Hamilton-Auckland Road Race Is Virtual North Island Championship

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 465, 21 September 1928, Page 10

Hamilton-Auckland Road Race Is Virtual North Island Championship

To-Morrow’s Big Cycle Road Classic Record Field will Contest Event Prospects of Contestants Reviewed Road Racing Boom in Auckland

How the Sport Has Revived.

FORTY-THREE crack cyclists, representative of Auckland, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Whakatane, Stratford, Dargaville, Whangarei, Te Kuiti and Hamilton, will speed away from Hamilton to-morrow morning bound for Auckland in the classic road cycle race of the year, promoted by the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club. In enthusiasm and organisation generally, the event shows every promise of eclipsing any of those held in previous years. The mere working details of the race have spelt the shattering of two records —an entry list of 43 is one, while prize-money amouting to £l6O is something which stands alone. Although a handicap event, it can well be classed as a North Island cash riders’

championship, for the pedaller romping through to clinch the fastest time will secure the blue riband —indeed the champion. Those closely in touch with the competitors frankly admit that it is just one beyond them to pick the winner out of a bunch which they consider to be 43 of the island’s best. With the exception of about half a dozen new entries, the field is well known to the handicappers, but road cycling is a

sport in which “dark horses’* have a habit of coming to light, and as has happened on previous occasions one of these may upset calculations. Providing that every rider does his fair share of the pacing and finishing, the back-markers must be to the fore with bright chances of landing the honours. McCann, the crack New Plymouth cyclist, who has played havoc in so many of the big events in Taranaki, off scratch, being such a great road rider, is sure to pick up Tippins and Prior, four minutes ahead. He will almost have them in sight from the

jump. Once these three get together, they are bound to set up a hard pace. On the eight-minute mark, however, is a dangerous trio in the “three H’s,” Hayes, Henderson and Harcourt. These three riders, fit and well, must be reckoned with, but they can be sorted, for Harcourt’s recent form not being known very well and Henderson a slow beginner, makes Hayes on this mark to appear to have the brightest chances of the three. On the 12-minute mark are three smart ones in Gooch (Gisborne), Caulton (Te Aroha), and Lindop who recently arrived in Auckland from Westport, while from this mark out the most dangerous appear to be W. Francis (Papakura), on 15 minutes, J. Broderick (Whakatane on 18 minutes, H. erick (Whakatane) on 1 minutes. H. Bellringer (New Plymouth) on 22 minutes and P. Rickman (Auckland) on 25 minutes. The six placed riders may be found in Rickman, Davis, Hayes, Gooch, Slack and Francis. The finish of the race will take place on the showgrounds at Epsom and it seems likely that the first riders will put in their appearance shortly after 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The prizes will be presented at the end of the race by Mrs. P. A. Richards. The classic event to-morrow, which is an important step toward the popularising of the sport, recalls the days of about thirty years ago when, like other branches of athletics, cycling boomed

throuhgout the Dominion. But since that time much of the old enthusiasm has died down, and the distinct lull which followed has only been relieved by the staging of big road races. This, together with the visits to New Zealand by crack cyclists from abroad, has carried the sport along. Only a few years ago Auckland, in spite of its large population of sportsgoing people, lagged sadly to the rear in cycling. Track cycling was maintained by the mere fact that there was usually an event or two staged at the various sports meetings, but road events were almost completely out of the running until George Sutherland,

well known throughout the Dominion as a sports promoter and one time one of the world’s greatest cyclists, arrived in Auckland and started things moving. George instituted the first Hamilton to Auckland road race which took place in October, 1926, under the supervision of the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club. The race wag well catered for, and a good field helped to make the event a great success. On this occasion the course ran through Pukekohe over the low-lying clay road, in order to dodge the dangerous Razorback Hill. Unfortunately, bad weather set in and the course, smothered with sticky clay was almost impassable. The competitors had to heave their machines on their backs and trudge a considerable distance through mud and slush. The race finished in the showgrounds at Epsom and was won by Alex Sutherland, who also clinched the fastest time. In November of that year the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, realising that cycle road racing was once more to become a popular pastime, promoted a second race from Hamilton, which was run in connection with the Royal Show. The event, which proved a success in every way, attracted 22 starters and was won by a New Plymouth rider. N. Hillier. Last season the Dunlop Rubber Co., working in conjunction with the Auckland Aathletic and Cycling Club, staged

the third big road race over the same course. On this occasion especially, the

event was favoured with splendid road racing conditions. J. Henderson romped home for first place, the fastest time going to W. Brewster, of New Plymouth, who also established a course

record of 4hrs 34m 445. On this occasion there w r ere 30 entrants and 21 starters.

Intermingled with these long distance road races, events of a shorter distance have been organised at Mangere every Saturday for both amateur and cash riders. These weekly meetings have indeed been well patronised and have done a great deal toward the sport. Many Auckland motorists make Mangere their Saturday afternoon’s run and consequently a large crowd is always in attendance at the gatherings.