Crack Cyclists Reach Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 317, 30 March 1928, Page 12

Crack Cyclists Reach Auckland

O’SHEA AND HENDERSON SOME FINE PERFORMANCES Phil O'Shea and Jack Handerson, the two crack Christchurch cyclists, who are going off the scratch mark in all the wheel events at the big cash sports carnival to be staged on the Domain to-morrow, arrived in Auckland by the Limited express this morning. Both men appear particularly well and fit, and can be expected to do big things to-morrow, although it is likely that they may find the grass very slow after the asphalt track of English Park in the Southern city. O’Shea and Henderson have both raced in Auckand before, and their thrilling battles with Harris Horder at Blandford Park two years ago will be remembered by Aucklanders. For 19 years, Phil O’Shea has been ranked among New Zealand’s best wheelman and has hiet the majority of cracks hailing from other countries during that time. As a boy, O’Shea had a liking for pushing a bike, but he first came out into the limelight in 1909 when he won the TimaruChristchurch road race. Including that occasion, he has competed in that well-known long-distance rajee nine times, and has two firsts and six fastest times. TIMARU TO CHRISTCHURCH “But that race to-day is not like it used to be,” said O’Shea to a Sun man this morning. To-day the Selwyn is bridged, the water races are covered with culverts and the road throughout is quite good. A few years ago we had at least 60 waterraces to cross and the Selwyn to wade. The roads in some parts were almost impossible to ride over.” O’Shea is also well-known in Australia and as well as gaining some big wins on the other side of the Tasman, has also secured fastest times. Last time he was in Melbourne he was off the same mark as Hubert Opperman, the crack Australian cyclist, who is to re present Australia in the biggest race in the world, the Tour de France, this year. Opperman got a puncture and so the New Zealander had no trouble in securing the win. The year before, however, O’Shea gave Opperman six minutes start, and beat him. Referring to Harry Watson, the New Zealand cyclist, who is going to compete in the Tour de France with Opperman, Phil O’Shea said that Watson was undoubtedly a real champion and although he may not be just good enough to beat Opperman he will be with the Australian all the way and will certainly keep him busy. ANOTHER CHAMPION Jack • Henderson is another cyclist with a fine list of performances, although, of course, he is a much younger man than O’Shea and has the best part of his career ahead for him. In 1922 he made himself known by winning the 36-mile championship of Southbridge, and last year at Gisborne he did not have a great deal of trouble in clinching three championship races. Henderson has also been over to Sydney, but he did not get over there until late in the season last year, so he did not have much of a chance to show up. He took part in on© big race. Henderson, however, has not yet done anything startling in the TimaruChristchurch race. In 1922 he got 40 minutes and in 1924 was scratch, but failed to get placed on either occasion. He puts on a big broad smile when this big Southern rac© is mentioned and remarks: “It’s no good to me.’ J He is more of a sprinter than a distance man.