CYCLE ROAD RACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3849, 25 September 1928, Page 2

CYCLE ROAD RACE.

PALMERSTON N. TO WELLINGTON. WON BY A. R. MUTTON. Fighting against a heavy wind all the way, A. R. Mutton, from Christchurch, last Saturday won the annual hundred and two miles road cycling race from Palmerston North to Wellington. L. G. Lukey, also a Christchurch rider, put up fastest time, 6hr. 22min. 44 2-ssec. y F. Grose (Christchurch), the other scratch rider, had a bad puncture in the vicinity of Paraparaumu where he suffered a similar misfortune last year. There were fourteen scratehings in the race, and of those who remained were representatives from Wellington, Auckland, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Foxton, Feilding, Christchurch, Wairarapa, and Gisborne, Wellington and Christchurch being represented by strong contingents. i A HARD RACE. “It was a hard race, all right,” said the winner, A. R. Mutton. “There was a head wind all the way; in fact, it was worse than a head wind, it blew all ways at once and blew; one all over the road. I attribute my good physical condition to a green-leaf diet. It made me. I stick to it, but it was pretty hard to get it up here. It made aff the difference to me. I was riding on a 74 gear, which is, I consider, the best for the race. The man that was riding with me, Rhodes, was on 77, but I came up the- hills better than he did. We paced each other on the trip down. The hardest part of the race was easily the top of Johnsonville hill. The last two hundred yards were .” L. G. Lukey, the scratch man, who put up fastest time, was riding a much higher geared machine, 84. He described the wind as a “howling gale,” and considered the race very much harder than last year’s event, in which he figured prominently. He caught the main bunch of riders about forty miles out, about the vicinity of Levin. Road conditions throughout the race were described as being very good, the worst piece being a patch near Longburn and Foxton. The wind was also very strong at this stage. TRIUMPH FOR CHRISTCHURCH. The race was a triumph for the Christchurch riders, Mutton scoring first place, Rhodes second place, Farmer third place and second fastest time, Lukey fourth place and fastest time, and Lamberton eighth place and fourth fastest time. \On arrival the southern boys were enthusiastically “chaired” by a number of Canterbury Territorials who were on leave- from a refresher course at Trentham. DETAILED RESULTS. Following are the results, riders being mentioned as they finished, district, handicap, actual riding time and time placing being given : A. R. Mutton (Christchurch), 35 min., 6hr. 47min., 6 1 C. Rhodes ’(Christchurch), 35 min. 6hr. 50min. 36 4-ssec., 8 , 2 G. Farmer (Christchurch), 16 min., 6hr. 38min. 44sec., 2 3 M. Collins (Palmerston N.)_, 38 min., 7hr. Omin. 44 l-ssec., 9 4 L. G. Lukey (Christchurch), sc-r., 6hr 22min. 44 2-ssee., 1 5 S. Wright (Wellington), 24min., 6hr. 48min. 4-ssec., 7 6 S. K. Webber (Wellington), 16 min., 6hr. 41min. 20see., 3 7 W. J. Lamberton (Christchurch) 16min., 6hr. 41min. 25sec., 4 • 8 M. Gane (Wellington), lOmin., 6hr 43min. 30sec., 5 9 Further times were not taken, the riders being well back. Mr. L. A. Couch, Foxton competitor, informed our representative that the race was a gruelling contest against the elements. A few miles from Palmers:on North those competitors accompanying him dropped out and he had to ride without companions for about 30 miles. Be was delayed through two punctures, but completed the distance arriving at 5 p.m. in the 12th position.