ROAD CYCLE RACES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1929, Page 3

ROAD CYCLE RACES

TIMARU-CHRJSTOHURCH EVENT. MUGFOKD WINS. McCANX FASTEST TIME. " # GOOCH (Hokitika) FOURTH. •By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 5. 'The Timaru-ix)-C‘liristchurch cycling road race r to-day • was held in hot weather. A north-west wind blew over the middle section of the .journey, but at the other parts the wind was negligible. The roads were in good order. S. \V. McCann, of New Plymouth, made the fastest time, beating H. G. Watson, the other scratch man, by onp length. The results were: ' G. Mugford (handicap 42 mins), 6 Sirs G ini ns 31 secs, Ist. S. Arnst (27m ins) 5 hrs 51 mi ns 31 1-5 secs 2nd. J. F. Wilson (42min) G hrs Gmins 32 secs 3rd. W. R. M. Gooch (4-omin.) 6 hrs 5 mins 8 secs, 4th. J. F. O’Reilly (33min.) G hrs Gmins 32sees, sth. S. W. McCann, New Plymouth (scr.) 51ms 35min 46sec, 6th. and fastest time. L. W. White (lGmins.) shrs Slmins 16 l-osecs, 7th. H. G.'Watson (scr.) shrs 35min 4G l-ssecs, Bth. and second fastest time. L. W. Hid (scr.) shrs 35 mins 4G 2-5 secs. 9th. 1 SENS ATI ON AL FINISH IN WaRRANAMUuuL race. ‘ MARSHALL BEATS OPPERMAN BUT IS LiSQUALIFIED. MELBOURNE, Oct. 5. The road cycling race from Warranamboob' to Melbourne was run to-day. there were two hundred and twentyfour acceptors, and one hundred and e.ghty-two starters. The weather was perfect for the race, 'there was a diflerence of 70 minutes between the scratch and the Emit men. The riders encountered a head wind for' the start, and their average pace was about 18 miles an hour. Passing througn Camperdown at 8.30 a.m., ale ad, King, Anderson and Ford led, being closely followed by MacLeod, Smith, Plum, and Parson. Hie riders mulched in a big group, .due to the wind. MELBOURNE, Oct. G. The Warrnambool to Melbourne cycle .oad race of one hundred and sixt.vtive miles, organised by the Dunlop Rubber Coy. and the Perdriau Rubber Coy resulted: H. Opperman- (scr.) Victoria Ist. 0. Nicholson (Gniin.) Victoria 2nd G. MacLeod (scr.) Victoria 3rd. ; .- )r .H..Alarsliall ,(;6,!jnjn.j, Western JLufctralia, finished first but he was "disqualified for alleged outside assistance.. The winner’s time was eight hours seven minutes two and one-fifth seconds. The finish of the race was a sensational one, Marshall getting in first by only half a 1 length from Opperman. 0. Nicholson was only a length away, and was followed by MacLeod, and after hinr came J. Jewel, of Warrnambool 50min.) 4tli. The referee immediately announced .hat Marshall had accepted food along the route from unauthorised persons, vhich is a breach of the regulations, and he was consequently disqualified j the race being awarded to Opperman. Nicholson was placed seoend. Further excitement occurred when Nicholson protested against Opperman, for alleged interference over the last quarter of a mile. The officials will meet to-morrow at ten o’clock to investigate this charge, and the first ;ive riders will be witnesses. Opperman also secured the fastest time. There w.as considerable interest along the route!' Crowds assembled in each town, and there were twenty-five thousand spectators at the A strong wind made conditions hard. The scratch men made the pace, a cracker from the start. The veteran, W. King, 50 years old, off the 65 minutes mark, led the .field crossing stony •ridges, where there were several nasty falls. At Colac, Opperman and the back group were 32 minutes behind the leaders. At Winchelsea they were 20 minutes behind, and at Geelong seven minutes behind. , Passing through Werribee, King still led,' but shortly afterwards he was overhauled iby the back markers, Opperman, MacLeod, Oram!, Marshall, Jewel, Foster and Johnson. Four hundred yards from home Opperman drew out for a long sprint, hut Marshall hung on to him, and one hundred yards from the line the West Australian drew level with Opperman, amidst intense excitement, and then forged ahead to cross the line with half a length to spare from the Tour de France rider. It was a magnificent effort on the part of Opperman to gain the fastest time, and veritably win the event. The total prizes were £SOO. PALMERSTON-WANGANUI RACE. WANGANUI, Oct, 6. Tiie road cycling race from Palmerston North to Wanganui yesterday resulted : R. Spencer (Palmerston North) Ist. S. Webber (Wellington) 2nd. T. McCord (Masterton) 3rd. Sowerly (Feilding) 4th. C. Olsen (Palmerston North) sth. Toomer (Wellington) 6tli. Webber secured the fastest time.