Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 292, 1 March 1928, Page 9

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

“VELOS"

Between 1,500 and 2,000 people went to the Domain on Saturday to see the Jubilee Carnival of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, and there learned that the track was unfit to hold cycle races, and that the carnival would be held next Saturday. “Velos” has pointed out in this journal on more than one occasion about the dangerous way this grass track on the Domain has been pegged out, and still it is there. It is only courting serious injury. The committee of the A.A.A. and C.C. is to be sympathised with, in having to cancel Saturday’s fixture, as, with no counter-attractions, and a wet Friday, no out-of-door arrangements would be made by the many people last weekend. Probably one of the largest gates seen at amateur athletics in Auckland for some time would have been the result on Saturday. Given fine weather, next Saturday should again see a big gate. GREAT CYCLE ENTRY The entries received for the cycle races at the Jubilee meeting, totalled 134 in the four handicap events. Practically half of the total entries received were for cycling, and came from the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club’s riders. It proves what a hold this fine sport has taken of the young athletes of to-day in Auckland. It is the same all over the Dominion—cycling entries are getting bigger every year. The one-mile novice handicap has attracted 20 entries. There are two heats and first, second and third in each heat start in the final. Novices as a rule are a mixed lot, but N. Fisher, J. C. Stewart and D. H. Butterworth should go well. There are 26 entries in the two-mile handicap event, and the cream of Auckland’s wheelmen are engaged. Two heats with first, second and third only to qualify for the final, is how t!he programme reads. This seems to be cutting this event too fine, as a fourth in the heats would have made eight in the final, instead of six as at present. Form point to M. P. Byrnes being the winner, but he is behind a good lot of limit men in his heat, who, if they put in their lap in earnest, will take some catching. However, H. Dwight and W. T. Bray, being with him, should all be in the final. The second heat also looks a back-markers’ race with J. H. Wade, F. J. Casey and A. Sircombe qualifying. The final should about be Byrnes, Casey, Wade and Dwight. A TEST OF CHAMPIONS The one-mile jubilee cycle handicap will be decided in four heats. First and second in each only are to qualify for final. First heat result should be M. P. Byrnes, H. Dwight, E. M. Taylor; second heat, J. H. Wade, F. J. Casey and K. J. Mathieson: third heat, A. Sercombe, L. Aldred, W. T. Bray; fourth heat, C. J. Gainsborough, F. E. Henwood; W. McCollum; Final, Byrnes, Dwight, Wade. The half-mile cycle handicap has five heats the first in each heat and second in the fastest time heat to qualify for the final. Results might be as follow* First heat, J. H. Wade, F. J. Casey; second heat, A. Sercombe, H. Dwight; third heat, L. Aldred, W. T. Bray* fourth heat, S. Lichfield, K. J. Mathieson fifth heat, C. J. Gainsborough, C. G. Galbraith. The final may be Sercombe, Wade and Dwight. The “Deil Tak the# Hain Maist” scratch race should be won by M. P. Byrnes, with H. Dwight and J. H. Wade filling the other places. As this event comes right on top of the half-mile final, it does not give riders much of a breather. This could easily have been avoided by working in a running event or two between these events. * AUSTRALIANS 1 VISIT March 10 will be a red letter day in the history of amateur cycling, as two of the fastest amateur wheelmen—J Standen and D. Gray, Australia’s representative cyclists at the Olympic Games at Antwerp this year-—ever seen in New Zealand, will be seen in action on the Domain against Auckland’s best. The Auckland Centre of the Amateur Ath-

letic Association, which is controlling the meeting, has not yet announced its programme, but taking it for granted that a scratch event is included, Auckland amateur cycling fans will look to M. P. Byrnes to uphold the honour of the province. Whether he can, remains to be seen, as he is up against two experienced wheelmen who work well together. Those who know what “two ! riders working together” means, will , agree with “Velos” that M.P.B. is taking on a stiff task. AT BLANDFORD PARK Blandford Park is closed to cyclists and runners alike for the season, owing to the top-dreessing of the playing area. The racing seen there —considering the smallness of the track—during the season, was of a high order. Riders who were constant performers, were quite satisfied with the track, and although it was a bit rough, some very exciting races were witnessed there. The disappointment of the season was the poor response from registered cash i riders. It was hard to understand the smallness of the entry. “Slater” Hayes and Harry Pelham ' were the two outstanding performers at j Blandford Park during the season just 1 concluded. The former was a very hard nut to crack in the longer distanced ; events, riding some exceptionally fine I handicap races. His finishes were of a i most determined order and on more I than one occasion be won with a final kick. Harry Pelham showed exceptional brilliancy in mile events. These seem to be his long suit, but he was also a rider to be reckoned with in distances up to three miles. Like Hayes, he had a bad fall during the season, but fortunately he only lost a bit of skin. KEEN PAPAKURA RIDER A rider -who never missed a meeting ! when he could possibly get here was W. Francis, of Papakura. He and his little j brother looked forward to these trips every Saturday, and no rider tried harder than he to win. It was not till ! the second last meeting of the year that he broke his duck by winning the one : and a'-half mile open handicap, and coming second to H. Lawler in a very close finish in the three-mile event. The Auckland Athletic and Cycliing Club has under consideration the staging of a big meeting about Easter time. The programme under consideration is a particularly good one, both cash runners and cyclists being catered for. Prize money in the vicinity of £6O is spoken of, and efforts are to be made to induce leading southern riders and runners to appear. The committee feel that with more than a hundred registered cash performers in Auckland, something should be done to give them at least one meeting in the city before this season closes. Should the meeting take place and the southern cracks, who are being communicated with, be able to appear, a record afternoon’s sport for Auckland cash fans is assured. By next week it will be known definitely if ‘ the meeting is to be gone on with. |