BLANDFORD’S BEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 859, 31 December 1929, Page 11

BLANDFORD’S BEST

GOOD CINDER-TRACK RACING LAP RECORD MADE The cinder-track programme at Blandford Park last evening produced the- best racing and the best; times registered since the park's season opened. In heats and finals the racing was fast and exciting’, and the crowd of about 4,000 people thoroughly enjoyed itself if the applause and shouts of excitement were any criterion.

In tho first heat of the Big Nine Championship for the gold helmet, Cyril Walker was taking the bend entering the back stretch in the first lap when ho hit the fence. 1-Ie flew into the air with arms and legs outstretched, but in some miraculous fashion escaped injury. However, his machine was badly damaged and he did not rid© again.

In the third heat of the same event Len Sowerby crashed after finishing first and dislocated his shoulder.. These two were the only bad smashes of the night, the other mishaps being of only a minor nature. /.

The best time from a standing start was put up by Lemon' in the final of the New Year Handicap, 1.23 being clocked. The final of the Big Nine Championship was won by Goldberg, the holder, in 1.20, but this was from a rolling start. The riders seemed better acquainted with the track than at previous meetings, and probably this accounted for the good times registered. The special challenge race between Lemon and Sowerby could not take place owing to the latter’s injury. Lemon and Coulthard challenged Goldberg immediately after the final of the championship event, and this was put on in place of tho challenge race. However, both Goldberg and Lemon had engine trouble just after the start and the race was called off. Instead Coulthard did a circuit on his own, setting’ a lap record of 19 2-ssec. Results are as follow: NEW YEAR HANDICAP First Heat.—J. Cuthbertson (Douglas), lOsec*, 1; J. Peek (New Imperial), Ssec, 2. Won by 20 yards. Time, 1.36. Second Heat.—Cyril Walker (Douglas), lsec, 1; IT. Stephenson (Indian), 9sec, 2. Won by half a lap. Time, 1.29. Third Heat. —L. Curtis (Douglas), Ssec, 1; L. Sowerby (Douglas), 3see, 2. Won by a yard. Time, 1.50. Fourth Heat.—A. Lemon (Rex Acme), Ssec, 1; L. Coulthard (Velocette), lsec, 2. Won by 30 yards. Time, 1.34. Final A. Lemon (Rex Acme), Ssec .... 1 L. Coulthard (Velocette), lsec .. 2 J. Peek (New Imperial), Ssec .... 3 H. Stephenson (Indian), 9sec . . 4 Won by 100 yards. Time, 1.24. All the four riders who did not scratch were put into the final, the semi-finals being deleted. All went /away well and places were unchanged according to handicaps after one lap. Lemon took the lead in the second, the positions of tho others being unchanged. There was no change in the third lap, Lemon being’ well ahead, but in the final circuit Coulthard went into second position. He could not catch lemon, who Avon bv 100 yards. BIG NINE CHAMPIONSHIP First Heat.—A. Lemon (Rex Acme) 3 • A. McLaren (0.E.C.), 2. Time, 1.25. McLaren pushed half a lap for second place. Second Heat.—C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), J; J. .Peek (New Imperial), 2’’R Bull (Douglas), 3. Won by 60 yards Time, 1.25. Third Heat.—L. Sowerby (Douglas) 1 • L. Coulthard (Velocette), 2. Won by 50 yards. Time, 1.23. First Semi-final.—C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), 1; A. McLaren (0.E.C.), 2. Won by 20 yards. Time, 3.29. Second Semi-final.—L. Coulthard (Velocette), 1; A. Lemon (Rex Acme), 2. Won by half a length. Time, 1.22. Final C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield) .... 1 L. Coulthard (Velocette) .... 2 A. Lemon (Rex Acme) 3 A. McLaren (0.E.C.) *1 4 Won by two yards. Time, 1.20. Coulthard was slightly behind the other three at the start. Lemon led Goldberg by 20 yards after the first lap, but in the second circuit Lemon fell leaving Goldberg in the lead. Lemon remounted and riding hard overhauled McLaren who was last. On the final round Goldberg kept just ahead of Coulthard and won by two yards. Lemon was hack third.