AIR RACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1922, Page 5

AIR RACE.

FLIGHT ROUND BRITAIN. AN EXCITING FINISH. MANY ’PLANES COMPETE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 9, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 8. Twenty-one aeroplanes left Croydon this morning at nine o’clock for an air race round Britain. About a dozen women participated in the race as passengers, including the Princess Lowenstein Wertheim, who is a passenger on board her own machine. Courtenay, who is scratch, on a 325-horse power Sikin, covered 106 miles to Birmingham in 50 minutes. Three machines made forced landings on the first lap, but no one was hurt. Haig, who piloted a British ’plane, is missing. It is supposed he landed in an out-of-the-way spot. Eleven aviators reached Newcastle on the second stage safely. Barnard was the first to reach Glasgow, with a D.H. 49 machine of 350 horse-power, covering the journey in 381 minutes 20 seconds, including compulsory stops of 90 minutes each at Birmingham and Newcastle. Most of the pilots encountered mist and fog, thereby losing their way. Thirteen reached Glasgow, 394 miles from Croydon, the last arriving 141 minutes afterwards. Barnard wins the £4O prize given by the Glasgow Corporation to the first to reach the city. Raynham, who was second, was three minutes behind Barnard, Cobham, who was third, arriving three minutes later. Courtenay, who came fourth, was 24 minutes behind Barnard, but his actual flying time was only 30 seconds slower. Grey, who is piloting Mr. Winston Churchill’s aeroplane, returned to Newcastle, and is now out of the race. Hinckler did not start owing to an accident to his machine prior to taking it to Croydon.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE FINAL STAGES. VICTORY BY SMALL MARGIN. RACE WON BY BARNARD. Received Sept. 10, 11.5 p.m. London, Sept. 10. In the air race 13 competitors left Glasgow and reached Manchester. Cobham wvs the first to cross the line; Raynham was two seconds later and Barnard was third, nearly seven minutes behind. Courtenay after leaving Manchester for Bristol returned, owing to a fitting in the centre section breaking. Eleven aeroplanes reached Bristol. Raynham was 64 seconds ahead of Barnard and Cobham was third, 274 seconds after Barnard. The concluding stage of 103 miles, from Bristol to Croydon, where a crowd of many thousands was waiting, was a thrilling race between Raynham and Barnard, the latter being favorite Barnard left Bristol 64 seconds after Raynham, and overtook him on Salisbury Plains and reached Croydon 135 seconds ahead. Cobham was third, 574 seconds behind Raynham. Barnard averaged 127$ miles an hour for 810 miles of the journey. He flew a D.H. 4A machine of 350-horse power, entered by Sir Samuel Instone. Raynham flew his own Martynside F 6, of 200-horse power, and Cobham flew a D.H. 9B of 230-horse power. Eleven competitors reached Croydon. Barnard neither drinks nor smokes. He joined the Seaforth Highlanders at the outbreak of war as a ranker, subsequently joining the Flying Corps.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable