Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 322, 5 April 1928, Page 7

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

“VELOS”.

J. H. Wade, Auckland’s champion road-rider, is fast making a name for himself on the track. On Tuesday evening, at the Domain, he won two fine races, a half and five miles, the latter carrying with it the S. W. House Cup. In both events he showed a remarkable turn of speed, coming to the front in the last half lap, and winning comfortablj*. Phil O’Shea was the hero of another meeting. Riding as well, if not better, than he has ever done on a grass track, he won the Auckland Wheel Race (two miles), and the three miles open handicap, at the Auckland Club’s meeting on Saturday, in brilliant fashion. Starting in all the open events he entered in, he found the handicappers had taken too much notice of his recent wins in the South, and had put a limit on the shorter races that was too much for him. However, the fact remains that had the limits in those shorter events been much less, the whole of the first-prize money would have gone South. UNLUCKY HARCOURT J. IT. Harcourt (Hamilton) was the most unlucky rider at the meeting. Great things were expected of him on Saturday, but he fell and broke his collar-bone badly the first time out, and that was the end of him. Amateur riders were in their glory on Saturday, and thoroughly enjoyed looking on. What must have impressed all of them was the fine exhibition of pace-making given by O’Shea, Hayes and Henderson during the afternoon. They also gave valuable assistance to the meeting by assisting in pushing riders off. HAYES’S GREAT RIDING

Slater Hayes was in fine form. It is the opinion of many good judges that he rode better on Saturday than he has ever dbne in Auckland. His exhibition of “lap and lap” with O’Shea in the big event of the meeting was the finest seen in Auckland for many years, and had he gone round on the outside, instead of trying to poke through on the inside (which is not allowed), he must nearly have won. P. Rickman, winner of the liaif-mile open event, was one of those tipped to go well. He finished with a surprising turn of speed, fairly outclassing the opposition. In the other events he rode well, but could not catch the judge’s eye. PAPAKURA'S REPRESENTATIVE Papakura has the makings of a great rider in W. Francis. His wins in his heat and final of the one mile open handicap—in times that are surely records for the Domain track —were performances of a very high order. The final of the one mile was burnt off in 2m 20 l-ss, which is the fastest time done on this track this season. In the wheel race final, he looked a sure place-getter at the hill, but made his run too soon, and was beaten out of a place.

A GENEROUS ACT Mr. P. FaitlifuVs trophy for the winner of the most points in cycling was won by P. O’Shea, with two firsts to his credit, which gave him 3 0 points. P. Rickman was second with one first and one third, six points. P. O’Shea, when notified that he had wen the trophy, presented it to the A iekland Club for the coming road -racing season. Accidents were too numerous. In the first race of the day—the first heat of the half-mile —J. Harco t fell, breaking* his collar-bone. Shortly after, J. Henderson came over the top of 11. Pelham, and sprained his wrist, and finally F. Lowndes and P. Rickman ran foul of each other. The riders had marked out a new-shaped nock for that day, but the roughness of the surface put them off it, so they decided to use the old one, with "fhe above results. A SUCCESSFUL MEETING Saturday’s meeting was the lirst carried out under the Auckland Aihletic and Cycling Club’s jurisd'etion. It was undoubtedly run well o t:n.c, the credit for which was due to Mr. W. J. Davidson, the club’s starter. The racing was particularly good in many events, but the three-mile cycle handicap finish was the one that got the big crowd to its toes, O’Shea and Hayes being shouldered off the ground by cheering enthusiasts. A glance over receipts and expenditure reveals the fact that the club will show a substantial profit over the venture, and all guarantors will receive their money back in full. Well done, cash enthusiasts! To Aroha Athletic and Cycling Club (cash) is holding its annual sports meeting on Easter Monday, and has no less than £44 hung up in firstprize money alone. This bait caught the eye of Phil O’Shea, and he is now there, getting used to the track. Jack j Henderson and Slater Hayes are due ! there some time this week, and . ith | M. J. Randrup, O. Stace, R. Cnulton i and the other good ones round the ; district, a first-class meeting is .is- ! sured. This meeting will close the track-racing season. Amateur riders are catered (or at Easter by the Hamilton and Nga.iinepouri Amateur Athletic Clubs. Both these clubs consistently cater tor cyclists on their programmes, so it’s up to Auckland riders to roll up to these meetings in large numbers.