Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 235, 23 December 1927, Page 11

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

“VELOS.”

Riders are well catered for during the holidays. Cash riders will no doubt do the Springdale, Te Aroha and Waitoa meetings, while the amateurs have the Te Kowhai, Whatawhata and Hamilton circuit to follow. The prizemoney at all these meetings is practically the same as last year, but the entries have increased to such an extent that the racing should show a big improvement.

Should S. Hayes, the Auckland crack, and J. Harcourt, Hamilton’s champion, decide to visit Springdale, Te Aroha and Waitoa at New Year, they seem certain to win most of the money. With C. Tippins, who scooped three races at Paeroa last week, out of the way, the back-markers (if 1 they get in the finals—and work together) should give the country people some great racing. The same can be said of the back-markers in the amateur events at Te Kowhai, Whatawhata and Hamilton. If M. P. Byrne, J. H. Wade and F. J. Casey get in the finals of any of the events they contest, they will keep the limit riders busy to keep away from them. It is questionable if ever Auckland has had such a solid lot of back-markers, both amateur and professional. A GOOD DAY’S WORK. C. Tippins, New Plymouth, was the hero of Paeroa’s annual sports meeting. Starting five times, he won four and ran second in one, winning £2l for the afternoon, which is not a bad performance. He was very liberally treated by handicapper Charley Morrison in all the events; in fact, he had too much start. Slater Hayes started in all the races at Paeroa on Saturday. He does not appear to be able to get going till he has covered three miles. In the five mile he and Harcourt paced a great race, but could not overhaul the winner, C. Tippins, who won by about 10 yards. The reception the riders received from the record attendance was a remarkable one. There is no doubt that cycling holds pride of position as far as enthusiasm is concerned with not only country crowds, but with city attendances as well.

M. J. Randrup, the young Hamilton crack, inflicted the only defeat of the day on the New Plymouth flyer, C. Tippins. Randrup beat him decisively in the two-mile handicap, but in the other races he did not ride to form. He was evidently suffering from the effects of the spill he received in the mile final when he and Vic Hale crashed earlier in the day.

The five and a-half mile road race held by the Hanukau Amateur Cycling Club on Saturday was well supported by riders, 24 facing the starter. The course was in fair condition. It is being attended to by the roadmen at the present time, all potholes being filled up and tar-sealed. It should supply a long-felt want as far as rjders are concerned. WADE'S FINE RIDING. The racing was full of interest, in spite of the fact that there was a

strong westerly gale blowing. The limit riders, L. Aldred (2£min), A. Reed (2Smin) and F. G. Hughes (2min 20sec) fiHed the first three places, pacing a very solid race. The ride put up by J. H. Wade, of lOsec behind scratch, was a very fine one. He was no time in picking up F. J. Casey (scratch), C. J. Gainsborough (ssec), and K. J. Mathieson (lOsec). These four set out to pick up the limit, but in spite of the fact that each rider went all out when pacing, they finished more than one hundred and fifty yards behind the winners. Great credit is due to the limit boys for the way they worked together.

F. J. Casey, who won last week’s one and a-half mile at the Domain, showed something like his old form by winning in good style. He won his heat fairly easily, but he had to ride to win the final. Lichfield (80yds) was the actual limit rider. He waited for the field, and did his bit towards making the race interesting. When the bell rang, Casey soon got into his stride, and taking the lead half a lap from home, went on to win by two lengths from Gainsborough and Lichfield in that order.

J. H. Wade, the winner of Monday night’s mile event, and also Mr. W. Morton’s Cup, just walked in. It looked as if L. Aldred, the youthful 150yds limit rider, must win when the bell rang, as he had a lead of fully 50yds, but he tired badly 150yds from the finish, and was passed by Wade, who had put in a very fast last lap. Casey filled second place, and Bray was third. Wade, the winner, rode well. He was never really pushed, winning comfortably. L. Aldred, who put up a great unpaced ride in the final, could not quite see the distance out. He was responsible for a very fine unpaced performance, and caused no small amount of excitement by the way he kept away from the field.

The annual conference of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union will be held on December 31, at Timaru. The governing body for professional athletes in New Zealand has had a very easy time this last year, no disputes of a serious nature having come before it for its jurisdiction. No doubt the conference will consider ways and means of raising the necessary funds for the sending of H. G. Watson, New Zealand’s road champion, to France in February for the big Tour de France road race.

Phil O’Shea was to have been seen in action against Willie Mackie, Jack Henderson and Co. at English Park Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday night, but owing to the unfavourable weather conditions the meeting was postponed. The meeting of these three riders in scratch events is sure to arouse considerable interest, and in spite of the form Mackie is showing the redoubtable Phil will be hard to beat.