Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 356, 17 May 1928, Page 10

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

“VELOS"

Next Saturday at Mangere will see two big fields starting in the two cycle events set down for decision. The Manukau Amateur Cycle Club’s 17mile open event looks like creating a record, as it is a distance that every amateur rider can take on and do himself justice. The Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club’s event has again drawn a big entry, and looks like being their best patronised race of the season. At last Saturday’s races there were 68 riders competing; this is the largest number that has been seen in action this season, but when it is recognised that there are over 100 riders racing in Auckland it is seen that the possibilities of the sport of cycle racing are very great. Two riders last Saturday put up performances that are worthy of notice. One was G. Hall in the cash ranks, and the other J. Whitten in the amateurs. The former, by winning Saturday’s open handicap, won three open cash events on end. He has shown greatly improved form lately, and on his riding on Saturday, when he also covered the 14-mile in the fastest time, he has certainly brought himself well under the liandicapper’s notice. Gerry Whitten, by winning the amateur event and also gaining fastest time, has again entitled himself to be brought back on to the scratch mark. The meeting of J. Wade, M. Byrnes and him on Saturday should be a great go. FRANCIS’S DECISIVE WIN R. Francis, who so decisively won the junior event, is a very promising youngster. He was well treated by the handicapper on 2m. 455., and made the most of it, winning by over 100 yards. He is sure to be in the money again this season, as he intends going in for a new racing machine. Last Saturday he was on a borrowed one, and had only been loaned it that day. A. Rose, on the 20s. mark, rode a great race. He was only beaten by a few seconds by the scratch boy, D. Hope, for fastest time. A new rider in H. McEntee ran third, and in doing so created ’a favourable impression. The Manukau Cycle Club’s 28-mile open event saw 40 riders start. M. P. Byrnes for some reason did not start, leaving J. H. Wade, the other scratch rider, a gap of 60s. to pick up on to J. Whitten and H. Dwight. This he found impossible and after going flat out over the first two laps and making no impression on the field, he pulled out. This left Whitten, Casey and H. Dwight to fight it out for fastest time. Pacing each other in great style, they overhauled the field two miles from the finish, and from then on there was no chance of either of them missing a place. When it came to racing, Whitten was the only rider in it, winning easily by four lengths. H. Dwight finished second, and H. McElroy, who came very fast over the last 50 yards, was third. The fourth rider to finish was H. J. McLaren. He has been a constant attender at all the

Manukau Club’s races, and on his present form is due for a win. HALL’S HAT TRICK To win three races on end and the fastest time as well, is what G. Hall, the newly turned over amateur cyclist has done since joining the “pros.” He was one of the outsiders of the field in Saturday’s race, but though not fancied, he won from the 2£m. mark; and in doing so put up his best ride at Mangere. His improvement is so marked, and he is such a strong rider, that better things can be expected of him. P. Lowndes seems fated to fill second places, as his last five places in road races have all been seconds. Lowndes is a starter every Saturday and there is no rider riding at the present time who is keener on the game. A win for him would be one of the most popular at Mangere. The two scratch riders, Slater Hayes and Prank Prior, are finding the handicaps a bit too much for them at the present time. In the last two cash races run at Mangere they did not seem to be doing it right. Prior has not had too much racing and cannot be riding anywhere near his best, but Hayes has been in hard training right through the track season and is well. Last Saturday he struck trouble about three miles from the finish, getting a puncture. This put him out of action. Fit and well, these two riders are capable of putting up a great ride, and any Saturday might see them do it. 23,000 CYCLES IN AUCKLAND At the present time there are over 23,000 bicycles registered in Auckland at the moderate sum of one shilling. Many racing cyclists are under the impression that there is no need to have their machines registered. This is distinctly a wrong idea to get hold of, as should any rider meet with an accident and trouble arise, he would most probably get fined for riding an unregistered bicycle. Tom Faithful has the best thanks of all riders for the trouble he goes to in helping riders round the bad corner at Robertson Road. This is a particularly tricky corner at any time, but when two bunches of riders meet on it it is positively dangerous. With Tom Faithful taking on the control at this spot riders, both amateur and cash, should have no cause to worry.