Scanned from
CYCLING, February 26, 1961
WITH
an under-the-hour " 25" in the second week-end of the time trial season,
record prospects look favourable for 1961. Early forecasts are always
made on thin ice, of course, but after Barnet man J. Harvey's
unchallenged 58-41 ride in the London St. Christopher's Catholic C.C
.”25" on Sunday, there was the distant but unmistakable rumble of
records toppling into the dust. Last year in this event, which is the
first unrestricted gear event in the R.T.T.C. calendar, T. McGavin,
Charlotteville, started the fashion in February under-the-hour rides
with a time of 59-48. On a handicap of 50 seconds, McGavin was also a
favourite on Sunday, but an unfortunate puncture only 4 miles from the
start put him out of the running.
One. of the. four scratchmen in the full card of
120 (of whom 109 started, and four failed to finish) Harvey, a member of
the Barnet champion team at the distance, has done times of 57-23 and
57-24 on the same course. But he had not won an event for over a year.
On Sunday a special prize of an award valued at £2 10s. was offered to
the winner if under the hour.
Number
80 on the card, when he got away the slight but steadily rising breeze
blowing almost due north along the G.9 course was becoming noticeable in
the trees against the grey overcast sky. Heading into the wind during
the first half, which he nevertheless found "fairly easy going" with an
87-inch fixed gear, Harvey turned in 31-38. This was nearly two minutes
better than his nearest challengers, scratchman, J. Fisher, Norwood Par.
(33-17), E. Soanes. Charlotteville, who was second in last year's event,
on 20 seconds· (33-23). and J. Wheeler, Festival R.C, on 1-20 (33-58).
On the return, with the breeze helping, he increased his lead to finish
the distance over three minutes faster than the second placed Soane,
whose time was 1-1-42. The third fastest man was C. Munford, Crouch HiIl
C.C., a former clubmate of Harvey before the latter joined the Barnet
C.C. Riding an 82-inch fixed gear, Munford was the fourth fastest at the
turn with 33-31, but picked up on the way back. and slipped in 48sec.
ahead of Wheeler.
Harvey, who recently celebrated his 20th birthday,
has had to limit his training practically to cycling to and from work
each day so far-this year; Impending examinations will cut down his
training time even more in the near future.
In the handicap competition there was a close
fight, with only 28 seconds separating the first three placed. B. Hill,
Epsom C.G, on 9-50 finished in first position with 58-0, and F. Lacey,
West Hounslow, on 9-20 beat M. Venner, Worthing Excelsior, on 8-10, with
58-27 for second place.
J. Harvey, Barnet C.C. |
Scr. |
58 41 |
E. Soane, Charlotteville
|
20sec |
1 1 42 |
C. Munford. Crouch Hill C.C. |
2.00 |
1 1 55 |
M. Peel. De Laune C.C. |
2.10 |
1 2 10 |
J. Wheeler, Festival R.C. |
1.20 |
1 2 43 |
T. Kennedy, Bec C.C. |
40sec |
1 3 15 |
J. Dods. De Laune C.C. |
4.35 |
1 3 23 |
D. Whitehead, Tooting B.C. |
Scr. |
1 3 32 |
B. Potter, Old Portlians |
4.50 |
1 3 42 |
P. Barton, 29th Wh. |
3.10 |
1 3 49 |
H'cap.-B. Hill, Epsom C.C. (9-50), 58-0. Team.- De
Laune C.C., 3-15-1. |