch of seven to the finish, Boberg filling third place in a handy position. Dunedin riders were particularly pleased to witness the success of H. Hubber (Invercargill), who is well known for his steady riding. In the 1939 “ Gorges ” race Rubber was forced to carry his cycle over the line after running the last mile of the journey following a spill, but this year made amends by finishing strongly in eighth place to also take second fastest time.