CYCLING Stillwater Rider Second in Waimate Road Race

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1948, Page 3

CYCLING Stillwater Rider Second in Waimate Road Race

Records for first and fastest times were established in tne Waimate t.j Chirstchurch 135 nines road cycling race on Saturday, s. Weir (Christchurch), an ex-New Zealand track champion, won in shrs 39min 59sec, •with D. Clark (Stillwater) second in shrs 40mins lsec,. and R.. Sutherland (Rangiora) third, in shrs 4Gmins 12sec. Tom Davey repeated his success in the Timaru to Christchurch race last week, by establishing fastest time ol shrs 20mins 30secs. Maguigan (Blackball) secured fourth fastest time.

The limit men were sent away from Waimate at 8 a.m., and the scratch men at 9.5 a.m. with a following wind. Amongst six scratchings were A. Bergamini (West Coast) and T. Egan (Cobden). NOTES ON THE RACE The winner, Spence .Weir, of Christchurch, is a member of a well-known cycling family. Fie covered the journey, from 38min, in shr 39min 59sec. cutting nearly half an hour from the record of Ghr 7min 55sec, established by G. MacKenzie, of Tinwald, from 56min, last year, when the race was run south. Although, there was not the strong southerly'wind that helped him break Don Swanston’s record for the Timaru to" Christchurch last Saturday, Tom Davey, a quiet, beautifullybuilt youth from Auckland, cappe.: 14min from the record for fastest

time, put up by Jack Wade, another Aucklander, last year. Davey’s time was shr 20min 30sec, and his two Auckland co-markers finished within seconds of him.

Perhaps the most spectacular sprint of the day was that of Bill Pratney, of Auckland, who led home what was left of the 16min group. He lias been riding for 2'B years, for the last 14 of which he has consistently been on back marks. The placings were:— S. Weir, Christchurch (38min) shr 39min 59 sec, 1; D. Clark, Stillwater (38min) shr 40min lsec, 2; R. Sutherland, Rangiora (42min) shr 44min 12 sec, 3; D. Aitken, Kaikoura (38min) shr 40min 30sec, 4; J. Haynes, Christchurch (42min) shr 44min 55sec, 5; I. Brooks, Christchurch (38min) shr 42 min 45sec, 6; W. Anderson, Auckland (2Smirj) shr 36min 25sec, 7; J. Burgess, Christchurch (28min) shr 26min 37sec, 8; I. Hight, Leeston (24min) □hr 32min 29sec, 9; G. Baird, Auckland (24min) shr 34min 27sec, 10. Fish led the scratch men into the Show Grounds, with Cooney and Davey following in that order. Fish was done with before the riders approached the gate leading to the straight where Davey was leading. Cooney made his bid just as they reached the gate, but Davey had the measure of him. L. Gribben. of Christchurch, who crashed in Timaru.

There was a bad smash among the 34min men at Makikihi, which left only H. B. Chamberlain and J. Craib on their cycles. As a result of this crash, Des Whiting, though not seriously injured, was taken to the hospital at Timaru for attention. Brian Tear, of Nelson, with earth and gravel clinging to his clothes, remounted and rode grimly on alone for over forty miles.

G. Millner, confidently expected to repeat, his performance of last week, and take junior fastest time, did not finish.

Cyril Arnst, who established a winning record for the Timaru race a week ago, went well in the early stages of the race to-day, but before Rakaia was reached he had had enough. The leading bunch of thirteen went through Bankside at 12.45. This included Weir, B. Scott, Denovan. Brooks, C. Willcox, R. and J. ’•Sutherland, Haines and Leathern.

Five minutes later, Milner, W. Anderson, Hight and Baird went through. It was found when the 16 min men followed at 12.58 that Lethbridge and K. Sutherland had retired. cutting this bunch down to "1. Luke, Pratney, D. Hills and M. Bergamini At Burnham, Scott had been shaken from the leading bunch, and left) behind as well by the 24min group I. Sutherland, however, shaken off by the front men, was hanging on to the next bunch, from which Milner had retired, leaving Willcox and Denovan the main candidates for the junior championship. The front men were cracking on

the pace—Denovan wass next- to drop, and just past Rolleston C. Willcox, too, was burnt off. Just south of Templeton Ihe leading bunch was reduced to six—Weir, Brooks, Aitken, and D. Clark (38min); and Haines and R. Sutherland (42min). Sutherland was obviously cut of the sprint for place honours before the straight was reached Weir and Clark raced neck and neck until they reached the gate going on to the straight. There Chirk rode wide and was slightly checked and Weir won. FASTEST TIMES T. Davey. Auckland (scr) shr 20min 30sec. 1; J. Cooney, Auckland (scr) □hr 20min 31sec, 2; K. Fish, Auckland (scr) shr 20min 33sec, 3. JUNIOR FASTEST TIMES D. Denovan, Hornby (SSmin) shr 49min 17sec, 1; J. Willcox, Christchurch (42min) Ghr 14min 53 3-ssec, 2. A light southerly breeze assisted the riders for the early stages, but they were facing a head wind before they reached Timaru. For a brief period after passing Rangitata they again had a following wind, and then, over the closing stages, the wind was mostly side on. No mishaps marred the start, every rider going away well.

Scratchings reduced the field to 77.

Davey and Cooney looked the pick of the scratch men from the startjust out of Waimate they were taking the rest of the bunch along at 36 m.p.h. It was surprising to see how E. Maguigan, the West Coaster, held his own with them, for his build is wraith-like in comparison to that of the Auckland speedsters. He is tough, however—he won this race a couple of years ago.

GREYMOUTH CLUB’S ROAD RACE The Greymouth Cycling Club’s race from Karoro to Gladstone and return on Saturday resulted: O. Duffy 1, M. Herrick 2. P. Jenkins 3. G. Armstrong obtained fastest time.