PROFESSIONAL ATHLETIC MEET

Evening Star, Issue 19786, 9 February 1928, Page 10

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETIC MEET

• APPEARANCE OF CHAMPION CYCLISTS • AH ENJOYABLE FIXTURE Some 2,000 spectators were attracted to the Caledonian Ground last night for the professional athletic_ meet staged by the Otago Athletic and Cycling Club, and, taken all through, an enjoyable night’s sport was witnessed, the star attraction being the appearance of the champion cyclists x • O’Shea and H. G. Watson, ’.he, lattei being one of those chosen Irom Australia and New Zealand to compete ih the Grand Friz at Paris in the near future. . The cycling track was still suit, aim while none of the times were outstanding very fair times were registered in the mile cycle handicap, which went to A. Ralston .(100yds> in 2m in 27sce. O'Shea won botli the one and a-hall mile and two-mile cycle handicaps, displaying a fine sprint in both events, in which Watson filled .second place. Though it was not ridden at a particularly fast clip, the one-mile match cycle race between O’Shea and Watson provided a thrilling finish, Watson winning by inches. , The sprint running events provided some keen finishes, and in the 120yds handicap very fair times were registered, the conditions being conducive to good performances in this respect. The- 880yds handicap, however, was a poor race, won by W. Kay (30yds) in the. slow time of 2inin 11 sec. Kay, on 7yds, also accounted for the 120yds handicap final in 12 1-Osec. The meeting was well conducted, the secretarial arrangements being in the capable hands of Mr A. Kilgonr. Mr J. W. Dove was the referee, and Mr Y. R. Johnston an efficient Press steward. The sprinters W. Henderson some trouble at the start, and there were several false starts. The cycling events were started by Mr J. Rapson in very satisfactory manner. Mr H- A. Hogg acted as timekeeper, and the judges were Messrs A. O. Macartney, G. M’Qneen, and IV. Gray (running), and L. G. Biggs, D. O Gorman, and 11. W. Laws (cycling). Results;—

ONE MILK CYCLE HANDICAP. First Heat—A. Brown ,(130yds) 1, A. Johnston (2l%ds) 2, A. Ralston (100yds) 1. Also started: N, Macke,v (VJUvds), L. Ferguson (loUyd.s), and M. "M/Donald (220yds). M'Donald showed out from the start, hut with half the distance covered Johnston and Brown were together. Iho lattei sprinted along I lie lar stretch, and in a good finish won by a length; ha I a length between second and third. Time, 2min 25 3-ssa;. Second Heat.—W. Robertson _ (120 yards) 1, G. Paul 1190 yd.) 2. G. Sickles (UiOvds) 3. Also started; H. G. Watson (scr), P. O’Shea (syds), and J. Raison (JoOyds). Paul made the pace over the former half of the journey, at Iho cud oi : which Ihe bookmarkers riding together, were about 150yds back. O’Shea left Watson behind in the noxL lap, and was lying fifth with a. lap to go, Paul and Robertson beii)tr in the van. Robertson took the Iciul along the far stretch, and tbough O’Shea sprinted be tailed to get up. Robertson winning Iron: Paul by ball a, length in an exciting finish, Sickles being a similar distance back third. O’Shea was Imuth a length .■.way, Watson failing to finish, 'tune. 2min 21 -l-sscc.

—Final.— A. Ralston (100yds) 1 A. Brown (130yds) - \V. Robertson (120yds) 3 This was a good race, the field being well bunched 'at the bell. Paul was in front, but Robertson and Brown were in bandy position, Ralston being in the middle oi the bunch. Along the far stretch Ralston struck a good position, and sprinted into front place, going on to beat Brown by two lengths. Robertson being hall a length back third. Time, 2mm 27see. ONE AND A-HALF MILE CYCLE

HANDICAP. P. O'Shea. (syds) 1 H. Watson (sen - A. Brown (KiOyds) d Also started: A. Ralston (l-lt)yd.?), N. Mackey (150yds), and H. Taylor (170yds). Brown was prominent in ike early stages of tlio race, and at the end of the second lap O’Shea and "Watson wore 100yds back. The backnurkcrs reduced the gap in the next lap, and with half a mile to go the pair were lying third close to the leaders. Brown shot to the front at the commencement of the last lap, but along the far stretch O’Shea, who had tound the pace set to his liking, unloosed a strong sprint and went ahead to win comfortably by three lengths from Watson. Brown being four lengths back third. Time, dmin -IS 3-sscc.

ONE Mi'Ll 1 ) CYCLE MATCH PAC'D, Though the race was not a fast one, ii. G. Watson and P. O’Shea staged a thrilling finish to their one mile match race. Alter taking the laps in turn the pair were together with a lap to go, but O’Shea shot away along the tar stretch. Watson was not done with, however, and challenging strongly ho went on to win by half a, wheel. It was announced that no time was taken, but the race was probably ridden at a slower pace than the handicap event -won by O’Shea. ONE-MTLE PURSUIT CYCLE RACE (Open to local riders). N. Mackey 1 L. Eergiisui; 2 Also started; A. Ralston, A, Wills, and A. Johnston. In this race the last man in each lap was compelled to drop out,. Though it was nob a fast race it was quite interesting, Mackey winning fairly comfortably. 'Time, 2min 42sec. TWO-MILE PUBLICAN'S’ WHEEL RACE. P. O’Shea, (JO.yds) 1

H. G. Watson (sct) 2 N. Mackey (200yds) 3 Also started: A. Wills (210yds), A. Brown (210yds), L. Ferguson (230yds), and A. Johnston (320yds).

O'Shea and Watson soon reduced the big gap, and with throe laps to go they were riding in fourth place in the middle of the bunch, the pace being easy. They improved their positions in the next lap, and Mackey also lay handy. O’Shea moved to the front in the last lap, and spurted along the back stretch to win by 3yds from Watson, Mackey being twelve lengths back third. Time. 6min 4 4-ssec. 75 YARDS HANDICAP.

First Heat.—B. Johnston (6yds) 1, 0. Veitch (6yds) 2, B. Sligo (syds) 3. Also started: R. Webb scr, F. Huddleston Iyd, and C. Wray 7yds. Johnston led practically all the way, and won by 2yds, half a. yard between second and third. Time, 8 l-ssec. Second Heat.—-B. M‘Kay (6yds) 1, W. M'Kay (syds) 2, A. Fraser (4£yds) 3. Also started: R. Oliver (3yds). Won easing up by half a yard, 2yds between second and third. Time, 8 2-saec. Third Heat.—A. M'Kerrow (6fyds) 1. L. Eagles (Sfyds) 2. J. H. Harris (Tiyds) 3. Also started; A. C. Philp (51yds). Won by 2yds, half a yard between second and third. Time, S 1-5 sec

—Final.— A. M'Kerrow (tiiyds) 1 R. M'Kay (6,yds) 2 O. Veitch (Cyd-s) 3 M'Kerrow led from a good start, hut M'Kay came through fast at the 50yds mark, a splendid finish resulting. M'Kerow hung on long enough to win by inches From M'Kay, Veitch , being half a yard back third. Time. Bsec

880 YARDS HANDICAP. W. Kay (30yds) ... '. 1 W, Twoso (55yds) 2 C. Wray (18yds) 3 Also started: J 3. K. M'Gillivray (scr). F. Huddleston (7yds), R. Curtis Hsvd.s), C. Wray (18yds), J, Harris (IV.wK;, A. C. Pliilp (25yds), and R. M'Ki.y (00yds). The half-mile did not prove the race that was anticipated, a slow pace being set by the limit men from the start. At the end of a lap Kay was with the leaders, and, going to the front in the second qarter; he was not headed, winning an unexciting race by syds from 'Jarose, Wray a similar distance back third. Time, 2min 11 sec. 120 SARDS HANDICAP. First Heat.—o. Veitch (9yds) 1, 11. Oliver (syds) 2, J. H. Harris (2|yds) 3 Five starters. Veitch was no headed, and won comfortably by a yard, a similar distance between second and third. Time, 13sec. Second Heat.—W. Kay (7yds) ], A. JVPKerrow (9yds) 2, A. C. Phi Ip (7)yds) 3. Five starters. Won by half a yard, 3yds between second and third. Time, 12 3-ssec. —Final.— W. Kay (7yds) ... 1 A. MfKerrow (9yds) ... ... 2 0. Veitch (9yds) 3 M/Kerrow moked to have the race in hand at the 100yds mark, but Kay iinislicd in determined fashion to win by half a yard, Veitch being a similar distance back third. Time, 12 l-ssec.