Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 268, 2 February 1928, Page 9

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

“VELOS”

Willie Mackie, New Zealand champion, will be at Paeroa on Saturday. This is what Kep. L#. Slyfield, the live wire of the Athletic Club advises “Velos.” Mackie is due to arrive on Thursday night, and will have Friday to become acquainted with the track. C. Tippins (New Plymouth) is already there, and is on the track twice daily training. C. B. Parker and H. A. Inch (New Plymouth) are due on Thursday. J. Harcourt, M. J. Randrup (Hamilton), and S. Hayes (Auckland), get there on the day of the sports. Not for years has such a representative entry been received by any club in the Auckland Province, and it certainly reflects the greatest credit on Ken L. Slyfield and his committee that Paeroa, given fine weather, will see one of the greatest cycling meetings ever held in the Dominion.

Eleven cycling events ’are set down for 'decision at the Paeroa Athletic (cash) Club’s meeting on Saturday. This is a record number of events for a one-day meeting in New Zealand. The open events are one, two, three, three and a-half, and live miles, while for riders up to 19 years of age, there are four events ranging from half-mile to a mile. For girls there is a 100yds slow race, and as a wind-up there is a consolation race of one and a-half miles, with first prize of £3, second £ 1 and third 10s. Nominations are free. “Velos” has been connected with sports promoters for a few years, but so far this is the first free nomination he knows of, where there is such a substantial first prize. SPORTS TO BE BROADCAST The Paeroa Athletic Club’s meeting on Saturday is being broadcast by station IYA Auckland. The keen interest being shown in this big meeting throughout the Auckland Province, Taranaki and Christchurch has led to these arrangements being made. Riders who should perform well at Paeroa are M. J. Randrup, in the one and two mile events; J. Hareourt, W. Mackie, R. Caulton, S. McCann and C. Tippins, in the three, three and a-half and five miles. With 45 starters in the three, three and a-half, and five miles events, there should be some worry in store for the back-markers. Should the field bunch, there is no chance of the scratch division getting past. It looks as if these long-distance races will have to be run in heats if the whole nomination faces the starter at Paeroa on Saturday. BYRNES TOO GOOD FOR GROSE F. J. Grose, New Zealand amateur champion, was defeated by the Auckland crack amateur, M. P. Byrnes, in the five mile Auckland provincial championship at Hamilton on Saturday, in one of the best finishes seen in the province. Byrnes also acounted for the half-mile event, Grose being a nonstarter. At the following Monday Grose did not start in the three mile Auckland championship for some unaccountable reason,* and Byrnes, holding the opposition too cheap, was beaten by J. H. Wade, the 50-mile New Zealand road champion, by inches. In the two mile open han-

dicap, Grose and Byrnes both started, the latter receiving- 15yds from the New Zealand champion. In a fast run race on a rough track Byrnes again beat Grose. The most successful riders in the handicap events at Hamilton and Te Awamutu were A, W. Pinker (Auckland) at the former meeting, who won both the open events, and J. H. Wade, J. Spence and C. J. McCabe, who won one each at the latter. The tracks' were the subject of much condemnation on the part of several prominent amateur riders. A WORD IN SEASON The attendance at the Hamilton Athletic Club’s meeting was most disappointing. In future the Auckland Centre should give serious consideration to where it allots its championship events. It is impossible for good riders to hold the badly-shaped tracks they are asked to ride on in most country towns, and it is certainly heartbreaking for a rider like F. J. Grose, New Zealand amateur champion, to feel that in his effort to improve amateur cycling, his appearance at a meeting is only worth a few hundred people. Slater Hayes carried too many guns for Jimmy Harcourt at Blandford Park on Saturday afternoon, beating him in the two races decided by the narrowest of margins. There was quite a number of cycling fans present to see these two meet, and judging by the enthusiasm shown Hayes’s win was very popular. The handicapper for the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club will no doubt in his future adjustments see to it that the limits are extended. In both races held last Saturday the back men were up with the field before half the distance had been covered. NOT A ONE-MAN JOB Secretary H. Tonkin had a busy day at Blandford Park on Saturday. He had to cut the grass, mark the track, and supervise the running of the races. He will have plenty of assistance in future, as several riders and enthusiasts have offered their services. Next Saturday the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club will hold a one and a two mile open handicap event at Blandford Park. There will also be an “Old Timers’ ” race, and already such keen enthusiasts as G. Herring, B. Herring. S. Oakes. C. Marriott, H. Tonkin, J. Willoughby, G. Killingback and J. Rickman, have signified their intention of competing. W. Dwight won the quarter-mile open handicap run at the Domain last week in a very workmanlike manner. Starting off 30yds. he was never sighted, winning by six lengths in the very good time of 33 2-ssec, H. Dwight (15yds) being second, and C. W. Rollerson (40yds) third. J. H. Wade (syds) was the only back man to qualify, but he seemed to get into a bad position half a lap from home, and finished out of a place. The arrival in Wellington this week of J. Standen and D. Gray, Australia’s two premier wheelmen, will set all amateur riders alight as far as training is concerned. These two speed kings have been chosen to represent Australia in the Olympic Games at Antwerp this year, having both decisively beaten R. W. (“Fatty”) Lamb in the track trials organised for that purpose. If Lamb’s riding in Auckland last year can be taken as a criterion, New Zealand amateurs will have to be on their best behaviour to win a

scratch race. With two riders operating as pals, track officials should read up the rules. Standen and Gray’s first appearance will be at Wanganui. SPECTACULAR DEBUT j AUSTRALIAN CYCLISTS’ VISIT! RECORDS BROKEN AT WANGANUI Press Association. WANGANUI, Wednesday. ! Two Australian and New Zealand cycling records were broken on Cook Gardens track this evening by J. Standen and Duncan Gray (New South Wales). Making his initial appearance in New Zealand Standen covered the quarter-mile from a standing start in 29 4-ss. His companion rode a flying quarter-mile in 25 4-ss. The visitors were greeted by thousands of spectators who were impressed by their racing. Standen also won the one mile A grade race in 2m 3 2-ss, Gray being second. In the invitation scratch mile race the two Australians dead-heated in 2m 6 3-ss. Gray won the three mile event by a quarter of a wheel from his colleague in the fast time of 6m 40 3-ss. Adamson and Cave were the best of the Wanganui riders, Wakeley not reaching form. SATURDAY’S CYCLING HANDICAPS DECLARED The following handicaps have been declared for the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club’s cycling races to be held next Saturday: One Mile. —S. Hayes,, J. Harcourt, scr; H. Pelham, J. V. Gore, '30yds; J. Henderson, 40yds; J. Matheson, 50yds; D. Storey. 60yds; W. Hill, 60yds; K. Ray, H. Lawler, F. Lowdnes. J. Blythe, N. Healey, I. George, W. Matheson, 80yds; R. Pelham, H. Bryce, 90yds; J. Reid, S. Davis, R. Rothwell, 110yds; N. MattSiews, N. Archer, 120yds; J. Deane, 160y8s. Two Miles. —S. Hayes, J. Harcourt, scr; H. Pelham, J. V. Gore. 50yds; J. Henderson, J. Matheson, 70yds; D. Storey, W. Hill, 100yds; K. Ray, H. Lawler, F. Lowdnes, J. Blythe. I. George, 129yds; N. Healey, W. Matheson, 140yds; R. Pelham, H. Bryce, 160yds; J. Reid, S. Davis. R. Rothwell, 170yds; N. Mathews. A. Archer, 200yds; J. Deane, 240yds.