CYCLE ROAD RACE SEASON CLOSING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 189, 31 October 1927, Page 10

CYCLE ROAD RACE SEASON CLOSING

“SLATER” HAYES’S GOOD WIN SATURDAY’S EVENTS AT MANGERE The Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club closed its 1927 road racing season on Saturday, holding a sevenmile open handicap, with a short limit. The race was a .remarkable one, the two scratch riders, Hayes and Prior (White, the other scratch- man, getting shook off in the first two miles), put up a great ride. They worked well together, taking their share of pace at record speed. Three miles from the finish, they looked .right out of the prize money, but their bulldog persistency got them up 150 yards from the finishing line, and Hayes, riding his best race on the road this season, pu, three lengths between him and F. Prior as the finishing line was crossed. Had Prior beaten Hayes, he would not only have won the race

but he would have won the Pardington Shield as runner-up in points to A. White fo.r the season. The handicapper certainly deserves every credit for the finish. It was easily his best effort this year. After the race, the Pardington Challenge Cup for most points won in road races during the ''season, and the Pardington Challenge Shield for runner-up were presented to the winners, A. White with 35 points, and H. Pelham with 16, by A. Sutherland. MANUKAU CLUB EVENTS The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club held two races, a 51 and a 22mile. Both were good races, the former particularly so. In this event, the scratch rider. M. P. Byrnes, made little or no headway on his nearest men, Galbraith and Casey, lOsec. The winner turned up in R. Hall, of the lmin 55sec mark. He and Hughes on the same mark rode well together, and made the pace a cracker from the start. The back markers never had a look in. Ilall won by two lengths from It. Foubiste.r, SOsec, and S. Lichfield, 40sec. The fastest time went to G. Gainsborough, 30sec, who was well helped by Brewin and Baird, of the same mark. The 22-mile event was a most interesting one to watch. The limit riders again made the pace, Spragg, smin, having a lead of 11 miles at one time. Byrnes and Wade did not start, leaving the SOsec riders. Galbraith and Dwight, virtually scratch. When half the distance had been covered the limit bunch commenced to tire. The middle markers, with Wilson, W. Dwight, Jv. Mathieson and K. Rowe pacing well, were within sight of the field at Robertson Road corner. Over the last two miles, H. Russell, S. Baird, Addison, Pinfold and Spragg all looked to have a winning chance, but the last pinch found them all out, and Wilson. 2min, staying on well, won a good race fairly easily. The race between the back markers for “time” was won by H. Dwight. The following are the results: — Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club’s Seven-Mile Event. —S. Hayes, scr., 1: F. Prior, scr., 2; F. Lowndes, 2min, 3. Time, 21min 21sec. Fastest time, S. Hayes, scr.. ISmin 21sec. Manukau Amateur Cycling Club's 51- Mile Event. —R. Hall, lmin 55se<f, 1; R. Foubister. SOsec-. 2: S. Lichfield, 40sec, 3. Time, 16min 55sec. Fastest time, C. Gainsborough, SOsec, 14min lusec. 22-Mile Open Event. —L. Wilson, 2min, 1: P. Addison. 4Jmin, 2: K. Mathieson, 2min. 3. Fastest time was won by H. Dwight, SOsec.