Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 304, 15 March 1928, Page 12

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

- By

“VELOS"

Phil O’Shea, New Zealand’s champion cyclist, will be a competitor at the Domain on March 31. As this will in all probability be the veteran’s last appearance in Auckland, as he contemplates retiring next year, those lovers of the sport of cycle racing who would like to see a super-rider in action should not forget to pencil that date. Given a fine day, and with the fastest cyclist and runners in the Dominion competing, the attendance at the Domain should be a record one. The permit applied for by the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club to the Auckland Centre of the A.A.A., to allow two amateur cycle races to be included on its March 31 programme, has been refused, on the grounds that it is the rule of the centre to grant permits only to sporting bodies, not individual professional clubs. A GOOD MEETING A perfect day, a large attendance, and good racing under a capable list of officials, characterised the East Tamaki Amateur Sports Club’s meeting last Saturday. The presence of the Third Auckland Mounted llifles Band was to a large degree responsible for the success of the meeting. The cycle events again drew large entries, and in most of the races—which were run straight out—there-were not less than .15 starters. The racing, though interesting, was spoilt by the back-markers never once during the afternoon getting within striking distance of the placed men. The handicappers had evidently underestimated the form of J. Whitten and L. Penfold, as these two riders cleaned up the programme. The track was in fair order, the dry weather having left it bumpy in places, but taking the times into consideration, riders had very little to complain about. J. Whitten was the hero of the day. i lie wen the three open cycle races in ;

| which he started very easily, and being a local rider, his wins were exceedingly popular. He had trained on the track and rode it better than any other rider on the ground. He was very kindly treated by the handicappers, who allowed him to win three races on end without a rehandicap, an unheard of thing in athletic events at a sports meeting. His riding on Saturday was the best he has done since he took to cycle racing. Auckland riders had to be content with filling the minor places for once. The back-markers did not appear to be able to make any Impression on the field when Whitten, Penfold or Faithful were in front. J. H. Wade and W. T. Bray were riding last among them, but were quite unable to pick up the handicaps. Arfiong the middlemarkers, L. Wilson and A. Sercombe, shaped best. The former looked like being in the prize list in the two-mile event, but he tired and finished well back from the placed men. NEEDS A SPELL M. P. Byrnes will not race again this track season. He intends to join in the road racing at Mangere next month, confining himself to short distances, but it’s quite on the cards that should the proposed Hamilton to Auckland amateur road race to be decided on, that he will be a starter. Though the programme of the Auck - land Centre has only been in circulation a few days, entries are already coming' in. Tfie prize money offered is the chief topic of conversation among professional athletes, and on all sides the committee is congratulated on having succeeded in arranging such a fine programme. RIDERS DISAPPOINTED Amateur cyclists will be disappointed to hear that the two events set down for them on Saturday, March 31, are cut out, owing to the centre

not granting the necessary permit for the holding of them. Already amateur riders are voicing their disapproval of the centre’s action, many of them hinting at competing in cash races. The Matamata Athletic Club’s meeting to be held on Easter Saturday, April 7, has two open cash cycle races, a mile and a two-mile, on its programme. The prize money in the mile is £5 and in the two-mile £7 10s. ROAD RACING SEASON The amateur cycling road racing season will open on Saturday, April 14, with an 11-mile road race, by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club. On June 30, the 10-mile club championship will be held, and on the same date the s^-mile junior club championship will take place. Every three weeks a junior handicap will be staged for riders under 16 years of age. A GREAT RIDER Phil O’Shea’s record at this year’s New Zealand cash cycling championship meeting is as follows: —First in the two and five-mile N.Z. championship, first in the three-mile handicap and second in the quarter and onemile N.Z. championships. In the quarter-mile championship he pulled one of the blocks off his shoes when he looked all over a winner, and through being unable to get his shoe repaired in time, lie was unable to start in the half-mile championship event, which he had every chance of winning. His record is a remarkable one, and it is quite evident he is riding at the top of his form. He should be a great attraction at the Auckland Domain on March 31. Tim Banner, former world’s professional sprint champion, was once a cyclist. He found out, however, it was much better to run down a nice green running, course taped out than to have to come through a field with a dozen or more riders all crowded together on the home bend. Harry G. Watson is now on his way to represent this Dominion in the world’s greatest road race, the Tour de France, 3,338 miles. Watson linked up with the three Victorians, H. Op-

perman, P. Osborn, and E. Bainbridge, in Melbourne early this month and left on Tuesday, March 6 by the Otranto for Paris, where they will make all their arrangements for the forthcoming big event. The New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union, the governing body of cash athletes in the Dominion, raised £ 150 toward Watson's expenses for the trip, the balance of the money being found by “The Herald and Globe Fund” in Melbourne. Those who know Watson are hoping that the climatic conditions will suit him, as they are confident that he will ride a great race.