HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1926, Page 9

HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND

HONQRED-MILE CYCLE RACE NEW PLYMOUTH RIDER WINS. SUCCESS OF 11. HELLIER. (By Wire —Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night. The hundred mile cycling marathon from Hamilton to Auckland to-day in connection with the Royal Show, was won by C. Hellier, of Lepperton (New Plymouth Club). Fortune was most kind, for the riders started from Hamilton on their long journey in fine weather and brilliant sunshine. There was the usual collection of enthusiastic and curious to see the riders off and the limit men, Healy and Williams, jumped off punctually at 8 a.m. The two scratch men, S. McCann (New Plymouth) and R. Laskey (Christchurch) who recently won the Timaru-Christ-church classic as well as the fastest time riband championship, were non-starters in to-day’s big race. McCann met with an accident, preventing him from making the trip to Hamilton, while Laskey did not wait for the race, returning home three days ago. A. Sutherland, who won the last 100 miles race from Hamilton to Auckland in addition to securing fastest time, again competed, starting from the 12min mark. The route lay through Huntly, Mercer. Pokero, Tuakau, Buckland, Pukekohe, Drury, Papakura, Otahuhu and up the Main South Road to Greenlane, entering the showground by the Greenlane end. The several scratchings included R. Yardley, R. Finnis and H. Blackwell (of New Plymouth). The starters were S. Hayes 12min, J. Henderson 15min, F. Prior ISmin, B. Munro 15min, A. Putt (New Plymouth) 18min, A. R. White ISmin, W. Brewster (Hamilton) 20min, R. C. Taylor 30min, C. Jennings 30min, C. Hellier (New Plymouth) 30min, M. J. Henderson (Palmerston North) 40min, Whit Renouf (Hamilton) 50min, P. Lynch 50min, F. Johnson 50min, R. Wilson 50min, J. H. Hareourt (Hamilton), 60min, L. Hayes 60min, 0. S. Jackson 60min, H. Lawlor 60min, Sam Hoey (Hamilton), 60min, J. Hartstone (Hamilton) 60min, J. Rogers 65min, P. W. Reardon (Taumarunui) 65min, H. N. Clark (Hamilton) 65min, V. Williams 70mm, R. Heley 70min. PROGRESS OF THE RACE. The first riders to be caught up by the official ear. were the two scratch men, Sutherland and S. Hayes, who crossed the Ngaruwahia bridge at 9.38 a.m. Both were riding strongly. No others were sighted until midway between Ngaruwahia and Taupiri, when about 9.45 a.m. Munro, Prior - and Henderson, three ISmin men, were passed and they appeared to have gained a minute on the scratch riders. Brewster (20min) was observed about 20Oyds ahead and White (ISmin) was passed between Taupiri and Huntly, both riding well and looking fresh. At Rangiriri Johnson, who is a constable hailing from Onehunga, was found making hard work of travelling a bad natch of loose metal. About ten minutes later the car passed a bunch comprising Hellier, Jennings and Taylor, off the 30min mark, at the Hamilton side of Rangiriri, all three going well and having gained two or three minutes on the others. R. Wilson went through Te Kawhata at 9.45 and some eight minutes later tho car came on Williams and Rogers, the latter having caught up five minutes on Williams. Half a mile ahead of these two was Jackson (60min) looking tired and making hard work of it. Three minutes later Renouf, who was giving Jackson and Rogers 15min, was found to be going strongly. The order of the leaders at the Mercer refreshment station, the half-way house, was: 10.26, L. Hayes and Harcourt; 10.45, Seabourne; 10.57, Healy, Clark, Hartstone, Hoey and Renoui; 10.58, Reardon; 11.4, Williams. A VETERAN RIDER. Reardon, who comes from Taumarunui, is the veteran of the race, being 46 years of age. He scorned the refreshment booth at Mercer and pedalled up to the public house, where he took sustenance in the form of a “long beer.” He was riding well, as his time to this stage shows, and in the course of a chat he stated he had no illusions about being able to win the race. He had been riding for many years, he said, and he hoped to put up a good performance. Meanwhile it was a joy to him to be again on the road and putting up a fair go with the boys of the younger generation. Just after leaving Mercer, Hartstone was well with a bunch when he had the ill-luck to cut his front tyre. This eould not be repaired and he had to drop out. Three miles out from Mercer the official car came on Clark and Reardon walking up a hill, and at 11.40 Taylor and Hellier were found riding up Whangarata Hi'll, Healy being a quarter of a mile ahead. Going into Tuakau at 11.55 Healy punctured. Nearing Buckland the car came on Seabourne, who was about ten minutes behind the leaders, Hayes and Harcourt, at Mercer, and just ahead of him was Hellier, who appeared to have shaken off Jennings. The first to go through Pukekohe were L. Hayes and Harcourt, at midday, and then Jennings went through 15 minutes later. The leader at Paerata was L. with Harcourt just behind him. In tho final run the three 30min men, Hellier, Jennings and Taylor, raced to the front. The former Taranaki rider drew out from his companions and reached the showground about six minutes in front of the others, where a very large crowd cheered him home. The first placing® were: — C. Hellier (alir 42min 30 4-ssec .... 1 C. Jennings (shr 48min 35 l-ssec) .. 2 A. C. Taylor (olir 4Smin 52sec) .... 3 HISTORY OF THE WINNER. ONLY SIX MONTHS IN RACING. C. Hellier (Lepperton), who won the Hamilton-Auckland cycle road race (of approximately 100 miles) yesterday, is a member of the New Plymouth League Cycle Club ami rodo his first race less than six months ago. He is 22 years of age. The race was worth £5O for first place, and this is his first big win. When, the New Plymouth League Cycle Club’s series of sweepstake road races started about six months ago.

“Wick” Hellier was not heard of. Although he did not get much time to train at first (being a farmer) he soon came into the limelight and won the club’s points prize cup. He punctured a tyre in the mountain race. He won a mile track race on Labour Day. He is heavily built and has great stamina, and should be heard of again in any cycle events he competes in. HELLIER GIVEN FASTEST TIME. IRREGULARITIES ALLEGED. Auckland, Last Night. An official statement to-night gives Hellier the fastest time in the race (shr 42min 30 1-asec). J. Harcourt is placed fourth and Sutherland fifth, tho lastnamed’s time being given as 6hr 2min 35 l-sscc. The starter (Mr. G. Sutherland) said the prize money would not be awarded until the officials were satisfied that all the riding conditions had been observed by the competitors. He said it had lieen alleged that some of the cyclists were towed by motor-cars at certain points and that, there were other incidents which needed investigating. He was passing Whangarata in the official car when a resident informed him that some riders had been towed past behind a motorcar. He himself had seen one rider step from a car and ride away when the official car approached.