KEEN CYCLING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1924, Page 3

KEEN CYCLING

CLOSE FINISHES AT NEWTOWN PARK

WELCOME WEEK MEETING.

A conveniently bright moon and some powerful arc clusters was all the light that was required last evening at Newtown Park, to enable the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to decide an interesting programme of cycle races in connection with the Welcome Week celebrations. _ A fair crowd of merry-makers was in attendance, and in the intervals between the events the many sideshows were well patronised, while quite a' number of the younger people favoured jazzing on the green to the lively selections played by the First Battalion Wellington Regiment's Band. Seven cyclists competed in the mile handicap, but "form" did not begin to make itself apparent until well into the semifinal lap. T. Flett, a scratch man, and S. Harrison, who started from the 25yds mark, were wheel to wheel when they headed for home, but Harrison had a good reserve of energy and won by several yards. Flett was second, with G. Bright third. The course was covered in 2min 44 2-ssec.

Another victory went to Harrison in. the novelty event, in which the cyclists wheeled their machines once around the green and then raced for two laps. Harrison was first to mount, but Flett, who finished second, came up well from fourth. The fourth man was L. Baker.

A particularly creditable performance •was that of the youttiful Harrison in the two mile race, which he won from scratch in smin 25 4-ssec, his third success in three starts. He took the lead in the sixth lap, but Bakewell, on 100 yards handicap, was quite willing, and the boys were_ level with only about 100' yards togs .Harrison raced himself right out, however, and was first past the mark, with Bakewell a close second. W. Clouston was third in a field of nine starters, only four of whom, however, finished. Three teams, each composed of a cyclist, a sprinter, and a walker, took part in the medley race, which went to Flett (cycle), Futter (walker), and Sergeant (sprint). C. Campbell,' whose team finished third, was first home in the 440 yards sprint, but M'lntosh, of the second placed combination, walked the course in good style, and came first. Good cycling by Flett, however, made up his team's leeway. The cyclists raced two laps, 880 yards. From a field of five competitors, only three remained after the fourth lap of the three mile cycle handicap—Clouston (200 yds), G. Bright (60yds), and Bakewell (200 yds). This trio was well bundled almost all the way, but in the final lap Clouston shot ahead, though Bright responded' without hesitation. Clouston secured the honours in a close finish, and Bakewell made a good but unsuccessful effort to improve his thirii place. Details follow:— One Mile Handicap.—S Harrison (25yds), 1; T. Flett (scr), 2; G. Bright (10yds), 3. Time, 2min 27sec. Novelty Race.—S. Harrison 1, T. Flett 2, L. Baker 3. Time, 2min 44 2-ssec. Two Mile Handicap.—S. Harrison (scr), 1; Bakewell (140 yds), 2; \V. Clouston (100 yds), 3. Time, smin 25 4-ssec. Medley Race.—Flett (cycle), Sergeant (sprint), and Futter (walk), 1; Hall (cycle), Melrose.. (sprint),, and..M'lntosh (walk), 2; Bright (cycle), C.:"'Campbell (sprint), and G. Hickling (walk), 3. Three Mile Handicap.—Clouston (200 yds), 1; Bright (60yds), 2; Bakewell (200 yds), 3. Time, llmin 13 2-ssec. Boys' 400 Yards Relay Race.—Newtown (Diack, Gordon, and Adams), 1; Marist (Bowden, M. Davis, and R Pask), 2. Time, 59 l-ssec. Pillow Fighting.—W. Condon 1. Potato Race.—L. Bowden, 1; I. M'Ewan 2. Acting officials were:—Starter, Mr. J. O'Sullivan; referee and handicapper, Mr. A. C. Kitto; timekeepers, Messrs. Ballantyne and D. Todd; marksman, Mr. E. A. Shaw; cycle referees, Messrs. S Hall ana T. Oates.