Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 482, 11 October 1928, Page 10

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

The amateur cyclists- road racin, season closed on Saturday, October * wit hthe 50-mile Auckland cha mi) i„”‘ ship, controlled by the Manukau£' teud Cycling Club. This live cluh tl staged all the road races held durW the past year, and staged them welt Right through the six months of th road racing period, amateur rider have been able to enjoy the basting of road racing, and not only enjoy 1, but every Saturday, thanks to thi» u £ to-date club, have good prizes to rar for. “Volos” lias on many voiced his praise of the wav Seer, tary Les V llson and hts committee

handle their club .:fTairs. but In con'ludtng the ro,, racing of 1928, h» • train concratuttes them on the lucoess °r their A GREAT SEASON The racing, both n the junior and senior events, hu shown a big j m . provement, aot

only in the numbers competing, but in the standard of times recorded. On several occasions, both in junior and senior open handicaps, have records been broken, while in the club’s 22mile time trial. J. Whitten broke the existing record for this distance by over a minute. All this goes-to prove that the sport which once drew thousands of people to witness it is again becoming popular with riders, and it is only the matter of handling it properly when the public will again flock to see the champions, not only from other parts of the Dominion, but from all over the world, meeting in clean, healthy competition. The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club’s annual meeting will be held on October 20 in the Chamber of Commerce building. The report and balance sheet show a very satisfactory state of affairs. The election of officers for the coming season and general are the two chief items for the evening. WHITTEN, THE CHAMPION In winning not only the 50-milc Auckland amateur provincial championship, but the handicap event as well, J. Whitten set the seal on his fame as being in a class by himself, where racing over *3 distance among amateurs is concerned. Saturday's race as seen from Mr. “Gerry” Mathieson’s Press car. proved that Whitten's recent performance at Wellington in the 50-mile New’ Zealand championship, when he simply left T. G. Lukey, Christchurch, at the finish, was no fluke. Riding a cool, calculating race on the outward journey, and for a good distance on the return, he simply drew right away from the other backmarkers shortly after leaving Manurewa. From here to the finish he was on his own, winning as he liked. F. J. Casey, who finished second to Whitten in the championship, rode one of the finest races it has been this scribe’s luck to see. Starting off the 2min mark, he was picked up in the first 10-mile by the scratch riders, Wade and Whitten, and from there to the finish he did his share of the pacing like a champion. Only when he was dropped, dead beat, did his gameness assert itself, and where many riders would have “turned it in” he stuck to it; and for the last five miles plugged away on his own. beaten but game to the last. TOOK TOO MUCH OUT OF HIMSELF Many were surprised at J. H. Wade’s name not figuring in Saturday’s list of placings. His successes during the past season have been exceptional in races up to 25 miles, so that it was fully expected he and Whitten would fight out the finish of the 50. Wade, however, did not ride a heady race! On the outward Journey, instead of reserving all his strength for the return ride » he Paced lap and lap with Whitten, who is a very much older rider, and a considerably more seasoned one. On one occasion when he was near catching Casey and Dwight, he sprinted flat out for 300yds, until Whitten tacked on to pick them up. This sort of thing tells on a rider at the finish, and it undoubtedly told on Wade. • The Akarana Amateur Athletic Club's programme of events to be decided at the Labour Day sports on Monday, October 22, is out, and contains a half, one, two, and a “miss and out” scratch race for cyclists, while runners are catered for to the extent of 100yds, 220yds, 880yds open, 100yds maiden, and two-mile steeplechase handicap. Primary and secondary schools are also well looked after, while in the novelty events, married men and women, also single ladies’ races, are included. Entries close on October 11 at the Trades Hall. As this meeting will open the 1928-29 track season, a big entry is assured. ROAD SEASON FINISHES The Auckland Athletic and Cyclinr Club will hold its 14-mile Auckland championship next Saturday at Mangere. It will also stage a 14-mile consolation race for all those who have never won a first prize. This will just about finish the cash riders’ road racing season. The championship promises to be a very interesting event "With such good riders as F. Prior, S. Hayes, J. Lindop, and K. J. Mathieson, J. Henderson, C. Francis and N Healey, together with J. Harcourt, of Hamilton, competing, the finish should be one to remember. C. Slack, the winner of last Saturday’s 14-mile handicap at Mangere. scored his first win this season. He was on a big mark—too big for him—and won easily. W. Whyte, who finished second, is another rider who collects for the first time. K. Rae added another third to his season’s record. J. Lindop surprised the one-minute riders. K. J. Mathieson, J. Henderson j and C. Francis, by beating them by ; losec for fastest time all on his own. An inquiry is being made into the validity of the entry form of N. Bellringer, New Plymouth, in connection | with the recent Hamilton to Auckland ! road race by Mr. George Sutherland. j Auckland representative of the New | Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union, j the governing body for cash athletics ,in New Zealand. Rumour hath it that it was far from being a correct one.