With the Wheelmen

Evening Star, Issue 23681, 14 September 1940, Page 8 (Supplement)

With the Wheelmen

(By Pistol. 1

Professional Jottings. The Green Island Club’s race for the O’Brien Cup was decided over a course from Mosgiel to Waihola and return. The backmarkers had not gone far when W Whiston had the misfortune to suffer a bad spill, although he escaped serious injury. This race was iron by R. Wil son -P.yne, with J. M'Cartney second and H. Ralston third. j. W 7 oodford gained fastest time by a small margin from his brother.

With one race for this cup yet to be decided, Whiston is loading with 11 points, Wilson-Pyne and J. M'Cartney are next with 8 points. The last race was to be decided to-day, and the next (•vent on the programme is the Otago 50-mile championship.

The race from Green Island to Taieri Mouth and return last Saturday was held in fine weather, the roads being in good order, so that the time for the distance of about 35 miles w r as very

good, being about three minutes faster than for the previous race over the same course.

W. Sasse and H. Ralston, riding from the 7min mark, went well to finish first and second respectively, with M. Ensor close up third, R. Wilson-Pyno took time honours, J. Woodford securing second fastest time. Ensor, who is a young rider, is improving with every race. He was caught by Sasse and Ralston early, but settled to his work and finished full of dash. Sasse registered his first win this season. He ceitainly deserved his success, as he went a verv solid race. Wilsou-Pyne, who has been out of form, is improving, and he showed glimpses of his best last Saturday. J. Woodford is also shaping as though he may be hard to beat in the championship race. Road racing is in -full swing in Christchurch, and fast times are being registered every week. The Sutherland brothers. J. Newlovo, and J. Thomson, are the hack-markers, and they have been going well. They clocked lli 9min for SO miles recently, which was a good effort. At least three of the Christchurch men intend visiting Dunedin for the 50-mile championship race next week. • The Waimate-Christehureh road race is to be held on October 12. An attractive prize-list has been arranged and a good field is expected. DUNEDIN AMATEUR DOINGS. Through last week’s race being postponed, members of the Dunedin Club enjoyed a brief respite from racing, which was the first occasion this , year on which there was no race, and it is considered that the spell would have some beneficial elfcet for some of the riders who have on the whole a very strenuous road season.

On looking back over the season’s performances, it is obvious that the most consistent performer throughout the programme has been C. Flowers. In each race he has figured in one or other of the time placings, and commencing with the short races, following right through the list until the longer races, without exception the same fine performances have been registered. Notwithstanding this consistency, however, Flowers has on each occasion been unfortunate enough to be headed by the very smallest of margins, and in this way lias yet to actually fill a first place or take the fastest time honour. His main successes this year have been run-ner-up in the Southland time trial 25mile championship (on which occasion he was hampered by being despatched first without having any knowledge of the course), and second fastest time in the 1940 Gore-Invorcargill race (when he was beaten ,in the sprint for the lino by half a wheel only). As he has been training most assiduously for the longer distances this year it will be interesting to note whether his luck in finishing efforts will change to give him the success he so richly deserves.

Second to Flowers for regular performances week by week comes W. Haig, wlio at the commencement of the season was riding off the short mark, but Jiis performance in the Otago 25mile championship, in which he was runner-up, placed him on the scratch mark from which he has been riding with increasing credit until to-day he is the province's most successful cyclist; Ho possesses a line sporting .spirit, and his determination leaves "nothing to chance. Provided ho is able to compete when the time comes, lie also should ably acquit himself against outside competition in longer races. Otago’s representation in the annual “ Round the Gorges ” this year, to be held at Christchurch on September 28, should ho very strong indeed, for eight riders have expressed their intention of competing, and as they are mainly cyclists of some experience, it is hoped that on this occasion a Dunedin man will win the high honours in this event for the first time. The most likely ones to trouble northern cyclists are O', Flowers, K. Boyd, and J. M'Connell, who are either scratch or near-scratch riders, li. Ross, A. ißoberg, P. Munro off the short _ marks. Munro, who will have no difficulty over the distance, being a junior, should come very close to the South Island junior title. Of the others, N. M‘Donald has already proved his worth in this event over the past two years, and will doubtless improve on Ins last year’s ride when lie finished with the first bunch to fill eighth place.