NIGHT CYCLING.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18229, 13 November 1924, Page 13

NIGHT CYCLING.

ENGLISH PARK" STADIUM OPENED.

Tie ojciUng jpert of cycling racing- in the glare of electric lights wub introduced at the oEßr.ial opening of tie English - Park "Stadium" Jut night. Tho attendance wa3 estimated at OGOO.

After tho spectacular ftrade round tho track of the competitors in their racing colours several tpcech&3 -were given• itr R. B. Bunt, chairman of ; the cf iu-3 Canterbury Football Association, gave deta:l3 oi the history of. tho ground. Tho playing . area, he said, was purchatod' in 19H by the donations froin the. committee of tbe 'C.F.A. .-ind friends. ■ itr H. Holland, vrno then Mayor, paying tho fir3t year's rat.3s on the ground. In 1315 tho Granfo:vl sirec: ironiage was obtained by the aaa'c means. In 1016 the Cit7 and Suburban Cr.cioj AssocLitiou rented »the ground for tho summer. Tho C.F.A., in 1522, obtained addiLiora,l ground ■ for laying d-r^rn - tho i-" mile'cycling track, anr] in 19-23 negotiations weie entered into by the Canterbury Centre f<i the t'yciing and Athletic. Uuion, and the tbe Canterbury Centre- of the N.Z.A..A.A. the Uie <>i the area. Tho conferences failed, and then Mr G. Sutherland, on behalf of Messrs J; Johns and A. Forbe3, took a kfaea of the ground for tlio summer months for 15 years. The speaker thanked I Mr R. for his financial a*sistancc to 'tho C.F.A.. und congratulated tho promoteru of the Sisdiura.

Mx B. Knelish iutrcd-uced. tho Hon. Si* Janies Carroll. ' Sir Ja-ncs said ho -wished to pay resprct io the powers who had promoted oporta and built t'na Stadium. He was Euro tho cyclisls would bo faithful to the high dition of English fcport«manehip. 'iljo Mayor (Mr J'. A. • I'leahcr) formally declared "the Stadium opened, earing it was the- only one of its kind in Kew Zea-■a-ad. The cycling track was the finest to be ionnd ' anywhere.' and tho lighting , waa provided by 55 '-COO candlo power lampa that,were f-aid to eliminate shadow. Ho was Eirr* there woulrl be eplendid competition and that the patrons would' cet good, value for their m-mey. Th? Huni-cnpal Band pla.ved selections during the evening. • Reßiilts of. the races are aa follows: —.

Haff-milc First Class Handicap—Firfic. heat : J Henderson (iOvds) 1, W. M.ickie (05yds) '2, P. O'Shea Cscr) 3. Time", Irnin &ec: Second heai: A. -MarTa (30yds) 1, H. G*. Watson lay da) 2, A. Bonis (35vds) 3. Time, Imin C 2-ssec. Final: Henderson 1, M&ckio 2, Marra S. Time, lmin 6seo. Tho pace rraa a. cracker from tho start, and the field bunched quickly. Henderson pasted; Mackic in the la£t ."oyd?. and won by a length. O'Sliea. was fourth.

Threg'-qua'rter Mile Maiden Handicap— First Heat: J. H. Silvester (15yds) •1, I>. Humphries ({Oyda) 2, A. .E. Gobbo' (scr) - >». Time, lir.in Second heat: G. Thomas (2oyds) 1, V. NankWell- (30yds) 2, H. C. Ijovell \4oydf) 3. Time, lmin 46 2-ssec. Fin?l: Humphries 1, Silvester 2, Gcbbo 3. Time, lmin 47 3-osoc. "Won by three-quarters ' of a length. Three-quarter Mile Open Handican—-First Heat: <T. Henderson (15yds) 1. H. G. Watson (20yds) 2, W. Mackio (30yds) 3. H. J. Savage (40yds) 4. Time, lmin 41 2-sfiec. Second heat: P. 'O'Sheai (scr) 1, E. Atarrs, Y4oyds) % A. T. Georgo /oQydfi) 3, S. A. Jordan (80yds) .4. Time, lmin -41 3-ssec. o'She.a made, up his handicap in great «tylo and won by half a -wheel. Final: Henderson 1, Mackie 2, O'Shea 3. Time, lmin olsec. O'Shoa- canght the field in the first 18/p, acd coming up o& 'tho outaidß was fourth, ot tho ■ ond. of the second. Jde ■ tho "lead for a. moment, but Mackio challenged turning into-tho straight. Henderson shot forward, and won by a. length and a half. Mackio beat O'Shea by inches ,in a pood'finish. • r^._i Half Mile Second Class Handicap—Firtt heat: E. Condon (45yds) 1, H. J. Savage (scr) ,2, G. TV.' Piebble (20yds) 3. Time, lmin 7 2-ssoc." Second heat: C. Bright (35 vds) X, P: F. Saunders' (10yds) 0, C. Blyth' (45yds) 3. Time, lmin 8 3-Gsec., -T"!™heat: B. Lango (10yds) 1. B. . Cant .(30yd3) 2 A. A. Morwood (25yds) 3. Time, lmin G 2-ssec. Fourth heat: J.' McGirr'(2syds) 3 Xi. Humphries (45yd») 2, J. H. Silvester (30yds) 3. Time, lmin 9 3-ssec. Se.mi-linals: Bright 1, ©ant % Humphries 3. Time, Imm 8 1-asec. McGirr 1, Saunders 3, Mioxwood 3.. Time, lmin 9see. 'A_ great finish, separating first, second and thwd. . Final. Cant 1, Saunders 2, Bright 3. Tune, lmin 11 l-ssec. "Won by half a wheel, a, wheel W Mackie beat A. T. 3Ssec P. O'Shea beat E. Maxra. Timo, lmin 13eec. J. Henderson f»at J- BearmTn Time, lmin'ls 2-secc Fijal: O^Shea I, Mackie 2, Henderson'3. a wheel separating second and third. ■ Time, Smin ' STeec. '