Hamilton to Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 165, 3 October 1927, Page 11

Hamilton to Auckland

CYCLE ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP Henderson Takes Dunlop Cup BREWSTER FASTEST TIME RIDING like a champion over the concluding stages of the big cycle road race from Hamilton to Auckland on Saturday, J. Henderson, veteran Auckland cyclist, outdistanced all his rivals, and won the event in the fast time of 4h. 43m. 3s. Fastest time was registered by W. Brewster, 19-year-old New Plymouth champion, who takes the championship blue riband. A notable feature of the event was the effort of Mr. E. Breckon, 70-year-old Frankton cyclist, who started at five o’clock in the morning and completed the race in Bh. 33m.

The race for the Dunlop North Island championship, Hamilton to Auckland, was decided on Saturday. The day was an ideal one for racing, and a cool head wind helped, rather than hindered, riders on the journey. The roads in places were very bad, being blinded with loose sharp metal, which played up with tyres. At Huntly it was particularly bad, and also at Rangiriri and the Razor Back. The feeding arrangements were greatly appreciated by riders, and more than one of those who finished was heard to remark that “they saved his life.” At Huntly, Te Kauwhata, Mercer and Papakura hot milk could be obtained, while at the latter place hot cocoa was “on tap.”

HANDICAPPER WINS! The race was one of the best seen in Auckland, and reflects great credit on the handicapper. The riding of 3. Henderson, the winner, was remarkable, in that he looked hopelessly out of the race at Mercer, yet came on and won. The start at Hamilton was witnessed by a very large crowd, the police taking a hand in keeping the course clear. E. Breckon, the septuagenarian competitor, was started at 5 a.m., to give him a chance of getting to the trotting grounds by 3 p.m. He, however, surprised himself by getting there at 1.33, thereby breaking his own Hamilton to Auckland record of 141 hours by 2hr 42m In. The limit riders, Reardon, who is a grandfather, Dean, Rhodes, 40min, were sent away by the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. J. R. and Mr. W. Jordan punctually on the tick of 9.20, the other competitors leaving in order of merit. The scratch men. Prior, White, and Brewster, New PljTnouth, started sharp at 10. From the word go riders set a very solid pace over the good road to Ngaruawahia, where a big crowd witnessed the riders go through- The pace by the scratch bunch was 25 miles an hour here, with each rider doing his share of the pacing. At Huntly, the

first checking station, where there was another big: crowd, it was seen that all competitors were going well. The roads around Huntlv being very bad, riders had to be on the look-out for spills and punctures. The order through Huntly was: K. Breckon, lhr lomin, 6.50; Dean. Rhodes, Reardon, 40min, 10.35: C. Slack. 23 m in, 10.40; Rickman. 25m in. 10.41; Wilson. 25min, 10.42; Reid. 25 min, 10.44; Frances. Stanslield, Lowndes. Rae, lTmin, 10.51: Henderson, Brennan. 10.54: Sutherland, Storey, Bmin, 10.55; Hayes. smin. 10.57; Hill. Smin, 10.58; Bullet. smin, Prior. White, Brewster, scr, 11.2. PUNCTURES FREQUENT Leaving Huntly the roads were very bad for miles and here the first to puncture was Stanslield, 17inin Rae, LTmin, waited on him, and helped to effect repairs, but he had three more on end. This put both these beys out of the race. Archer, 25min, punctured at Ohinewai and White came down at Rangiriri, but remounted and went on. Storey, Smin, was done with at the foot of the Rangiriri* and pulled out. The climb up to Te Kauvvhata check station, found Brennan II min, Hill 8 min and Bullot smin in trouble, the last-named falling heavily while attempting to get a drink of milk there. Remounting, he passed on. The order through was, Breckon (lhr Lsmin), 8.10; Slack (25min). Rhodes (40min). 11.19; Reardon (40min), Dean (40min), 11.21; Rickman (25min), 11.22;'Lowdnes, Wilson (25min), 1L.23£; Reid (25min). 11.26; Francis (17min), 11.50; Sutherland (Smin), 11.325; Henderson (12min), 11.33 k: Hayes (smin), 11.36; Brewster, Prior, White (scr), 11.37; Hill (Smin), 11.39; Bulloi. (smin), 11.4 L The field was now clos.ng up. The scratch men, riding strongly, looked like winning, being only 16min behind the limit riders. Down tlio Rangiriri into Mercer, they raced at break-neck speed, making a bi? effort to get as near the limit as th« y could before the Razorbacks were reached. Trouble cam at the foot of the hill. Deans (40min) and Prior (scr) puncturing. They repaired and went on, only to get another, two each later. Thus put them out of the race. At Mercer the order through was Rickman (2Smin), Rhodes (40min), 12; Wilson (25min), 12.3; Frances (17min) 12.5: Reid (25min), :.2.6; Low’d nes (25 min), 12.7; Sutherland (Bmin), 12.8; Hayes (smin), Brewster. White (scr), 12.10; Reardon (40min), 12.11; Henderson (12min), 12.12. BACK-MARKERS COMING UP The back men had picked up over Bmin between these two check stations, showing the speed they must have travelled at. At Mercer all riders had drink, but were now feeling the effects of the race. Over the first hill out of Mercer. Reardon struck trouble w’ith his machine, but fixed it, and came on. Henderson meanwhile was waking up at the back, while White (scr) had another fall at Pokeno, which did not do ham much good. The big climb up the Razorbaek. w’ith its 2-mile of steep grade, had every rider walking, with the exception of Slack (25min), who found running much easier, so he said. The scratch man, Brewster, was going well at this stage, having the leading riders, though nearly to the top of the Razorbaek, well in view. Slack (25min) was first over, and soon was travelling at a very fast pace, followed by the held, most of whom had brakes fitted. It was here that Henderson (limin) came on the scene. Feeling like a new man, he commenced to overhaul the field at Drury. Brewster (scr) and Frances (17min), riding well, were now in second place, Slack (25min) being the only rider ahead. At Papakura, the last checking station, the order was; Slack (25min), 1.27; Brewster (scr); Francis (17min), 1.30; Wilson (25mir.), 1.32; Henderson (12 min), 1.34; Sutherland (Smin), Hayes (Smin), Rickman (25min), White (scr). 1.35; Reardon (40min), Reid (25min), 1.39; Lowdnes (25min). 1.44. All riders here had drinks, and left on the final stage. From here it looked like the smiling Brewster winning the race, fastest time and championship, but Henderson (12min), riding a wonderful race, passed Wilson (25min) at Manure wa, where White collapsed and retired, Slack < 25min) at Westfield, Francis (17mln) at the Harp of Erin, and the leader. Brewster (scr), walking [ up Farmer’s Hill. HENDERSON WINS ' j Riding strongly, he soon lott Brewster and from here on, was never : troubled winning very easily. He ' averaged just on 20 miles an hour from Papakura, and puts it down to the , three cups of hot milk at Mercer and I two at Papakura, as being responsible , for the come-back. . The following is the result: J. Her - ' derson (12m), 1; riding time, 4h 45m 3s. W. Brewster, scr., 41i 34m 445, 2: [ W. Francis (17m), 41i 54m 3 2-ss, 2; - A. Sutherland (8m), 4h 45m 12 2-ss, 4; 1 S. Hayes (sm), 4h 44m 18 4-ss, 5; P. ; J. Rickman (25m). f»h 14m 555. 6. » Fastest time and championship, V . • Brewster, New Plymouth 1; S. Hayes, i Auckland. 2. i E. Breckon put up a wonderful ride I for his age. He had a most enjoyable j trip, and no mishap.- His time, &r. • S3m is his best to date. A large crowd of enthusiasts gathered at the trotting track to witness the finish, but were disappointed to md I the race over when mos. of them a, - rived owing to the unexpectedly good r time recorded. The prizes were prr- ' sented by Mr. G. Henning, president of Utne Auckland Athletic and Cycling r club, and Mrs. P. A. Richards decorated • Brewster with the championship blue ribbon. n 5. I WRESTLING IN MELBOURNE fi B MILLER BEATS KARASICK By Cable. — Pros Association —Copyright n .MELBOL’RNE. Sunday. „ In a wrestling match yesterday Milcl ler defeated Karasick by two falls to one in sift rounds. —A. and X.SS.