Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 506, 8 November 1928, Page 10

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

“VELOS"'

The sport of cycle has evidently caught on with Auckland riders, both amateur and professional, as both clubs intend to promote evening meetings until such time Blandford Park stadium track opens. With this end in view, it is proposed to interview the City Council in reference to the use of the Domain for two evenings a week. At the present time cricket is being played there, but it is thought if the tracks are laid before the cricketing authorities, that there will be no serious objection raised to the limited amount of time required each evening to run the one or two cycle races it is proposed to hold. The first of the series of evening amateur cycle races to be held this season promises to attract a record number of starters. In staging a mile A grade, and a mile B grade handicap event on its programme this week, the Auckland Amatuer Athletic and Cycling Club has added considerable interest to its evening sport. Fresh from their successful road racing season, riders are looking forward to the track racing to keep them in form during the summer months, and a race a week will do much toward this end. Next week It is hoped to see both Wednesday and Thursday evenings taken up with at least one open race each night, the amateurs having the former, while the “pros” have the other night. WELL DESERVED WINS To have started in all road races held by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club during last season won A. W. Pinker the trophy donated for the rider registering the greatest number of starts. A total of 26 road races was put over by the club, and in 26 did A.W.P. compete. Likewise did F. Taylor win “the most improved rider” trophy. He simply raced himself into form by gaining one first, four seconds and two thirds during the road Reason. Amateur riders who finished first or

second during the year are as follow: J. H. Wake, ten fastest times, two firsts; J. H. Whitten, five fastest times, four firsts, one second; H. Dwight, five fastest times, one second; M. P- Byrnes, two fastest times, one second; DFletcher, three firsts, one second; r. E. Pinker, two firsts, two seconds; J* C. Stewart. N. Fisher, two firsts; C. A* Clarke, one first, one second; H. G. Brewin, E. Cleaver, one fastest timej C. A. Clarke, one first, one second; D. Hope, J. Leather, A. W. Pinker, C. L. Russell, H. Russell aryl S. Kay. one win each; C. G. Gainsborough, C. Francis, W. F. Dwight, two seconds: S. Baird, C. Harris, one second. Taking the season right through, there were 28 riders in first, second or fastest, that participated in the prize money, which speaks «ell for th€ handicapping in spite of the fact that, with the exception of the 50-mile Auckland championship, the scratch riders were seldom winners. Cash cyclists will welcome the good news that track racing may commence next week on che Domain. the interest of the sport, it is imperative that the “pros,” as they are called, should be catered for as well as the amateurs, for at heart they are as keenly interested in their racing It is understood that those behind the movement intend to see to it that cash riders have at least a race a week to look forward to. A of riders interested will be called shortly, when the matter will be discussed, and it is hoped, finalised. PRIZE TO LINDOP J. Lindop, who secured second fastest time in the recent Hamilton-AucK-land road race, has been awarded Messrs. Adams. Ltd.’s, Christchurch, gold medal for the most performance in that race. The committee controlling the event made exhaustive inquiries in reference to allotting the above medal, and came 1 ~ the conclusion that Lindop’s ride warranted him winning the trophy. A surprise was in store for J- Henderson when it was found he ha won the fastest time prize, £l. ' tween Otahuhu and the showgrounds by nearly half a minute. His rid over the latter stage was reminisces of his previous year’s performance* when he gave W. Brewster, scr., near.y four minutes’ start at Papakura an a beating. h In the season just concluded cas riders who participated in the first an_ second prize money are as follow: *■■ Healey, three firsts, three seconds; » • K. Francis, three firsts; F- Pr*£ r » * firsts, one second: G. Hall, three first-. J. Lindop, two firsts; J. Henderso* one first, five seconds; T. ono first, two seconds: W. Archer, t firsts, one second; K. J. Mathieson. ° first, one second; P. Rickman. ' Potter. W. Hill, one first; K. Ra«, seconds; F. Lowndes, one dead-n for first, two seconds; and D. Stow two seconds.