WITH THE AMATEURS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 42, 12 May 1927, Page 12

WITH THE AMATEURS

By his easy win on Saturday in the 3 1-mile Manukau road championship, Byrnes has added another classic to his list. The Manukau Club, in staging a championship so early in the season, has been accused of putting

on a “Byrnes benefit.” That may be, but they had the satisfaction of receiving an entry from 17 riders, who thought they could beat him.

The finishing sprint unearthed by M. P. Byrnes was one of his very best. He has probably never been in better form than he is at present. Mathieson was unlucky in not getting sf'cond place. He was blocked in, till 50 yards from home.

Secret lap prizes in the championship were responsible for the good time of 29min. 23 4-ssec. being put up. The lap prize winners were Casey, 4; Byrnes, 2; Gainsborough, 1; Stewart, 1. DWIGHT’S PROTEST Dwight, H., the second man in the championship, has entered a protest against Byrnes winning the 11-mile on Saturday. The contention is that Byrnes is a member of two clubs, the Manukau Cycling Club and the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club. The question at stake is whether he can ride for both clubs in championship events. Eighteen starters is a great field in a. road championship. Good as the Mangerc course is, this is too many to allow to start. There are many narrow places in the road that simply could not take that number of riders. Even at the finish, there were complaints from several riders of the narrowness of the road at this point, and of too many riders being allowed to start. Casey stole a march on the field in Saturday’s race about two miles from the finish. He jumped from the back, and opened up a gap of 150 yards. Les Wilson went with him, but Wilson being out of form, was of no assistance to the wearer of the green jersey. They were caught by the bunch and were included in the “also starteds.” Next Saturday’s race for amateurs will be a 22-mile open event. This should draw a big entry. The club has a very large membership of racing riders, so let the forthcoming event produce a record entry. PROMISING JUNIORS The 51-mile junior race proved that these young riders can ride a race, that compares more than favourably with many older and experienced riders. Four riders, Foubister, Sercombe, Steen and Stone, started off scratch and by unselfishly pacing each other they were up with their field at a mile to go. In a ding-dong finish Sercombe beat Foubister for first place. Aldred, 60sec., was third. The time, 14min. 59sec., was exceptionally food for juniors.

A. Sercombe, by winning the junior SI -mile race on Saturday, and winning the fastest time prize as well, stamped himself as a coming rider. His finish was a determined one, and there should certainly be a race or two coming his way this season.

Fatty Lamb still holds the 5-mile paced record for the Sydney Sports Ground. Recently J. Parmley, who has just turned professional, made an attempt to lower Lamb’s time. He succeeded in lowering the one, two and three miles, but failed to get inside Lamb’s figures for the four and five miles. His times were: One mile, lmin. 27 2-ssec; two miles, 2min. 56 sec.; three miles, 4min. 25sec; four miles. smin. 54sec; five miles, 7min. 24 3-ssec. Lamb’s time for the five miles was 7min. 13sec.