Riders’ Night Out

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 888, 4 February 1930, Page 13

Riders’ Night Out

GOOD CINDER TRACK RACING Blandford Park Stadium RACING equal to any previous programmes was seen at Blandford Park speedway last evening, when a large crowd rolled up to see the Auckland riders compete for their own benefit, the whole of the proceeds going to the competitors. Spills were frequent and these, together with close finishes, gave the crowd thrilling entertainment.

The track was in excellent order and the broadsiding was perhaps the best that has been seen at the park. Cyril Walker was again the most successful rider, carrying off the championship and gold helmet, as well as the flying six race. His evening’s tally showed five firsts and two seconds. Charlie Goldberg also was in good form, filling first place on two occasions and getting five seconds. Two other outstanding riders were Rick Bull and Lcs Curtis. Bull occupied the winning berth lour times and had one second. Curtis appears to be the most improved rider of the lot. In ; J semi-final of the championship he treated the spectators to some vvonderlul broadsiding, his machine on one occasion lying over at an almost impossible angle while the cinders flew away n showers. However he developed engine-trouble when he had a long lead, and had to withdraw. He scored three firsts including the final of the open handicap and two seconds. Coultftard had had two wins and a second when he fell in a championship semifinal and did not compete again. After winning a heat in one event Lemon fell in another race, gashing a knee, and did not appear again. During the time the park speedway has been operating the riders have steadily improved, each week finding them capable of still better displays. The riding last evening would have j-atisfied the most critical spectator. There were only about two out of the 17 events in which the finishes were not good, but even then the spectacular broadsiding gave promise of exciting spills, and the spectators were kept ir» a constant buzz of excitement and anticipation. The announcer, Mr. Gordon Hutter. also added his quota, to the success of the evening, lie gave alleged intimate glimpses of the private? lives of some of the riders, and added a few bright and breezy remarks about various things connected with the meeting, interspersed with a few anecdotes. It was announced that the next meeting would be in aid of the Rev. Jasper ‘'alder's Mission, in accordance with the management’s policy of helping deserving causes. Results of the events are as follow: OPEN HANDICAP First heat: C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), acr, 1: C. Yeats (Rex Acme), 12sec, 2; Rick Bull (Douglas), 4sec, 2. Won by 60yds. Time, lmin 20sec. Stephenson did not finish. Second heat: L. Coulthard (Velocette), r.sec, 1: A. McLaren (0.E.C.). Ssec, 2. Won by "syds. Time, lmin 23 l-ssec. Peek was in the lead, when he pulled out and fell. Third heat: Cyril Walker (Douglas), Isec, 1; Les Curtis (Douglas), 6sec, 2; H. Richards (Calthorpe), 12sec, 3. Won by 15yds. Time, lmin 22sec. K. Yeats pulled out. Fourth heat: Alby Lemon (Rex Acme), 4sec, 1; 13. Smith (P.ex Acme), 12sec. 2. Won by 60yds. Time, lmin 23 l-sseo. Cuthbertson and Fawkes fell.

First semi-final: 1,. Curtis (Douglas), 6see. 1; C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), scr, 2. Won by 60yds. Time, lmin 22 3-ssec. Yeats dropped out after one round. Curtis held a good lead, with Walker next, three lengthe ahead of Goldberg, when Walker fell on the last lap. Second semi-final: L. Coulthard (Velocette), ;>sec, 1; B. Smith (Hex Acme), 12sec, 2. Won i>y inches. Time, lmin 22 2-ssee. McLaren dropped out, and Coulthard gradually reduced Smith’s lead to win on the post. Final Les Curtis (Douglas), 6sec 1 C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), scr .... 2 L Coulthard (Velocette), Gsec .. .. 3 Won by 40yds. Time, lmin 23 2-ssec. Smith fell on the first lap, but although he remounted he had no chance. Goldberg moved up into second position, '•ut Curtis was never troubled, going on to win with ease by 40yds. BIG NINE CHAMPIONSHIP First heat.—Rick Bull (Douglas), 1; C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), 2; H. StephenS °Q (Harley .Davidson), 3. Won bv 25 yards. Time. 1.19 4-5. Finishing the third lap. Bull went into a terrific broadside, but recovered, and won brilliantly from Goldberg and Stephenson, who were close together. Second heat.—Cyril Walker (Douglas), b Time. 1.23 1-5. Cuthbertson pulled out in the preliminary to the rolling start, and Walker and Lemon went away together. Lemon fell on the second Jap, and injured a knee. Third heat.—Les Curtis (Douglas), 1; L. Coulthard (Velocette), 2. Won by inches. Time, 1.20 1-5. Peek and Cuthbertsbn dropped out. and the other two went on to give a great exhibition. The pair rode practically neck-and-neck for • wo laps, and came Into the straight on terms, Curtis just getting in front to win. First semi-final.—C. Walker (Douglas), 1; C. Goidberg (Royal Enfield), 2. Won by five yards. Time, 1.19 1-5. Goldberg trailed Walker all the way In a good face. Second semi-final.—Rick Bull (Douglas), 1; L. Curtis (Douglas), 2. Time, 1.22 2-6. Curtis took the lead. Coulthard falling °n the third lap. on the final circuit ' urtis's machine failed, leaving Bull to go on and win, Curtis pushing in for second place. Coulthard, with a lap

to go. remounted in an endeavour to beat I Curtis, but fell again. Final. O. Walker (Douglas 1 R. Bull (Douglas) 2 Won by 50 yards. Time, 1.19. The riders rode in a bunch over the first lap, but entering the second Walker went into the lead, with Goldberg and Bull next, Curtis pulling out. Goldberg fell, and Curtis, who had remounted, pulled out, leaving Walker to go on and defeat Bull. DRGP-OUT COMPETITION Rick Bull (Douglas), 3sec .. 1 Cyril Walker (Douglas), lsec .. 2 Won by 10 yards. Time. 1.33. The conditions for this race were that the riders were allowed one lap, the last rider on the second and third laps pulling out and allowing the other two to fight for second and third places. Stephenson fell on the second lap, and Goldberg was last or the third lap, Bull going on to beat Walker in a good finish. FLYING SIX RACE First heat.—Rick Bull (Douglas), 1; H. Stephenson (Harley Davidson), 2; C. Yeats (Rex Acme), 3. Won by .10 yards. Time, 1.21 4-5. Second heat.—C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), 1; C. Walker (Douglas), 2. Won by a third of a lap. Time, 1.16. Goldberg rode his best, race of the evening, and gave Walker no chance. Curtis had engine trouble, and while trying to remedy it, fell on the third lap. , Final. Cyril Walker (Douglas) .. .. l C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield),... 2 R. Bull (Douglas) 3 Won by 15 yard 3. Time, 1.28 3-5. Walker got away well from the rolling start, leading Goldberg and Bull, Stephenson pulling out. Into the final lap Walker had a lead of 15 yards from Goldberg, who was a similar distance ahead of Bull. Walker held his lead, and won by 15 yards from Goldberg, with Bull 10 yards back third. RIFLE SHOOTING PAEROA DEFENCE CLUB From Our Own Correspondent PAEROA, Today. The second and final shoot for Rfm. R. I. Roberts’s Trophy was fired on the Paeroa Rifle Range by the members of the Paeroa Defence Rifle Club on Saturday, the contest being so keen and interesting that it was not until after the last shot was fired that the winner was known. The ranges used were again the 800 and 900yds. Shooting conditions were very fair to start with, but a tricky wind sprang up which kept changing, but notwithstanding this some good scores -were registered.

The much coveted trophy was eventually won by one of this season’s recruits, Rfm. E. Turton, who has been shooting consistently of late, and who, for the two days of the shooting for this trophy, has shot remarkably well. The win was a very popular one. He put on a good score of 68 the first day and 67 on Saturday, including the handicaps. Rfm. A. A. Jenkinson was close up second and was also in very good form. These scores count also for the club championship and the club handicap aggregate. The following are the details of the scores:— Rfm. E. Turton, at 800yds, 33; 900yds, 30: handicap, 4; score, 67; first day, 68; total, 135; Rfm. A. A. Jenlcinson, 32, 32, 2, 66, 6?—133; Dep. Pres. R. Wells, 30, 32, 3, 65, 65 —130; Pres. F. C. Hubbard, 32, 26, 3, 61, 65—126: Rfm. R. I. Roberts, 28, 26, 3, 57. 53—110; Rfm. W. A. Reid, 20, 25, 10, 55, 54—109; Rfm. R. W. Roberts, 17, 18. 10, 45, 53—98; Rfm. H. A. Morrison, 25, 30, 3, 58, nil—sß. The second round of the club championship and club handicap aggregate has now been completed—six shoots being carried out —and over the best five of these six shoots the following riflemen are leading: Championship.—A. A. Jenkinson. 299; R. I. Wells, 298; F. C. Hubbard, 291; E. Turton. 285; It. I. Roberts, 283. Handicap Aggregate.—E. Turton, 318; A. A. Jenkinson, 316; R. I. Wells, 312; R. T. Roberts. 308; F. C. Hubbard, 307; H. A. Morrison, 297. AUCKLAND CITY CLUB The final round for the third trophy was completed by the Auckland City Rifle Club at Penrose last Saturday. Threatening weather accounted for a small attendance, but those present were favoured with ideal conditions. Scores were not quite as high as were expected, but a count ba.ck was necessary for spoons and trophy points. Spoons were won by H. Judkins and A. Sommerville, and the trophy by J. A. Spry with five points. Other trophy poin,t-winners W'ere: H. Judkins and I. Spry, 4 each: R. McLeay, 3; R. C. Russell, A. G. Robertson, and P. J. Pring, 2 each; A. Sommerville and A. C. Watson. 1 each.

The scores off the .rifle were: A. G. Robertson, 42 at 300yds, 47 at 500yds, total 89; R. McLeay, 42, 47 —89; H. Judkins, 43. 46—89; P. J. Pring, 44. 45 —B9; A. C. Watson, 43, 45—88; W. IT. Thompson, 44, 44 —88; A. T. Patrick, 45, 43 —88; A. Sommerville, 39, 46 — 85; I. Spry, 40, 45 —85; C. J. M. Clark, 40, 44 —S 4; J. A. Spry, 37, 45—82. The second round of the service championship will be fired on Saturday. THAMES SHOOT From Our Oxen Correspondexvt THAMES, Today. The first round for the President’s Cup was fired on Saturday afternoon by members of the Thames Defence Rifle Club. The light and conditions were conducive to good shooting,, and good scores were registered. The winner, Rifleman B. Gleeson, is a new recruit to the rifle club, and his win was popular among the shooters. Results: B. Gleeson, 43 at 200yds, 42 at 300yds, handicap 11, total 96; W. Dynes, 43. 40, 12 —95; B. Wilson, 40, 40, 11—91; A. Newland, 39. 41, 10 —90: J. Gordon, 43, 31, 15—89; C. Cameron. 44, 34, 4—82; P. Trebilcock, 42, 37, 2- —81; J. Hool, od, 30, 1 o SO; G. Hool, 34, 30, 13—79.