ROUND THE MOUNTAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 792, 12 October 1929, Page 18

ROUND THE MOUNTAIN

TARANAKI ROAD RACE LARGE ENTRIES FOR CYCLING CLASSIC

(Special X to THE SUN) NEW PLYMOUTH, Today. The fact that this year's Round the Mountain race carries with it the road-racing championship of New Zealand has probably had a lot to do with the large increase in the entries received. Already 62 riders have nominated, and it 1 is possible more will come to hand. THE record does not lie merely in the number entered, either, for the quality of the riders engaged is much higher than ever before. Christchurch has evidently made up its mind to avenge the loss of championship status in the Timaru-Christ-church ride, for of the 20 South Island entries, 10 are from the City of the Plains, and they are all cyclists of class. , , . H. G. Watson, who was absent in Europe last season when the roadracing season was on, taking part in the 3.000-mile Tour de France in company with Opperman, made his reappearance on New Zealand roads last Saturday. When he got second fastest time after riding the last 20 miles on a practically flat back tyre Watson first came into prominence in 1923, when, at the agi of 16, he got second fastest time in the TimaruChristchurch race. He won that race and the championship in 1927. ! L. Hill is another Christchurch rider and is at present holder of the South Island championship over 50 miles. FAMILY TRADITION Other Christchurch riders entered include G. Mugford, S. Arnst and J. Wilton, who finished first, second and j third respectively in last Saturday’s ! race. S. Arnst, who is a brother of 1 last year’s Timaru - Christchurch ! winner, B. W. Arnst, is a nephew of those three great cyclists of another generation—Dick, Jack and W. j The Jordan brothers are another | Christchurch pair with grfeat creden--1 tials, and they have ridden prominently in the South Island this season. The North Island champion for 1929, J. Harcourt, of Hamilton, is likely to do well a fortnight hence, for he made the fastest time in the HamiltonAuckland race the other day. The North Island champion of 1927. C. R. Parker, now of Waitara is also an entrant. * Last season’s New Zealand champion, McCann, went South lasi: Saturday and collected fastest time in the Timaru contest. A greE.t rider, and painstakingly careful of his condition, the New Plymouth youth will take some ousting for the champion* I ship. That they “raise them hardy” in th« cow country was well and truly shown last Saturday, when two local riders, N. Bellringer and C. Gilbert, circled the mountain twice in the day. This implied a ride of over 200 miles under racing conditions, and they did it, metaphorically speaking, “on their heads.” They were, in fact, so fit that on the last circuit they made a ! desperate finish of the stiff Mangorei Hill and the ensuing four miles to town. Bellringer was North Island champion last year, and has previously made fastest time in the mountain j race, besides winning the Hamilton- ■ Auckland race. Gilbert, however, is I only a boy of 17. In previous seasons the race has been run by the Taranaki Circular Road Race Committee, but this year i passes under the control of the Taranaki League Cycling Club, a change which should be rather an improvement. The race has always been well I conducted, but the fresh blood now | brought to bear, and the fact that it ! has an official significance, should, nevertheless, lead to even greater effi- : ciency. The contest is particularly ! well endowed. there being £ 140 in j cash and £2lO in trophies to distri- | bute.