MATTSON RIDES WELL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 882, 28 January 1930, Page 5

MATTSON RIDES WELL

FAST TIMES AT WESTERN SPRINGS The IS-year-old rider, Alf Mattson, was again the popular hero at the Western Springs Stadium on Saturday evening, when he rode with conspicuous success. He lapped on several occasions decidedly faster than either of the Australian champions. He has mastered the art of cornering in a sweeping broadside with the throttle full open, and is riding now with an eye on Kilmisters records. In an attempt on the Wellington champion's mile record of 1m 27 3-ss, Mattson sent his Norton round the track for the first and the second laps in 21 l-ssec each, and for the third lap in 21 4-ssec. He was unfortunate in falling on the last corner when travelling very fast, or he would certainly have lapped equal to his first round, and beaten the present record by about two seconds. His success in carrying off the Silver Sash was well deserved. Lionel van Praag was not riding as well as a week earlier. He failed to cover the mile in less than lm 295, although a week ago, during a race, he went round in lm 28 2-ss. The improvers were riding considerably better, and Jimmy Datson, the Australian star, is to be congratulated on the state of efficiency to which he has trained them during this short time. His efforts in getting races run off more promptly were also appreciated by the crowded terraces. Next Saturday Datson will be seen on the cinders, the injury to his wrist having improved sufficiently. He will be riding with another man from across the Tasman, Frank Pearce, a world champion on the quarter-mile cinders track. When Pearce and Charlie Spinks, who is to ride at Western Springs on February 8, appeared at the Kilbirnie Stadium a few nights ago, it is said that 5,000 people were turned away. The stadium was full half an hour before starting time.