Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 938, 3 April 1930, Page 6

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

AMATEUR CYCLING Last Wednesday week saw the final of the mid-week races, which have been held at the Western Springs Stadium, take place. In closing the season, one can look back and notice the great strides the sport of cycling lias made. Xo doubt, this has come about by the action of the Auckland City Council in opening up a first-class concrete track. Besides the ordinary races, carnivals have been held. These have had the effect of fostering the game, thus bringing along many new members to the folds of the Manukau Club.

Formation of New Body Tlie most discussed topic during recent weeks has been the joining up of the Manukau Club with the New Zealand Union of Cyclists. This body aims for each centre to control its own affairs. In turn, each centre is under the main governing body, which again is responsible to the head body in France. This makes for more responsibility within the home ranks of each affiliated body, but the boys will now have the satisfaction of being able to put their grievances before their own centre. Another important factor is the allocation of prizes. Hitherto, trophies, which have been won at championship meetings, have not been received by some winners. This is one of the main reasons why the breakaway was instigated. It is very pleasing to see the stand taken by the Papatoetoe Club in putting the claims of the Auckland cyclists before the Auckland Centre of the N.Z.A.A. It will now mean that other clubs will follow suit and put cycling races on theix* programmes. Not only has it been detrimental to the takings at the gates of the various sports meetings held recently, but runners have been made to suffer also, as in the case of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, when the runners were left off the cards in favour of the pedallers. It is

to be hoped the breach will be rectified for the good of all concerned. A Greatly-improved Cyclist Regarding the cyclists themselves, the most outstanding: rider on the banked track is without doubt H. Dwight. His quick rise to the top of the ladder stamps him as a worthy representative over all distances. At the championship meeting- Dwight annexed the sprint championship, decided over two laps, and the 10-mile humanpaced event. In winning the former, Dwight gave his best display to date, as he stood two good cyclists up a twolengths’ break over the final furlong. J. Whitten is the undisputed unpaced champion of this city. When he left the 1.000 metres behind, he registered the fast time of lmin ITsec. Jerry delights in the hard riding, and no doubt he will have the honour of placing the performance to his credit when the new body drafts out the official set of records. Junior Laurels The surprise of the main events was the winning of the junior title by T. Colman. This lad used judgment in his race, and although not the most consistent rider among these boys, his effort was deserving of every credit. Another junior worthy of mention is IT. Gordon, the runner-up to the above. Always hard to dispose of. Gordon was caught napping on the night of the race, and paid the penalty. A new branch of the sport has come into vogue. This is motor-paced racing. As yet, the local boys have not had very much experinece, but one or two are showing good promise. In this department of the game, the outstanding rider is A. Mackie. His knowledge of motor-pacing, which he received in the South, stood him in good stead when the championship was decided. He is at present without an equal in this province. All things considered, the committee of the Manukau Club has every

reason to be satisfied with its efforts in giving the sport a boost along. The lessons learned during the first season on the new track will be helpful for future occasions. It is only to be hoped that the meetings on the road will be conducted in an equally efficient manner.