CYCLING AT MANGERE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 105, 25 July 1927, Page 11

CYCLING AT MANGERE

FRANK PRIOR’S VICTORY OVER “PUTTY” WHITE

The three races run at Mangere on Saturday attracted a total of G 1 riders. They were all good races, and all three finishes were exciting. The weather was fine, but a cold wind was responsible for a slight setback in the times. The roads were in perfect order for racing, both at Mangere and on the Papatoetoe-Tamaki circuit. Seven riders fell during the afternoon, but received nothing worse than a few scratches. They were all fixed up by a number of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and were able to ride home. A record entry was received by the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club for its 14-mile open race, 20 riders starting in the event. The feature of this race was the riding of Frank Prior, who again cleaned up “Putty” White for fastest time. It was the fastest finishing sprint seen at Mangere, and proves that Prior has improved a lot. The Manakau Amateur Cycling Cluo’s 27-mile race to Papatoetoe, via Tamaki, provided another very fine finish, inches only separating the placed riders. The 5£ junior race was won by S. Lichfield (Amin), as forecasted in THE SUN last week. He rode a great race, doing most of his own pace, securing a good win, and also fastest time prize as well. THE RACES DESCRIBED The following are the detailed results:— Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club’s 14-mile Open Race.—R. Pelham (smin), 1; H. Pelham (smin) 2; D. Storey (4min), 3; R. Blythe (smin), 4. Time, 30min lsec. Fastest time, Frank Prior (scr), 37min 35 3~ssec. Also started: White, Hayes, scratch; Henderson, Hill, lmin; Sutherland, Matliieson, If min; Rae, Healey, Stansfield, 3min; Dufty, 3fmin; Storey, Lownes, Archer, 4min; Rickman, smin; Matthews, Rhodes, sfmin; Dean 6&min. Dean (6Amin) led for over two miles, when he was joined by the smin bunch, Francis, Blythe, H. and R. Pelham, and D. Storey (4min). That these riders had made up their minds to work together was seen by the way they handled themselves over the first three miles. They were the firi=>t bunch to show up the first time round, with Francis leading, followed at some distance by Matthews, Dean, and Rickman. Dean had had enough, and dropped out, leaving Matthews and Rickman tc pick up the gap on to the fast-disappearing front markers. Shortly afterwards Archer, Dufty, Stansfield, and Rae, going well, passed through, closely followed by Mathieson, Sutherland, White, Prior, Henderson, and Hayes. The last-named, in taking the Black Bridge corner, was run out on to the grass, striking a ditch, and nearly capsizing. One of his feet flew off the pedal, and he pulled out. This was particularly bad luck for Slater, as he was going well when the accident happened. Over the last lap Prior and White jumped the bunch, and set after the field, but they had no chance of picking up the well-organised front markers, who won one of the best cash races seen at Mangere. Roy Pelham’s finishing sprint was a very fine effort. He only just got up in time to win by a few inches, H. Pelham beating D. Storey by a halflength for second place, with A. Blythe fourth, a length away. When IT. Pelham struck the finishing line, and saw who had beaten him, his yell of “Hooray, Roy!” was one of the features of the afternoon’s sport. Hardly had the excitement of the placed riders died down than the scratch, men, Prior and White, could be seen racing down Mangere Hill neck-and-neck. Two hundred yards from the line it was anyone’s race, but with a brilliant burst of speed Prior opened up a gap of two lengths over the last 100 yards, and won by that distance. It was one of the 'fastest finishing efforts seen at Mangere. There were three falls in the race, Healey, Lownes, and Matthews coming down. LONG-DISTANCE EVENT

Manukau Amateur Cycling Club’s 27-mile Event.—H. McElroy (4Am), 1; A. W. Pinker (sAmin), 2; P. Platt (5$ min), 3; S. Baird (4Amin), 4. Time, 75min 34sec. Fastest time, C. Galbraith (imin), 77min 7sec. Also started: Byrnes, scr; Casey, Dwight, Amin; Wilson, Stewart, Chambers, 2min; JSfathieson, 2Amin; Wade, Baker, Taylor, 3Jmin; Clark, Grant, D. Stewart, W. Devight, Deakin, Faithful, 4A min; Botterill, Rolleston, Borland, Russell, sAmin; McCullum, Newth, 6Amin; Watson, W. Borland, Potter, 7Amin. The race was to Papatoetoe, via Tamaki, and back, 31 riders facing the starter. The roads were good over the whole journey, the cement portion greatly appealing to the riders. As the field passed through Papatoetoe it was seen that the back division would have to move, to be in at the finish. This they failed to do, the front division over the last five miles filling the places. The finish was a very close one, inches separating first and second riders. Pinker, the second rider, threw away his chance by looking round a few yards from the finish. The back-markers put in an appearance shortly afterwards, and ftt a dingdong finish Galbraith secured fastest time. Several spills occurred, together with a few punctures, but with these exceptions the race was a great success. THE JUNIOR RACE Junior 51-mile Handicap Event.— i S. Lichfield (Amin), 1; D. Hope (Amin), I-; _A. Rose (lAmin), 3. Time, 14min 29 l-ssec. Fastest time, S. Lichfield i (.Amin), 14min 59 l-ssec. Also started: ; Rose, Foubi.-ter, scr; F. Pinker, lmin; j-S. Smith, A. Rose, lAmin; Keane, ; -min; Tolley, 3min: Johnson, 3Amin. As forecasted in THE SUN last week j S. Lichfield was not long in adding an- | other win to his credit. Tolley, 3min, j led the field by 70 yards at two miles j to go, but shortly was passed by the j middle markers. Over the last halfi mile Lichfield had no trouble in holding las own winning with a little to The scratch rider-s, G. Rose and were not doing their work together. This cost .one of them I fastest time prize. There were 10 scArters.