Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 914, 6 March 1930, Page 17

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

_ By *'CYCLOS."

THE AMATEURS The first championship meeting *o lie held on the Western Springs Sf;ilium was conducted last Wednesday week by the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Union of Cyclist.--. This was the initial carnival decided b> this ' body and the manner in which it ! was arranged speaks well for its | future. In all, live championships ; were held, these producing no fewer j than four different winners. Another j event staged for the first /time was a ; two-lap women's race. Although the exciting finishes that are notable in other races was not in evidence, a good deal of amusement was caused among the crowd. By gaining the sprint and 10-mile human-paced titles, H. Dwight can now claim to be the club's best performer. Besides winning all his heats. Hen. gained two finals and a second, and with more experience behind the roller he would also have gone a lot closer to capturing this event, in the two-lap race Dwight once again showed his remarkable judgment. Entering the straight lie had a leeway of two lengths to make up. but lie rose to the occasion to win by half a wheel. The merit of his win can be gauged by* the fact that he rode the last 25 yards on a flat tyre. Once again J. Whitten lived tin to ; his reputation as an unpaced rider. ! This was in the Olympic Kilometre j Championship, when each competitor i was required to ride on his own. Mis time for this short distance was 13-5 sec better than the second rider's time. Although not a sprinter Jerry gained second place in the 10-mile championship after doing most of the hard work. He was unfortunate in meeting the winner at the top of his form. A. Mackie easily accounted for the motor-paced event. In this class of race there is no rider in Auckland at present to compare with him. Me was unlucky in his attempt on the onemile record owing to the timekeepers clocking a lap too many. Me would certainly have gone close. A rather harsh treatment was meted out to him from the other competitors when Angus protested against L. Huberts for boring, as the latter admitted doing j it twice during the race. Only one spill was recorded throughout the evening. This was when J, Wade and R. Foubister collided in the 10-mile race. Wade received a severe gravel rash but Foubister was more unfortunate, being admitted to the hospital suffering from a bruised back. His injury was caused when lie attempted to regain the track by riding over the safety fence which lay across the cinders.

CYCLING AT ’SPRINGS

DWIGHT RIDES WELL TV/O PROFESSIONAL RACES Before an attendance of about SOO people, some good racing was staged at the Western Springs Stadium last evening by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club. In the handicap events the scratch men all had to be content to chase the rest of the riders home. In winning the miss and out race and the nve-mile scratch race, Hen Dwight proved himself to be the best perfurmer in the club at the present time. His tine sprinting efforts soon made him popular, the crowd not being slow to applaud his good generalship. During the evening an attempt on his own New Zealand Olympic kilometre record was made by ,T. Whitten. Me was unsuccessful in equalling the time by l-ss. A number of attempts on the 220yds record, held by that line sprinter, J. Wade, who clocked 12 1-Gs, was made by a number of amateurs hnd professionals. The nearest approach to the time was put up by B. Roberts, who left the journey behind in 13 1 -ss. No sp.’ils were recorded, the riding throughout being free from the boring and looking round that has been so much in evidence during recent meetings. Once again the usual band of enthusiasts, under the control of secretary Wilson, worked hard to make the carnival a success. Results: Junior Half-mile Handicap.—R. Francis soyas'. W- C. Paul (lOOyfls), 2? H V §°^ On , < loyds)-,I o y ds) -, - Time. 1.4. Paul and « l \l he first time round. The lest of the field was closing up over the latter stages and a great finish saw Francis come along with a good hurst to gain the verdict by inches. The third man third° n ' WaS a similar distance away’ One Mile Amateur Handicap.—First heat: E. I). Andrews (200yds), 1: M. R. Carter (170yds), 2: E. Mullane (240yds) J. Time, 1.56. Second heat: G. m’ l.ethaby (200yds), 1; s. Baird 1160yds)', Avrry (170yds), 3. Time. 2.2 8-5 Thrnd heat: <5. C. Clark (150yds). 1: c. Hansen (220yds) 2: C. Francis (160yds), Time. I,- 2 -. Final: M. R. Carter, 1; s! Baird, 2; B. .T. Avery, 3. Time, 1.56 4-5 Mullane led tor a lap, with Andrews and Hansen pacing the next bunch. Clarke the virtual scratch man, was making up leeway last. Carter and Baird here moved to the front of the riders. In a good finish Carter won by a half-wheel from Baird, with Avery three lengths away, third. Mo tor-paced Handicap.—H. Dwight 1 Time. 4.47. Dwight was under a handicap in that he rode without a helmet and in doing so took a great risk Aldred took the lead for the first three laps. On Ihe fourth lap Dwight took the lead and put on a big break when Aldred lost his roller. On this lap Aldred caught up a piece of paper and retired. Professional Handicap.—First heat: G. Hall (90yds), 3: a. Sercombe (90vds). 2: •>. McDonald (60yds), 3. Time 1 S 2-5 .Second heat: SV. Pratnev (90vds\ l s Arnott (140yds), 2; F. White (140vds), Time. 1.5 3-5. Final: W. Pratnev, 1; J McDonald. 2: O. Hall, 3. Time, 1.8 2-5* Arnott and White led the field, followed by Pratnev and J. McDonald. Pratnev then put in a determined claim to down McDonald by a length. Half a wheel away came Hall. Amateur Miss-and-Out Race.—H. Dwigth. 1; A. Mackie. 2: D. B. Roberts, 3. In this event the last rider over the line had to retire, until only four riders were left in. These were J. Whitten. H. Dwight, L. Roberts and A. Mackie. Whitten took the lead, but was soon headed by A. Mackie. Coming into the straight Hen Dwight moved up to beat A. Mackie by half a wheel. L. Roberts was two lengths away, third. Professional Handicap.—J. McDonald (100yds). 1; W. Mathieson (60vds). 2; C. Wood ("240yds). 3. Time. 2.29 3-5. Second heat: S. Hayes (20yds). 1: D. Fleteher (SOyds), 2: W. Francis (SOyds), 3. Time, 2.27 3-5. Final: W. Mathieson, 1; .1. McDonald, 2: S. Hayes, 3. Time, 2.29 3-5. C. Wood led out and put a big break on the field. McDonald was leading the middle bunch, with S. Haves last. Hayes put in a determined cha. enge, but when making his run received a nasty bump from Francis. Hayes continued on, however, but could only get third to W. Mathieson and McDonald. Five-mile Amateur Scratch Race.—H. Dwight. 13 points. 3; L. Roberts. 10 points, 2; .T. Whitten, 6 poinrs. 3. The result of this race was decided by the rider gaining the most half-lap decisions. Dwight seemed to have the measure of A. Mackie. who put in some, determined efforts. Had B. Roberts gone on for just another half a lap when lie 'Vleared out." he would have tied with the winner. Dwight received a great ovation when he came round again past the judges. Pursuit Race.—F. Casey and X. Casey. 1; H. Dwight and L. Dwight, 2. Won by 2 4-ss.

THE CASH RIDERS Last evening saw riders of the I Auckland Cycle Club turn out in fu! ; force to contest the two races held ir conjunction with the amateur body j This was the third night carniva [where- club members have appeared The enthusiasm shown by them gives [the officials more encouragement anc • 5 that t ir 1 - no lin vain. Both races were handicaj events, a two-lap and a four-lap drawing 19 and 20 respectively. Tnes< short races find more favour witl riders as in most cases the limit anc middle markers seem to take their laps and not adopt loafing tactics. Appearing after a spell of a fey months saw W. Pratney mark his re turn to the track by leading home ; good field in the two-lap contest. A.: in his heat, he judged his time well tc gain the lead in the back straight, and holding his advantage well, he sta’lec off strong opposition to gain the verdict by a length. In his last ■appearance at Papakura he won in all hi: starts. He was also the winner of th< last road race to be held. Should h< continue with this form he will be hart to head off during the coming ioac season. J. McDonald, second, seems to shov j up well on this track, being again in th< money. lie proved his superiority over the other competitors in his hea He also gained second place in the bu race. He was unable to catch tin winner by the barest of margins. 8. Hayes still continues to show goot form. He is now over the effects o his recent accident. Slater is a present having an easy time in preparation of the road season. At tin last club meeting Hayes was mad* captain and no doubt ma.rK* riders wil benefit by his coaching. W. Mathieson was again ano the: winner who has shown a marked improvement of late. When the banket track was first opened at Blandforc Park, Bill was one of the star performers. However, he gave the game best for some time, only returning when the Auckland Club commenced its races at the new circuit. Mathieson made his forward move with excellent judgment, to head off a buncli of improving pedallers..