Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 126, 18 August 1927, Page 8

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

“VELOS."

The weather on Saturday was easily the worst experienced for racing at Alangere this season. Riders were soon covered in slush, and in many cases found it impossible to see. There were a number of falls, but all were of a minor nature. They were well looked after by members of the St. John Ambulance, after which they •were able to ride home. The officials « t both races had a dreary afternoon of jt, but they were there to a man. It goes without saying that their efforts are very much appreciated by riders. The Manukau Cycling Club had five new riders competing for the first time in its 27-mile open event on Saturday, the total for the afternoon in both classes being 63. J. Wade, the winner of Saturday’s ‘ niud scramble,” bolted at the finish, winning by 20 yards. He seemed none the worse for his 27-mile ride, finishing very fresh. He looks good for another race before the season closes. J.W. would be well advised, in the interests of the sport of road racing, to give other riders a chance of "sitting in” now and again. L. Chambers, the heavy-weight of the Manukau Cycling Club, who ran second, had bad luck in striking a rider with a finish like the winner. He has been In the prize money this season, however, winning the Howick sealed handicap, and running second in rhe time trial. He was pushing a big gear on Saturday, and likes it. A POPULAR WIN

F. Casey is one of the best-Liked riders belonging to the M.A.C.C. His wins are always popular with his clubmates. and Saturday’s success was no exception. He was a very tired and muddy rider when he got off his machine at the finish. He had not only secured third place, but had also ridden the 27 miles in the fastest time. K. Rowe is another rider who could do with a win. His ride into fourth place on Saturday was a good one, as he had a lot of battling to do to even get there. Saturday’s conditions did not seem to suit him, as he is no “mud lark.” He will appear to better advantage on a fine day. C. Galbraith was one of the favourites for fastest time. He, however, was found wanting over the last mile. As the big events are now drawing he is sure to tune up for them. Fit and well, this rider will always put up a good ride. Les Wilson and “friends” took the shortest way home on Saturday. It is something new for this bunch to be looking for short cuts, especially when they were near the front, and had only a few' miles to go, but that “tired w'et feeling” does overtake one now and again. M. P. Byrnes said it was next to impossible for him to see clearly where he was going, so thought it better to pull up. After having an imprompfu clean-up, eyes included, he pedalled slowly home. Saturday's big amateur 27-mile event, to Papakura and back, proves that the handicap could have been let out. The limit was five minutes, but when 17 miles had gone the backmarkers were within striking distance of the field. Xo doubt the smallness of the gaps in the back division was responsible for this. ECHO OF RECENT PROTEST The executive of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club heard the protests by M. P. Byrnes and C. Galbraith against H. Dw'ight, for alleged following of a motor-car in the 27-mile time trial held on July 30. After hearing the parties concerned, it decided that owing to the conflicting nature of the evidence no fastest time trophy be awarded in that race. Riders should not forget that the Auckland 50-mile road championship will take place on Saturday. August 27, starting and finishing in the Alexandra Park trotting ground. As it is only two weeks to the day of the race, intending competitors are advised to make themselves conversant with the route, and also with the conditions the race. Full details will appear in next week’s SUN. M.A.C.C. JUNIOR RACE The winner of the junior race, D. Hope, rode his best race on Saturday. He was.alone on the 30sec mark, and not only won the race, but won fastest time prize as well. He was in charge 300 yards from the finish, and won comfortably. His performances at Mangere this season stamp him as a very fine rider, as also does his winning list at the headquarters of the M.A.C.C. . . , F. Pinker and A. Rose, who finished second and third, have also been consistent performers in junior events this

season. Both are good sports, and there is no shirking of laps by either of them.

The two scratch boys in the junior event on Saturday, A. Sercombe and G. Rose, provided a great finish. Rose led Sercombe over the last 300 yards, and although the latter drew level 60 yards from the finishing line, it was his dying kick, Rose drawing away, finally winning by a length. Both. however, missed fastest time through watching each other. AUCKLAND CLUB’S RACE The 14-mile open handicap brought to light a winner who so far has not been in the club’s prize list. "VV. K. Francis has ridden on several occasions at Mangere, but Saturday’s effort was his best. He won in a very convincing manner by 400 yards. Over the last one and a-half miles he rode on his own, getting a break on the front-markers, which he kept to the finish. He finished remarkably fresh, and his win was very popular. H. Pelham, who finished second, just got up in time to beat H. Rhodes. He was responsible for some very fast pacing over the first lap, just about dropping his co-markers at one part of it. This effort no doubt told on him over the latter part of the journey. H. Rhodes, one of the veteran riders of the’ A.A. and C.C., had bad luck in losing second place. That fatal look round over the last 20 yards did the trick for him. Dave Storey, the winner of the previous two events, was a spectator, having a day off. He will be a starter in next Saturday’s 20 miles, when no doubt both Francis and himself will receive the attention of the liandicapper. Jerry Mathieson was not taking any of the rain and slush. He was quite content to pull out in the first round, when he saw the state the roads were in. Slater Hayes was also an absentee. He was badly missed by his two co-markers on scratch, White and Prior. Putty White had no trouble in again winning fastest time. "What promised to be a good race was spoilt by Frank Prior pulling his foot out of his pedal when within 150 yards from the finishing post. U.S. SPRINT CHAMPION Harris Horder’s victory in the national sprint championship of the United States shows that the young

Sydney’s rider is riding at the top of his form at present. Decided over a comprehensive series of events totalling no fewer than 24, this year’s championship found Horder steadily forging ahead on points, and the twenty-second race served to put him in an unbeatable

position. Horder rode some thrilling and spectacular races at Blandford Park last year against the star performers of the Dominion, and it may be that Auckland fans will have the opportunity of seeing him in action again, as his home is in Sydney, and his newlywon status would make him a big drawing card in this part of the world. The League of New South Wales Wheelmen, the governing body of cash cycling in New South Wales, has a membership of 812, and a bank balance of £731. The sum of £3,150 was given away in stakes during the season, country meetings accounting for £1,825. Owing to the rough state of the weather, the attendances were considerably affected. The annual report states that consideration was still being given to construct a modern sixlap wooden track. It was also remarked in the report, but very briefly, that an attempt should be made to legalise betting on cycle races. The premier event in cycling circles in the North Island, is the forthcoming Dunlop North Island road championship, Hamilton -Auckland event, which takes place on October 1. Already many valuable prizes both in cash and kind have been received, which promises to make the race an assured success. The committee in charge of the arrangements are making strenuous efforts to beat last year’s prize list. They also are going very thoroughly into feeding arrangements for riders. With a big entry assured, the race promises to be one of the biggest of its kind ever held in the North Island.