RAFFERTY RULES BEAT STANDEN

NZ Truth, Issue 1198, 15 November 1928, Page 16

RAFFERTY RULES BEAT STANDEN

HE RACED TILL HE DROPPED

Jack Lost The World's Title at Budapest Through Bad Judging SENSATIONAL INCIDENTS WHICH DISCREDIT EUROPEAN CONTROL piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii fj ' ■ . . , (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Sydney Representative.) p 1 Jack Standen, crack Australian cyclist and Olympic representative, has returned home. Be- | 1 sides his trip to Amsterdam, Standen travelled to Budapest where he competed m the amateur j 1 cycling championships of the world. 1 S "Truth" is now m a position to publish an exclusive and authentic report of the treatment | I meted out to the Olympic riders, Jack Standen and Duncan Gray, who toured New Zealand last j | year - / . ■ I

iiilllllllllllllllipilllllllllllll ROY HORTON; who writes to "Truth" on the matter, and who trained most of the Olympic team, including Bob Pearce, the sculling champion, tells of sensational decisions at the world's amateur meeting. Horton discloses an extraordinary state of affairs, the only redeeming features of which is the apparent high standing of Standen m comparison with the best m the world. The, Games are all over now and I am very glad. I never want another team under the same conditions. Worked to a standstill, I am just bodily weary, but should, pull around on the trip home. I have now finished rubbing 1 and we are back m London after a trip to Budapest m search of the world's championship. Jack JJtanden should now hold the title, as he was treated most shabbily. He won the first two heats easily and then met Mazalrac, the Dutch champion. This fellow is the best rider m Europe. He is good right through and has a wonderful jump. Approaching the bell the Dutchman jumped and tried to pass Standen on the inside. The Australian was well down inside the pole-line. Of course, Jack refused to fall into the trap, and just stayed on the line. The Dutchie then crashed into him and nearly came down. By the time he straightened up Jack was twenty yards away. I called to Jack and he rode on to cross the line a half -lap m front.. Meanwhile the foreigner rode round slowly with upraised arm m protest. The officials called a meeting and decided to ire-run the race. This was "bung rules" of the worst type, as the Dutchman should have been instantly disqualified for foul tactics. The big crowd got on its feet and roundly hooted the Dutchman. Later the pair rode again, and Jack raced him from the front. I had previously told him to ride fast from start of back straight and to make it a hard telling race, as if you ride the Dutchman slow he is round m a twinkling. - Jack followed instructions, and kept his rival well up the steep bank. The Australian made his run down to the pole-line a little too early, enabling the Dutchman to take a "sitting shot"

at him, as it were. 'The mistake nearly cost Jack the race, but he rode brilliantly m the straight and won by a half -■wheel. I looked upon this victory as a great one, for I know; and everybody here knows, that Mazalrac is one of the best sprinters m the world. • Right on top of his two hard race.' the bone-headed officials ordered Jack to race Beaufrand, French Olympic champion. This was tough, as Jack was beginning to tire. Anyway, he rode m this event (the semi-final), and kept the "Froggie" on his hip as long as possible. Beaufrand was content to stay there till the final sprint home, .which Jack wor easily by half a wheel. .While everybody was discussing the Australian's win, an official announced that the Frenchman had won by a tyre! There was an uproar from the crowd, but the damage was done. The judge was a Frenchman, and so were most of the officials,

To The Fore IF pedigree counts for. anything m human '„ athletics, young Luchie M'Lachlin, of Dunedin, is setting out on a shining, career. Competing-at the Otago Centre Amateur Athletic' meeting recently he put up a splendid performance m annexing' the 1000 yards, handicap m 2 mm. 20 sees., from 10 yards behind scratch. This . promising- lad is yet but 20 years of age, and his long-,. 1005e stride, thrown into easy action is the identical style which brought laurels of success upon his late father's shoulders. If the youth can show the same 'mettle which made his ancestor one of the idols of the track many years ago, he'll soon be m. the foi-egroiind with amateur runner's. The ok! dad, by : the way, held -one or two world's records m ihe misty past, one of his greatest feats being accomplished on a 220 yards track at Oarriaru, when he covered the 440 m 49 sees. ' * *..*■,-. Off To Dunedin IF his bowling against Grafton at the ■*■ opening of that club's wicket is an indication of the form of Dunning, the Auckland University player, for the season, men- his absence will be keenly felt when he leaves for Dunedin, for he has accepted a position on the leaching staff of McGlashan College. He is a popular member of the Varsity team, which recognizes his ability with both bat and ball, and the club's supporters will miss the thrill they get from his delivery, which!' frequently turns back m the most dis-concerting-manner, when he leaves for the south. • ! • * . •■ ' Likely Cricket Rep. IT is yet early m the cricket season to make forecasts, but H. D. Gillespie is being- hailed by many m Auckland as. a moral for the next Dominion representative team. And the hopes of his supporters seem to be. well founded. Already he is showing more care-free .clash m his game and has freed himself from his previous rather cramped style. He has struck out m fine manner with the bat and seems to be after consistency m his scores. His ability m the' field must • not be; overlooked, either, when selectors are ' looking for an all-round player.

ll!IIIII!lil!!!lllll!l!!!ll!lllllilll!i!!!ll|[|!lll!ll!l!llU^ so what could be expected from excitable foreigners? In the process of elimination Standen was then called on to race Seveiegini, the Italian' champion. He won by throe lengths, and was, amazed to find thai the evont was to be decided ! best two out of throe heats. By this time Jack was "all m," but so was the little Dayo, and Jack's strength and determination carried him to victory with four lengths to spare. Standen was a sad case after so much racing, but pulled around later on. The Italian could not £tand for some time. That is the sort of thing we had to put up with. Jack rode seven severe races m two hours, and the weather was very hot. Had they given him any sort of a fair go he would be world's champion to-day. He can beat the head off W. Hansen, and proved it at the Hague, with three lengths up his sleeve. After Standen had licked Beaufrand, the Frenchman was so rattled that Hansen beat him two straight heats. You can believe me most sin- ' cerely when I tell you "Truth" and "Sportsman" sent away the best amateur bike rider m the world; but over here he was robbed of a title. I was most disappointed, as a title at ,a world's meeting is far more important than the Olympic events. ■ Hansen was scared to death of Jack after the Hague races, and it was plain to everyone, that till the other noted riders sjde-stejjped a secoivJ meeting with him. Duncan G.'ay showed patchy form. Stateness overtook him. and there were lots of things u> help it- along. Bad food, . rotten water, and a dirty tribe of people. We came to the conclusion that the Continent if? a vo leu hoie. In .spite of nil tiu.s, Gray ariel Standen were able to win a siTiiteii 10.0 C metres' race, ami run second m a onehour teams evont. Included m the victims was Beaufrand, Olympic champion. After leaving- Budapest we were swamped witn invitittinn.s fi om vari- ( ous places,-, including Paris and Copenhagen, but as the meetings did not fit m with o:ir dopartu. c for.hjmc we had to turn them down.