RECORDS SHATTERED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 873, 17 January 1930, Page 6

RECORDS SHATTERED

OPPERMAN’S GREAT RIDING AT WESTERN SPRINGS SUCCESSFUL CYCLE CARNIVAL Spectacular racing was witnessed at the Western Springs Stadium last night when a combined meeting was held by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club and the Auckland Cycling Club. A crowd of about 3,500 was worked up to a high pitch of excitement by the many stirring finishes. The chief attraction was Hubert Opperman, of Australia, who was making his final appearance in New Zealand. H.is attempts on the mile and five-mile motor-paced records were both successful. In the mile he lowered the record of many years' standing by 9s. This was previously held by G. Tozer, of Timaru. Opperman’s time was 1.21. In the five-mile attempt he clipped ' 39 l-5s off the record recently established by the amateur rider, Angus Mackie. In clocking the distance in 6.53 1-5, the Australian has set a record which should stand for some time. He did one lap at 45.5 miles an hour, and averaged 43 miles an hour. In a match race between H. Opperman and J. Harcourt, of Hamilton, Opperman proved victorious by a length, after keenly contesting the whole five miles. Although beaten, Harcourt’s performance was a meritorious one, as he was acting as a substitute for Phil O’Shea, who was unable to make the trip up from Christchurch. _ Amateur and professional handicap races made up the remainder of a firstclass entertainment. These were keenly contested and were a tribute to the capabilities of Messrs. G. Cleaver and G. Knight in their roles of liandicappers. _ . .. Falls were not numerous, but tne most serious occurred in the first heat of the six-lap professional handicap, when F Potter, L. Pinfold and A. Pilkington came to grief. Potter received severe abrasions on the face, arms and hip, while his companions sustained gravel rashes. Results:

AMATEUR EVENTS Two-lap Amateur Handicap.—l' irst heat: N. R. Casey, 90yds, 1: J. A. Dykes, 50yds, 2; J. H. Wade, scr, o. Time, 1-10-Second heat: C. Hansen, 120yds, 1, L. Mullane, 120yds, 2; A. Mackie scr, o. Time 1.11. Third heat; G. W. Rolleston, 90yds, 1: *L. Dwight, SOyds, 2; A. N. Reed, 120yds, 3. Time, I.S l-o. Final G. Rolleston, 90yds 1 L. Dwight, SOyds N. Casey, 90yds 3 Time, 1.7 4-5. This short race gave the back-markers no chance of being in the final sprint. The middle bunch, consisting of some good lap riders, put in steady work for a sterling finish, in which G. Rolleston Improved on liis heat victory to'gain the honours by half a wheel from Dwight, who in turn downed Casey by a similar distance. A protest was entered against the winner for cutting-in, and will be dealt with by the committee at its next meeting. , Amateur Tandem-Paced Match Race.— J. Wade, 1; A. Mackie, 2. Time, 1.13. The only starters. This was over a course of two laps. For a lap and a-half tne contestants rode behind the tandem. At this stage the two cyclists came away to have another of their tussles. Wade managed to get the judge’s verdict by inches. , Four-lap Amateur Handicap.—Fust heat: B. H. Dwight, 150yds, 1; C- Hansen, 200yds, 2; J. Heather, 120yds, 3. Second heat: H. Dwight, 40yds, 1; G. Rolleston, 160yds, 2; K. Cleaver, 3 40yds, Time, 223 1-5. Third heat: «T. Dykes, 100yds, 1; L. Roberts, SOyds, 2; R. Foubister. SOyds, 3. Time, 2.22 3-5. Final H. Dwight, 40yds . . J L. Dwight, 150yds - J. Dykes, 100yds Time, 2.26 1-5. This was a victory of exceptional merit for the Dwight brothers. Hen TV wight, the ultimate winner rode in behind until the final lap to score a popular win by half a length. A desperate sprint saw L. Dwight head off J. Dykes for second honours just on the finishing line. Five-Mile Amateur Scratch Race.—A. Mackie, 1; H. Dwight, 2; J. Wade, 3. Time, 11.13 4-5. This event saw a race within a race, as prizes were given for the winner of each half lap. The field was soon strung out, the club’s scratch and middle-markers showing to advantage. A steady pace was maintained throughout. Coming into the back straight H. Dwight put in his claim, and ooked as if he would gain an easy victory, But Mackie and Wade, with their • characteristic finishes, came on the scene. Excitement was intense as these three locked together came into the home stretch. Mackie did best to head off Dwight by six inches. Wade was half a wheel away third.

PROFESSIONAL EVENTS Three-lap Professional Handicap.— First heat: L. Pinfold, 110yds, 1: O. Stace, 60yds, 2; W. Archer, 90yds, 3. Time, I. 2-5. Second heat: N. Healey, 120yds, 1; D. Fletcher, 70yds, 2; R. Carlton, SOyds, 3. Time, 1.46. Third heat: A. Pilkington, 50yds. 1; W. Mathieson, 90yds, 2; J. McDonald, 100yds, 3. Time, 1.46. Final O. Stace, 60yds 1 D. Fletcher, 70yds ........ 2 L. Pinfold, 110yds 3 Time, 1.47 1-5. Healey was first away, followed by McDonald, Mathieson and Archer. This order was maintained for the first two laps. Entering the third and final lap the back men moved up for O. Stace, of Te Aroha, to win by half a length. Fletcher was a length in front of Pinfold, who had put in some good work. Five-Mile Human-Paced Match Race.— 11. Opperman, 1; J. Harcourt, 2. Time, 10.30 2-5. The pace-makers did not suit the riders, but the two were never far apart. In the final lap Opperman went to the top of the bank at the end of the back straight. With a run downhill he gained a length advantage over his adversary. which he held to the finish. Six-lap Professional Handicap.—First heat: G. Hall, 120yds, 1; W. Pratney, 100yds, 2; W. Francis, 90yds, 3. Time, 4.59. Second heat: J. Dindop, 50yds, 1; J. Harcourt. scr. 2; J. McDonald, 120yds, 3. Time, 4.26 1-5. Final •T. Harcourt, scr 3 •T. Dindop. 50yds 2 J. McDonald, 120yds .... . . 3 Time, 4.62 2-5. Only six contested this final. When they were let go it looked as though the back-marker would never get up. However, on the fourth lap the field, which was bunched, slowed down for a while, and Harcourt was able to tack on for a lap before the finish. In the back straight Dindop put out a challenge, and came away at a great burst. Harcourt then moved up to win by a length. In a good battle for second place Lindop just beat McDonald for second money. Five Miles' Professional Invitation Scratch Race.—H. Opperman. 10 points, 1; J. Harcourt, 5 points, 2; O. Stace, 3 points, 3 A. Pilkington, 2 points, 4. In this contest points were awarded for the winner of the different laps. Opperman, Bindop and Harcourt put in some fast sprints for the line at the conclusion of each circuit. The final was a good setto between Harcourt and Opperman, the former crossing the line with half a length to spare. Opperman had won the greatest number of laps to gain a wellearned victory. Time. 11.36 2-5. Ten-lap Professional Handicap.—S. Haves, 40yds, 1; O. Stace, 60yds, 2: F. Tavlor, 160yds, 3. Time, 6.41 3-5. This was a popular race, which drew a large field. The front-markers soon bunched, and for six laps made the pace a cracker. The strain told on them at this stage and enabled the back men to overtake them. Harcourt, who was riding easy, and probably would have won, had to retire. This gave Bindop and Hayes a chance, and they made the most of U. The hard riding told on the former, who was just beaten out. of a place. Hayes scored sensationally from O. Stace by half a wheel, with Taylor a similar distance awathird.