CYCLE ROAD RACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3543, 28 September 1926, Page 3

CYCLE ROAD RACE.

WON BY TIPPETT. A severe test was set amateur cyclists on Saturday, when the biggest cycling race yet promoted by an amateur body in the Dominion was held under the auspices of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Association covering a 102 mile journey between Palmerston N. and Wellington., A young Taranaki rider, V. Tippett (on the 35min. mark)* proved the winner and also the recorder of the fastest time. Tippett covered the gruelling journey in shrs. 29min. 30sec. He rode a splendid race from start to finish, and passed the winning post thirteen minutes ahead of Beattie and Webber, who fought out a great race for second place, the former winning by a few yards. Although the weather was almost ideal the competitors had to contend with a stiff westerly wind in their faces for the majority of the journey, while patches of loose metal proved the downfall of a number of contestants.

"When the Taranaki rider made his appearance he was recorded a rousing 'reception, which grew in volume as he circled the Basin Reserve and rode past the winning post. He finished strongly, showing little signs of fatigue. At intervals followed Beattie, Wpbber, Chammin, Pcdley, Gane, Prendergast, Baker and McFedries, all of whom were also heartily cheered. The appearance of P. N. Robinson, the first Scratch man to get home, was the sign for a fresh and prolonged outburst of cheering.

After being in second place through Johnsonville, Pedley (Palmerston N.) was unfortunate in colliding with a car. Webber, Beattie, Chammin and Gane all suffered bad spills, while Bright, a scratch man, was forced to retire at Otaki) owing to cramp. Casey (scr.) had a wheel buckled, while Flett, another scratch man, encountered a series of punctures which necessitated his retirement.

The finishing order with the actual times of the contestants, was as under: —

V. Tippett, Taranaki (35 min), 6 hrs. 20min. 30sec. 1; A. Beattie, Wellington (30min), filir 42min 27 sec, 2; 11. S. Webber, Wellington, (40min), Ghr 54min 0 2-ssec, 3; G. R. Chammin, Wellington (40min) (5 hr. 54min 0 3-ssec, 4; W. G. Pedley Palmerston N. (25min), Ghr 41niin 52sec, 5; M. Gane, Wellington (15 ,min) Ghr 33min 27sec, 6; J. J. Prendergast, Wellington, (30min), Ghr 48min 34sec, 7; L. Baker, Wellington (15min) Ghr 3Gmin llsec., 8; D: McFedries, Wellington (25min) Ghr 51min 45sec 9; P. N. Robinson, Wellington (scr), Ghr 31min 2sec, 10; L. Semi, Hutt (40min), 7hr 11 min 24sec, 11; H. Scarfe, Wellington (20min), Ghr 57min 25sec, 12; J. Carswell, Wellington (scr.) Ghr 37min 37sec, 13;. E. Algie, Gisborne (scr.), Ghr 37min 53sec, 14. The fastest times were recorded by the following:—V. Tippett (Taranaki), Ghr 29min 30sec, 1; P. N. Robinson (Wellington) Ghr 31min 2sec, 2; M. Gane (Wellington) Ghr 33min 27sec, 3.