FISH HOLDS TITLE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1940, Page 3

FISH HOLDS TITLE

50 MILES ROAD CYCLING

The New Zealand 50 miles road championship and Grey shield race was held on Saturday afternoon by the Waitara Cycle Club. The race was from Waitara to Stratford 1 and back. The president of the club, Mr. J. C. Whittaker, congratulated the winner, K. Fish, who had come from Auckland to defend the title. which he had ably done. He congratulated the other winners and thanked all competitors that had taken part in the road races during the winter, and all others who had helped the club in any way, especially members of the women's committee who were also present. The deputy-Mayor, Mr. L. H. Sampson, was then asked to present the trophies. He endorsed the remarks made by Mr. Whittaker and wished the club and all riders every success, Fifteen riders faced the starter. The weather was fine but there was a head wind out. The handicap race resulted" in a surprising win for J. Blossom (off the limit), a Maori boy from Pukearuhe starting in his first cycle race. At Inglewood Bishop. riding from the limit, had been dropped and Oliver was starting to tire. but all the other riders were bunched in the order they had started. At Norfolk Road C. Jury and H. Bishop had retired from the race, and before Tariki Blossom, riding very strorigly against the head wind, had dropped Oliver and was left to ride alone. Blossom was the first to turn and in pulling up to turn he broke his brake and had to go well past the turning point before he could slow up enough to turn. That left him to ride all the way home without a brake. The next to turn were Oliver, 4m. 30s. later, and then McConnell and S. Smith, lmin. behind him. Rosser, Skeffington and Strachan were 5min. later. Then came G. Candy, S. McKain and Zimmerman ljrnin. later. These three combined well and at the turn the scratch riders had only gained lmin. on them. The scratch riders turned 17min. after the limit rider, having gained only 8min. to Stratford, which made the break look hopeless, but they settled down on the way home and at the finish were only 6min. behind the winner.

Before Inglewood on tne way nome McConnell off 20min. dropped Smith to chase Blossom alone. Passing through Inglewood, Blossom was still well out in front, but was tiring, and then came McConnell alone, with Smith a little further back. At Waiongona Smith was caught by Rosser. Strachan and Skiffington, and they finished in that order, with Blossom crossing thc line one minule ahead of McConnell. Rosser filled third place after defeating Strachan and Skiffington in the final sprint. The three scratch riders finished very fast down the straight, Fish winning by two lengths from L. McKain, with F. Candy close up. Results were: J. Blossom (2h. 41m, 27s.) 1, J. McConnell (2h. 37m. 10s.) 2. R. Rosser (2h. 30m. 53 3-5s.) 3, A. Strachan (2h. 30m. 54s.) 4, C. Skiffington (2h. 30m. 54s.) 5, E. Oliver (2h. 44m. 40s.) 6. S. Smith | (2h. 39m. 57s.) 7, S. McKain (2h. 27m. 59 3 -5s.) 8, G. Candy (2h. 27m. 59 4-5s.) 9, W. Zimmerman (2h. 28m.) 10, K. Fish, scr. (2h. 22m. 42 4-5s.) 11, L. McKain, scr. (2h. 22m. 43s.) 12, F. Candy, scr. (2h. 22m. 43 3 -5s.) 13. New Zealand 50-mile championship (blue ribbon and a cash prize): K. Fish. New Zealand 50-mile junior championship, hlue ribbon: S. McKain. A. Strachan received a medal for the first Waitara rider to finish. S. Smith received a medal for being the. youngest rider to finish. The Gray challenge shield went to the winner, J. Blossom. j