Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 618, 21 March 1929, Page 6

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

“CYCLOS.”

Fixtures "Wednesday, March 20. —Three lap Handicap, Domain, 5.45 p.m. Saturday, March 30. —Hamilton Club’s Meeting. Monday, April I.—Ngahinepouri Meeting and Kakahi Meeting.

Easter Meetings The Easter holidays will afford for cyclists numerous possibilities of extended rides, jaunts to distant places and tours. For the competitive riders plenty of opportunity is provided. On Good Friday a combined clubs’ meeting has been scheduled for Carlaw Park; on the following day the Hamilton Club will hold its annual meeting at Steele Park, Hamilton, and on the Monday, sports will be presented at Ngahinepouri, ten miles out of Hamilton. Amateur sports will also be held at Kakahi, just beyond Taumarunui, on Monday.

Road Reason On April 6, the Saturday immediately after Easter, will start the road season in earnest with an eleven-mile open handicap, followed a week later by a seventeenmile open handicap, and a novice race oyer eleven miles. Already enthusiasm is being displayed, and within the last fortnight eight new members have been enrolled with the Manukau Amateur Club.

Veterans’ Race The record number who congregated at the Domain on Saturday to witness the St. Patrick’s Day sports were treated to some thrilling racing. The track was in excellent order and fast times were recorded for all events, even though a high wind blew across the track. The races for the “veterans” over one lap—44o yards—drew seven “stalwarts,” all of whom showed evident enthusiasm at the idea of racing once again after a retirement in some cases of thirty years. The starters were Messrs. Brook, E. Cucksey, J. Dwight, father of H. R. Dwight, who competed successfully during the afternoon, B. Herring, A. Sercombe, who also had a son competing, E. Thomas and Smithson. The event was spoilt by a collision immediately after the start, when four riders were unable to continue. B. Herring and J. Dwight were in front when the fall occurred, but E. Cucksey had to go wide to avoid the fallen riders, thus losing considerable ground to the afore-men-tioned pair, after whom he raced in real earnest, but was unable to alter the order of the “procession,” which went to B. Herring in the excellent time of 41 seconds. That they all enjoyed the flutter was obvious. Consistent Dwight H. R. Dwight was one of the most consistent competitors riding on Saturday. In the opening event of the programme, the first heat of the one mile, he won easily off 70 yards in 2m 20 3-ss. In the final G. P. Clark, 160 yards, and M. R. Carter, 200 yards, had control at the bell, with Casey, 50 yards, Dwight, and Foubister, 40 yards, well back. The trio, with Casey leading, commenced to pack on the pace and had the satisfaction of overhauling the leaders just before leaving the back straight. In an exceedingly close and spectacular finish, Dwight gained the verdict from Casey by three-qaurters of a length in 2m 25 l-ss. In the two miles Dwight was placed third in his heat and second in the final, and in the three miles secured another second place. In races of late ho has been very unfortunate in the matter of spills, for which he holds the record but Saturday compensated somewhat for his hard luck. Even then he wash owing marks of a recent fall, but apparently from his performance they did not hinder him. Wade Pleases Fans J. H. Wade, scr., had interest at high pitch when he went out after the lead-

ers, to whom he was giving away 400 yards in the first heat of the two miles on Saturday. Entering the back straight on the last lap he attained third position, still well back of the leading pair, A. V. Reed, 390 yards, and H. J. McEntee, 400 yards. There was no necessity for him to have caught the latter pair, for he was then assured of being a finalist, but, not content with third, he romped along to enter the straight first after an excellent exhibition of an all-out sprinting effort for which he won favour. The second heat was robbed of considerable interest when Aldred, Clarke and Hope fell in the back straight on the seventh lap. This heat was eventually won by G. J. Whitehouse, 200 yards, with C. Francis, 280 yards, inches away, second. In the final, Francis led for the first mile, being joined by Whitehouse on the fifth lap, with Dwight, 140 yards, and S. Baird, 120 yards, gradually closing up, and, not far behind, Wade, scr., and Foubister, 80 yards, lapping well and rapidly overhauling the quartet mentioned. On the seventh lap Wade was with the field, leaving the final issue beyond doubt. Starting the last lap the order was—Wade,. Dwight, Foubister, and thus they continued, to finish in that order. Wade’s time was 5m 1 2-ss, remarkably good going under the conditions prevailing.

Casey Wins Big Event In the three miles on Saturday two men started off the scratch mark. As soon as the gun was fired, Wade’s acceleration was to such good effect that he immediately commenced to draw away from the limit man, V. A. Liddington, 440 yards, who came down from Cambridge for the meeting. The race was characterised by the fine pacing of Casey, 150 yards, Dwight, 200 yards, Pinfold, 200 yards, and Baird, 180 yards, all of whom were together early in the race. Wade and Foubister, 120 yards, the latter of whom “waited” till the scratch man caught him on the initial circuit, made little impression on the four previous! mentioned, and finished the distance. 100 yards in arrears. Down the back straight Casey went out, and in a well-sustained sprint had the double satisfaction of carrying home his emerald green colours and of reversing the. tables on Dwight, who beat him narrowly in the one mile event.

Although Victorian cyclist Bob Broadbent is the Australian half-mile title holder, he was no match for Jack Fitzgerald when the pair met over that distance at the Velodrome recently. Fitzgerald was never seriously extended, and won in two straight heats.

“Fatty” Lamb By winning the two Melbourne Australs, motor-paced and sprint, in one. night, “Fatty” Lamb has achieved something remarkable. As a matter of fact he nearly completed a treble per medium of the five-mile scratch race. He was in a good position at a half lap to go, when a slight collision ripped the spokes from his-front wheel. In the motor-paced event Lamb started from scratch with Dutchman Cor Blekemolen on 100 yards. Joe Parmley 350. and Bob Armott 450. At

six laps (two miles) to go Lamb had gained only 50 yards, and his position looked hopeless, Hut apparently pacemaker Bob Finlay liud something in reserve, and when h<* opened out Lamb touched 56 miles an hour to win with 100 yards to spare.

At the conclusion of thie meeting, “Fatty” expressed a desine, to visit America, where he would probably secure a decent contract.

Good Bank Account Tho annual audit of the New South Wales’ Cyclists’ Union books reveals a record in financial achievement. The sum standing to the bank credit of th.; Union is* £215. This does not include the sum of £BO representing cost of sending the representative team to Brisbane. Although the amount was vetoed prior to the closing of the year’s transactions, the actual withdrawal was not effected within the same period It will therefore be included in th« 1929-1930 audit. Over' £720 was paid out in orders and trophies during tb* past 12 months, and it is anticipated that amount will be exceeded during the year just starred. Last Evening’s Events The three-quarters of a mile handicap staged on the Domain last evening concluded the mid-week meetings of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club. Following are the results: First heat: G. J. Whitehouse, 90yd-. 1; H. Farrer, 160yds, 2; C. L. Russell. 150yds, 3. Won by a wheel. Time. Ira 455. Second heat: J. H. Wade, scr, 1; E. M. Taylor, 120yds, 2; A. "V Reed, 150yds, 3. Won by inches. Time, lm 47 1 -ss. Final: G. J. Whitt - house, 1; A. V. Reed, 2; E. M. Taylor. 3. Won by a length, with the third man ten yards away. Wade was unable to get up with! the field. Time, lm 475.

Auckland Club’s Event A two miles handicap was decided by the Auckland Athletic and Cycle Club last evening as the concluding event of its evening meetings. Eleven started, and tho race provided a great finish, inches only separating the placed riders, who were as follow: G. Hall, 190yds, 1; N. Healey, 120yds, 2; S. Hayes, scr, 3. Time, 5m 17s. * * * It is intended that the Auckland Club will start its road-racing season on April 20.