Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 606, 7 March 1929, Page 6

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

- tfy

"CYCLOS."

Coming Events Saturday, March 9—East Tamaki March 13—Half-mile handicap, Domain (5.45 p.m.). Saturday, March 16—St. rai rick’s Day Sports, Domain. Sunday, March 17—Club run, Muriwai Beach. ♦ * *

Henderson, Wake Up It was a disappointed quota of land cyclists who journeyed to HendeirJJnT last Saturday afternoon to take part in the annual sports of the Henderson Club. The track which had been previously announced to be in fair order, was certainly not in a fit condition for racing.. It seems hard to imagine how the officials ol the Hen Sn Club, after past experience -ained from annual meetings, cou possibly hold that the track was sale when the banking at the bends sloped the wrong way, and m various Parts there were patches ot loose eaitn. Those of Auckland’s crack cyclists, two of which were Wade and Casey, who refused to start were undoubtedly in stifled in their actions. Only me extreme caution exercised by those who did start prevented more than five falls during the afternoon. * * *

The half-mile at Henderson was decided in two heats, H. C. Brown (110yds) won the first and H. Russell <7ovds) the second. G. P. Clark, 85yds, the only other starter in the second heat, fell just as he approached the home bend, but immediately remounted to pursue Russell and be credited with second place, thus qualifying for the final, which was won bv H C. Brown in 68 2-ssec. Brown rode as fast as the track would permit and won with 30yds to spare from H. Russell. , ~ Ten started in the next event, the one mile, which was characterised by the good riding of C. I. Gainsborough (90yds), who was fast in overhauling the leaders during the final lap, but just failed to catch the winner, C. A. Clarke (160yds), who passed over the line with two lengths to spare after getting a big break on the field down the back straight. Clarke’s original handicap was 110yds, but through an error in the programme, where he was allotted 160yds, he stole a regular march on the field. Many riders commented upon the fact at the conclusion of the race, but like good sports let Clarke have the benefit of the doubt. The two-mile race was the star attraction of the day and furnished S. Baird (140yds) with a well deserved victory. Riding confidently throughout, he employed the only tactics practicable for success upon such a narrow track, i.e., that of obtaining the lead early and warding off all opponents by slightly increasing the lead when they attempted to pass, making their efforts doubly difficult by the fact that they had to ride through the loose earth when going wide. The riders were doing their best under the circumstances, so the time of 6.11 4-5 does not speak volumes for the track.

East Tamaki Meeting The majority of the most prominent amateurs in Auckland have entered for the events to be contested at the annual gathering of the East Tamaki Club next Saturday afternoon. The bringing into vogue of the re-handicap-ping of all winners should do much in making the races keen and interesting.

Cycling Preferred

There are only three athtetic events on the programme for the St. Patrick’s Da y sports to b< taged on Saturday, March 16 All three are made up of cycling events and thus, with prefer-

cnee shown to wheelmen it can only be expected that they will do -lie light j thing and give every support. * * * Winter Programme At the general meeting of the Manukau Club held last week the road race programme, tentatively drawn up by the executive, was freely discussed, and after three alterations were made, was adopted for the coming season which will commence on April With a race every week for seniors and each fortnight for juriors, it is anticipated that the record road season ol last vear will be well eclipsed as tar as entries and general enthusiasm is concerned The general improvement ol r«d surfaces has largely been responsible for the keen support given this aspect of cycling sport. « # . Auckland -Wellington In the actual travelling time of 421 hours, J. c. Stewart, well known m Auckland cycling circles, arrived in Auckland from Wellington last Sunday evening. His long ride of 522 miles, via Napier and Taupo, was in no way an attempt on the AucklandWelling'ton record, but it is certainly a very meritorious performance. Stewart left Auckland 13 hours before H. G. Brewin when the latter re cently managed to lower A. Sutherland’s record of 65 bourse. Brewin managed to catch Stewart just after leaving Wanganui, and he then decided to have a nap on the roadside while Stewart went ahead, but he martaged to overhaul him again at Otaki. Stewart then decided to take the train to Wellington. His recent splendid ride over a mountainous route m some way compensates for his first unsuccessful attempt. * * * Standen Disqualified Jack Standen, who competed at the recent Olympic Games m Holland, has been disqualified

until May, 1930, by the Union Cycliste Inter nat i o n a 1 e, th© world’s governing body. This cabled news was received recently by D. Bannerman, secretary of the Australasian Federal Cycling CounciL Standen signed an agreement with the Australian Olympic Council

to remain an amateur for two years after the games. He turned professional to ride at the new Velodrome cycling track in Sydney.

Manukau Amateurs The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club's one-mile handicap at the Domain last evening drew a field of 16. and was run off in two heats, with the following results:—First heat: G. J. Whitehouse, 120yds. 1; J. A. Dykes. 60yds, 2; A. W. Mfickrell, 200yds, 3. Time, 2.23 4-5. Second heat: T. J. Farrelly, 210yds, 1; F. W. Restall, 190yds, 2; PI. R. Dwight, 70yds, 3. Time, 2.24 2-5. Final: A. W. Mackrell. 1; IT. R. Dwight, 2; G. J. Whitehouse, 3. Time. 2.23 4-5.

Auckland Club Eight started in the three-mile handicap promoted by the Auckland Athletic and Cycle Club. At four laps to go only were left to fight out the finish, the -scratch man, S. Hayes, having caught the leaders just after two miles had been completed. Results: S. Hayes, scr, 1; P. Rickman, 200yds, 2; N. Healey, 140yds, 3. Time, S.IS 4-5.