CYCLING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 March 1926, Page 5

CYCLING.

WILLMOTT WINS CHAMPIONSHIP. FITZGERALD CLUB CHAMPION. The South Canterbury road championship in conjunction with a handicap race of Ho miles, irom Waslulyke to Cave and back, was held on. Saturday. afternoon by the Timaru BidVcle Club. Thirty of the riders handicapped stai ted. The roads were in a _ very heavy state, and only the very fittest riders appeared cipial to the task of completing the course. Spills and punctures were numerous. The event caused considerable public interest, several hundred people being present to see the finish. The first rider to put in an appearance was ?•]. Nolan, of Clandcboye. from the ">J- minute mark, who sprang a surprise by arriving nearly two minutes before the second man, his time being only I min 25see slower than of the scratch riders. This youth is just eighteen years old, and has ridden in most road races in South Canterbury for the last three seasons, including boys’ races, and his only previous success was a win in a Id-mile race at Temiika a little over a week ago from a liberal handicap. The next to arrive was D. Nolan (a brother of the winner), from -l.jmin, who caught the winner in the course of the race and rode with him tor some distance, but tired in the last tew miles and just managed to struggle homo. P. Dale, from 2 minutes, was next to arrive, and for a youthful ridei' put up a most creditable- perlormnnce, having ridden the most of the journey unpaeed. Tie was beaten for fastest time by only 22see. Had he gained fastest time in addition to third he would have won the gold medal for most points. >). Nolan ((ifmin) a.rrived next, followed closely by A\ . lirehaut (3} min) who also rode a good race. W. Ilamlyn, from 1 jmin. was sixth. (Ilamlyn won the race last year.) CainpboT .fell before hall the journey, and as Christie was also out. this left Ilamlyn alone for the latter half of tlio journey. The scratch riders arrived next. AY. Willmott jumped away several hundred yards from home and won the fastest time lairly easily', F. Ward being several lengths away. E. Fitzgerald did not make an effort to finish, and entered a protest against )Vard for alleged interference through- 1 out the race. This has not yet. been ; considered by the c’ub. Following are 1 the nlacings ami riding times:- — 1 M. Nolan (simin) Ihr .T.Tmiu ... 1 i I). Nolan (l.jmin) llir 53iniii 31 see 2; P. Dale (2min) lhr bl.min o7sec ... 3 ! .1. Nolan (O'min)' lhr s(imiii 2R>eo II V. Rrehant (3.)miii) Ihr 53min -I-Isec 5 \V. Dnmlyn (]|tnin) !brs2min lsec 6 TV. Willmott (scr) lhr .Tlmin 3nsec 7 F. Ward (scr) lhr 51 min 3Gsec ... 8

W. Willmott:. lhr 51 min Mssee ... 1 F. Ward, lhr 51min 3lT.ee 2 P. Dale, lhr 51 min 57sec 3 TV. Ilamlyn, lire 52min Dec ... -I CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP. • Following are the final .points (or the (filbert 'lnzer go'd medal: —E. Fitzgerald Hi (one first and three fastest Dines), P. Dale I) (two firsts and a third), P. Harris 7 (one first, one second, and second fastest time), 1). Edgar 0 (one first, and two thirds). F. Ward I. W. Willmott 4. M. Nolan 4, W. IVislev 2, -I. Wallace 2. I). Christie 2.■!. Campbell 2. A. Hall 2, A. (Illicit D. Nolan 2, J. Ryan I, A. Henuisou 1. Tl„- i o' low i ng kindly gave or promi-ed tronbus lor this race: —South ( auterImry Centre of N.Z. Athletic and

Cycling Union, Mr Joseph Lee, Cycle and Motor Suppliers, and Mr Geo. Westoby. Mr Koland Watson and Mr A. Bunnett kindly gave trophies for the final Derby race. The Pleasant Point Club has arranged tlreir final race of 27 miles for. Saturday next, and the Alburv Club’s final race will be run on April 10th. MAIREHAU CARNIVAL. On Saturday next the Mairohau Cycling Club will hold a cycling carnival in Tiinaru ■ on the Caledonian Grounds, when the .star item will be a motor-paced match race between W. Mackie (the undefeated, motor-paced follower! and M. Fitzgerald, the Victorian crack. Roth riders have- had considerable experience at pace following, and each is confident of winning. The men will race over three-distances, namely, two miles, three miles, and a deciding distance of two miles. In addition to' this Mackie will make an attempt to lower the one,' two, and fiive mile records. A good supporting programme has been arranged, in which all the track champions will compete.