Classics of Cycling

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 147, 12 September 1927, Page 11

Classics of Cycling

WADE WINS N.Z. TITLE

Cash Event Goes to Prior

rREE of the biggest cycle load racing- events in New Zealand were staged on Saturday, the New Zealand 50-mile champioEship in Auckland, the Timaru to Christchurch road race in Canterbury, and the Auckland 25-mile cash championship. A notable feature was the convincing win of J. H. Wade, the Aucklander, in the big .Dominion amateur road classic.

The 50-mile amateur road race cycl< championship of New Zealand tool nla.-e over the Auckland-Clevelanc course on Saturday, under the eoniro of the Auckland Centre N.Z. A. A. A Weather conditions were Aucklar d’j voi st, for road racing. There was i very strong wind against riders on :h« outward journey, accompanied bj heavy showers, which were intensely cold. It was originally intended tc start and finish this event on Alexandra Park troting grounds, but ;h< grounds were in such a soft state t ia it was decided to start and finish a Sir John Logan Campbell’s monument The field was composed of the fines scratch division ever seen in an amateur road race iri the Dominion, Wellington being represented by her thre< best road riders, J. Carswell, H. J Morris and D. McFredries; Canterbury i»y T. G. Lukey, champion of Cantor bury; Wanganui by P. .Ericsson: 2nc Auckland by M. P. Byrnes. Th ?r« were 26 nominations, 25 facing h* starter. J. Whitten on the Bmin marl teiig the only withdrawal. Lideis were handicapped in batches •vrtth intervals of 4min, which provec h great success. The course was ir *pl?ndi(t surface right through, wit!

the exception of the pot-holes full of water. The start was delayed a quarter of an heur owing to late arrivals having tc get their machines sealed. FIRST EATCH GETS AWAY At 2.25 p.n . the first batch comprising R. G. Fc übister, A. C. Steen, L. Devlin, L. Pinfold and H. L. Russell on : 6min, wc re given the word go. So fir the rain had held off, but black clouds predicted “something doing” shortly. The 12min riders, W. Rowe, W. Pinker. P. Platt. W. Dwight, N. l ister, lined on to the starting line, jist as a few big drops of rain fell. It vas then seen that riders were sure to have a vet ride. The word “go” vas given, and they were off, P. Platt and W. Pinker going straight to the front. At 2.23 p.m., the Smin. riders, C. A. Clarke, K. Rowe, L. Wilson were sent away just as rain commenced to fall heavily. In this bunch was the favourite, L. Wilson. lie immediately wen. to the front and took the pace. The next bunch away was the 4min the winner, J. H. Wac!e. C. G. Galbraith. 11. Dwight, F. 0. Casey, L. G. Chambers. The latter lad just arrived from Wellington that morning. Punctually at 2.37 p.m., in heavy rain, they left on their long r de. It was seen at once that they meant business, Galbraith immediately ?>in? to the front. They were soon uut of sight, being much quicker off the mark than the other bunches, including the scratch men, who started Tu Pr ' ain was now falling heavily. The scratch riders now took up their Positions, each rider prepared to do his Jj® st for his respective province, and a finer lot of aihletes has not been seen °n any scratch mark. Lukey, Canterbury, looking fit. was the centre of attraction, as Canterbury ■* looked upon as the home of cycling, both road and track. M. P. Byrnes, Auckland, also looked good. 7; Ellington’s representatives, M. J. Morris J). McFredries and J. Carswell. na d evidently been through a solid PjejMimti on , as they stripped a very fit ; ri °- C. Ericsson, Wanganui, a likelycustomer, also stripped well. Rain was still falling when “get ready; stuncl back, there, please; five accords to go,” sang out Starter Tolley. the scratch men start

Tlot read y ; Gc !”—and at 2.41 p.m. 7 6 for the 50-mile amateur road ebarnpionahip of New Zealand had beSft Straight in:o a cold sou’-wester, v Jth heavy rain. they disappeared, *ith Byrnes leading. Ericsson. Wan;*nu ;i met trouble early, skidding and idling heavily on the Great North R<ad near the Harp of Erin. Lukey, canterbury, was the next scratch man to m?et trouble, puncturing at Papaiv' m * ° ver this distance Morris, '»Ellington, was running over every“■ng in the scnitch division. Byrnes a nd he doing mos;t of the work. Lukey paired and set out after his bunch. **yrnes and Morris were stfill leading ll V cratch riders through Papakura. ln< first rider to reach Papakura Jacking station was Russell (16min). He led Devlin (16min) through, fol*<ured 200yds later by Steen (16min) aru » Foubist; r (Ifimln). The former Punctured and retired. The 12min D unch had gained lAmin on the 16min m , ( ‘ a at this stage, while the Smin ride '». with Wilson doing most of the had gained the same on the 12 ft 111 rnen. The 4;nin bunch with Gal-0-uth and Wade doing most of the was within 150yds of the Smin the 8 having gained nearly 3min on

The scratch men, with Byrnes and Morn, leading, passed through PnpaU* ru shortly afterwards: but had lost A «sec on the 4min riders. At Cleveana the first rider to turn was Devlin l, 1 6min), closely followed by Russell. a tter struck his pedal in rounding, . cst his strap. Devlin waited, but ° n alone * Russell being in trouble. Papakura. on the return journey, <l6min) led Platt (12r.ain), fisher (12mln), Dwight (12min) and r° w «* (12m in) by 2|min. Shortly at'terjvards Wade (4rr.in). at the head of (4min). Wilson (Smin). H. " w ight (4min), passed through, going strong. The back-markers with Mor- :{*• Carswell and McFredries, passed jnrourh in that order, with Byrnes and some 20 lengths away.

WADE GOES THROUGH tlJ h * two >n«t-named dropped out of race here. Wade dropped Wilson,

Galbraith and Dwight at Papatoetoe, and going on soon picked up the remaining riders in front of him, and despite the best efforts of Galbraith (4min) and Wilson (Bmin), who could make no impression on him, he cleared right out on his own, and passing Fisher (12min) and W. Rowe (12min), he went on to pick up and pass Devlin (16min), finally running home an easy winner. Fisher (12min) lasted long enough to finish in front of Wilson (Bniin), who beat Galbraith (4min). The scratch men lost whatever chance they had of getting fastest time when nine miles out of Otahuhu, Morris. Wellington, collided with a barricade . and fell heavily. McFredries, Wellington, was the fastest time scratch man, his time being 2hrs 28min 54see. Carswell also finislmd in 2hrs 36min 21sec. The ilollowing are the judge’s placings: J. H. Wade (Auckland), 4min, 1; N. Fisher (Auckland), 12min, 2; L. Wilson (Auckland), 4min, 3; C. G. Galbraith (Auckland), 4min, 4; W. Rowes (Auckland), 12min, 5; D. McFredries (Wellington), scratch, 6. J. H. Wade also won the fastest time, winning the 50-mile New Zealand amateur road championship. Riders who met with trouble were L. G. Lukey, Canterbury, who punctured twice. He came home in the ambulance waggon from Cleveland. PI. J. Morris, Wellington, had a smash near Otahuhu and was taken to the hospital by the St. John Ambulance, fixed up and was present at the presentation of prizes in the evening. M. P. Byrnes, Auckland, was sei*;ed with cramp at Papakura. L. Chambers withdrew owing to a broken chain. The smoke concert in the evening was a great success, the prizes for the race, and other prizes, being presented. Mr. W. Morton, president of the N.Z. A.A.A., Auckland Centre, was in charge and a very enjoyable evening was spent. FRANK PRIOR WINS CASH CHAMPIONSHIP The *5-mile (cash) road, championship of Auckland was decided at Mangere or. Saturday. In spite of the atrociovs state of the weather, there was a very large attendance of spectators, many walking to the Black Bridge to see the riders. Tim Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club could not have struck a worse day. Starting in pouring rain, accompanied by thunder, the seven starters, A. White, F. Prior, J. Harcourt, Hamilton, A. Brennan, D. Storey, A. Sutherland and H. Pelham, were soon wet through. Over the Mangere Hill the pace was a cracker. A time limit put on the race by the officials having the desired effect. Riders took their share of pace right through the race, averaging over 20 miles on hour with the wind, and 15 against. Over the first lap the pace set was such that A. Sutherland was dropped, Prior, Hayes, Harcourt being responsible for some solid work. In lap Ko. 2 Pelham had enough early, and shortly afterwards Storey pulled out. Brennan, who had dropped back, sprinted to catch the leaders. Prior, White and Harcourt, but just at that time Harcourt put in a very hot mile, and that was the finish of Brennan. Over :he last two laps Prior, White and Harcourt put in some fine pacing. Doing roughly two mile stretches, they never varied their speed, but it was noticeable that Prior’s laps were faster than the other two. Entering on the last lap the pace was never varied, and it was not till the top of the Mangere HTI was reached that the business commenced. Over the last 30(1 yards Prior Hew

to the front with White glued to his wheel, Harcourt M sitting on. Two L hundred yards from the finish 1 Harcourt was 1 dropped; 100 yards from the finish White made his k effort, but as soon | as he came out to I pass Prior, the L latter pulled away and won by two ,n rt was ten lengths

lengths. Harcourt was ten lenguia back third. _____