KNOCKS HIS

NZ Truth, Issue 1294, 2 October 1930, Page 17

KNOCKS HIS

OWN RECORD Grose's Fast Time In Round -The - Gorges (tfrom "N.Z. Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) V J v GROSE! the Papanui. cyclist, defied *■■• all outside competition m the annual round -the-gorges cycle race by knocking a quarter of an hour off his previous best recbrd for fastest 'time.' Wellington, Napier and Dunedin representatives /were all among the first twenty to finish at Addington .Shpw Grounds, • but Christchurch, with its overwhelming number of entries, took the honors. • . . ' ■ ' Trie, scratch men, other than Grose, were disappointing. J. L.. Richards, New Brighton, had not covered half the .distance before falling out with a puncture, and Grose ran away from K. G. Lahge, Yaldhursti- when, going through Racecourse Hill. ; . ■ Pedalling more freely than Lange, and looking far more fit, Grose pulled steadily away from him to catch the 4-minute team, .■'■■: It was then that the Dunedin boy, D. O'Brien, showed his strength. He stuck to Grose when the scratch man caught the bunch, and, finished with him. Wellington's hope/ M. Gane, was going well up to the time a puncture put him out. At. Rangiora. Gane, with O'Brien, had made time on the scratch trio, and he showed every promise of being m the picture. '.;■.'■ . . Riccartoti and Prebbleton took first and second place, witlv; Weir and Ayres respectively, and Napier supplied the third man m F. p. .Robson and the fifth m P. L. Robson. N 1 ;- Robinson was first home for Wellington, showing Grose the way. '" • ' . ; . v '. - . Grose's victory was , practically a foregone conclusion, but; he was not expected to slice such a large "chunk off, His previous 4 hours- 46 minutes 15 seconds. V' '"•■■ ■ .From the point of view of public interest, and for the benefit of the sport, it 'is a pity that the annual long ' dis.tance event is not more seriously challenged by men from outside centres. The event was disappointing from this angle, as more able competition from representatives ofj towns outside Christchurch would boost this contest, which is really one of .the big events on the amateur programme.