CYCLE ROAD RACES

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1931, Page 4

CYCLE ROAD RACES

WAIMATE TO CHRISTCHURCH

LOHREY FIRST WATSON FASTEST. (By Telegraph — l'er Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, October 3. live riders bunched in a, wheel-to-wheel finish, sprinting like track riders at the end of the 145 m-.es cycle race from Waimate to Christchurch, roused a big crowd assembled on the Show Ground to witness the finish, to the wildest excitement. T. Lohrey flashed out a few yards from the finish to win by a length and a quarter from C. J. Arnst. Lohrey’s time was 7 hours 2mins 17 secs. He is 19 years of age. The fastest time, which carries the New Zealand Road Championship title, was made by :H. G. Watson, in 6 hours, ll4mins. 49 secs. His sprint down the straight to beat the only other scratch rider to stay with him over the long journey, W. J. Lamberton, was almost as exciting as the race for first place. Watson finished in 21st place.

The men had perfect j weather for itheir long ride. A light easterly wind blew, which hampered the riders little, if at all. There was a bright sun overhead, and the roads were in very

fair order, The scratch bunch made slow pace on the first part of the journey, they waiting for the leaders to- come back to them, but as the results show, a fair number kept their long lead, ■Results:

T. Lohrey (Christchurch) handicap 57mins., 1. Time 7hrs. 2mins. 17secs, C. Arnst (Christchurch), 57mins., 2. ,T. Calder (70mins) 3. J. Quill (65mins), 4. J. Mitchell '(6omins) 5. L. J. Young (60mins) 6. J. G. Stack (46mins) 7. C. Johnston (50mins) 8. J. Welsh (65rnins) 9. A. Mugford (70mins) 10. J. Magee (60tnins) 11. C. A. Blyth (57mins) 12. ' W. J. Lamberton, scr., was twentysecond, two lengths behind Watson. A. N. Ralston '(Otago), 2mins., was twentythird. , -

'E. A. Cooke (Three Mile) (Stains) 7hrs. 48mins. Msecs, was 28th. W. R. Gooch (Hoktika) (38mins) 7hrs • 32mins Msecs was 29th.

WARRNAMBOOL RACE. NEW RECORD SET. MELBOURNE, October 4. The Warrnambool road cycle race of one hundred and sixty-five miles attracted two hundred and thirty-eight starters yesterday. The riders encountered drizzling rain shortly after the start, but they .were, assisted by a following wind. The road was in excellent condition. It was early evident that the eightminute bunch would make good time, as they covered the first hundred miles in three hours minutes ten seconds. The scratch men took one minute forty seconds longer. W. A, King, the veteran rider, Jed throughout, and he was unfortunate to break a wheel eight miles from the finish.

The fastest time and the championship were won by Matt Lynch, of Hawthorn, off the minutes. Lynch’s time was six hours thirty-one minutes twenty-eight seconds. Lynch broke J. iMunroe’s record for the race which was established in 1909, by forty-one minutes.

The winner of the race won comfortably by two lengths. There was half a mile between the ■second and third men. R. Roberts .(fifty-one minutes), was fourth, and V. 'Olson (fifty-one minutes) was fifth.