Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1050, 14 August 1930, Page 14

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

t_ By

"CYCLOS."

THE AMATEURS The keenness of the members of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club was fully shown last Saturday, when 18 staunch supporters journeyed to the Waikowhai course. Although conditions were entirely unfavourable for road-racing, it did not deter the best of the junior and senior riders from taking part. Seven juniors were dispatched for their race of one lap. a distance of live miles, while 11 lined up for the main event. The winner of the junior flutter turned up in W. Webb, 3&mln. Obtaining his lead on the last hill, Webb came away to beat his co-marker by 24sec. This is his first victory to date, but now the ice is broken more success should come his way. It was no surprise when it was announced that 11. V. Gordon had gained time honours, as he has been competing with marked success among the senior riders. The time returned was good, comparing favourably with the time registered over the tar-sealed circuit at Mangere. Gordon’s record of one win and three seconds gives him the lead for the Kohn points cup * * * E. Mullane, 3min, gained the big end of the purse. Riding strongly on his own, Mullane gradually overhauled the limit riders, to take the lead in the third lap. Once in front, a fast clip was set, with the winner showing up prominently. The tactics adopted by the front bunch enabled Mullane to make good use of his handicap, and so he came out a winner by lmin ssec. * * * In gaining second place, IT. Dwight, lmin, showed a glimpse of his old form. It was his best exhibition this season, but Hen has a lot more condition to get off before ho is fit again. Dwight still maintains enough in reserve for a final sprint, as was shown on Saturday, when he downed that fast-improving pedaller, E. Cleaver. It should not be long before a win comes the way of both these enthusiasts. « • * Riding all but a couple of miles unpaced, R. Foubister, scr., gained fastest time honours for the six successive occasion. Much interest was taken in the lap time returned by the lmin bunch, and the scratch man. After half the journey had been traversed, the times were the same. The third lap, however, was in favour of Foubister by Bsec, with the others still in the running. A marked difference was shown when “Foubie” caught up about 40sec on the last lap, thereby easily gaining fastest thne. * w * At a meeting of the Otago Amateur Cycling Club, a resolution was passed expressing satisfaction with the control of the New Zealand Amateur Ath-c letic and Cycling Association. This is another incident concerning the breakaway movement. The present state of affairs leaves no controlling body, and the sooner matters are fixed the better it will be for the game. • <* * A junior road race over a distance of five miles, and a senior race of 25 miles, will be conducted by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club next Saturday afternoon. The junior race will commence at 2p m. Mr. J. Auckram has declared the following handicaps for the two events: Five Miles Junior Handicap.—H. V. Gordon, scr.; L. Oxton, A. W. Robinson, w. K. Thompson, 45sec; S. F. Budge, W. Webb, 2min; L. Cogan, 2min SOsec; W. Paul, K. H. Ingram, S. Sargent, 3min 30sec; J. R. Bowen, P. 11. Bicknell, 4min. Twenty-five Miles Senior Handicap.— It- G- Foubister, H. R. Dwight, E. A.

Cleaver, scr.; N. B. Casey, E. Mullane, 1 min; A. Mackie, J. Whitten, J. H. Wade, 2min; S. Baird, W. H. Roberts, E. J. Avery, C. Harris, J. A. Dykes, 4min; J. Leather, G. J. Whitehouse, 6mln; G. P. Clark, R. T. Baston, D. Poster, C. Hansen, D. Baird, S. R. Gatland. C. A. Clarke, 9min; W. Borland, R. Hookway, S. Hookway, A. K. Cook, W. Clarke, 12 min. THE CASH RIDERS Owing 1 to the small number oE riders on hand last week-end, the Patron’s Cup race was postponed. The atrocious weather conditions were responsible for only a few “hard heads” making the journey, as most riders do not relish getting wet through on the road out. The riders can be thankful that the officials are not of the same opinion, as they are present irrespective of all circumstances. A shorter race, 155 miles, was substituted for tho longer distance, and the hardy ones who elected to start were covered with silt, making them hardly recognisable at the finish of their uncomfortable ride. One of the disappointed officials present was the donor of the cup, Mr. H. Edwards. His fine trophy was on view, and those who saw it were struck by both the workmanship and design. A racing cyclist standing beside his machine, and holding aloft a laurel wreath, is the main feature of the gift. It can be' safely said that, given ideal weather conditions, a large field will be dispatched to compete for this trophy. An added attraction will be that the winner holds the prize for good. * * * S. Hayes (scr.) is at present riding at the top of his form. After dropping his co-marker, K. Mathieson, in the second lap, Slater went on alone to overtake F. Taylor. These two set a merry pace trying to burn each other off, consequently the leaders were soon caught. When heads were turned for home, only these two were left, the stiff pace telling on the limit bunch, causing it to lose a lot of ground. Should Hayes be a starter next week, riders will need to be very fit to keep this pedaller away. * « « That it takes a good rider to down the club champion was fully demonstrated on Saturday'. Hiding with Hayes for three laps, F. Taylor (30sec) must have been gratified when the last stretch was entered. Fifty yards from tho finish, Taylor was in front, this lead being gained by’ an early “jump.” However, Slater was not to be denied, and, coming again, he crossed the line a bare wheel to the good. Although beaten, Taylor was by no means disgraced, and should he continue this form it should not be long before he is on the mark of honour. With two wins and three seconds, F.T. is now three clear points in the lead for the Pardy Cup. In a recent cablegram, news was received of that well-known New Zealand cyclist, W. Leatham. Cyclists will remember that this pedaller had many tussles with other champions in Christchurch. Another New Zealander performing well in Australia is Ron (“Aussie”) Nicholson. He, too, has met with much success lately, and many districts in the southern portion of New South Wales have been visited by this wheelman, where he has broken tho existing times. • c * Mr. G. L. Knight,, handicapper for the Auckland Cycle Club, advises that in the club handicaps published on August 7 W. Mathieson was shown as receiving lmin 45sec, and that this should have been lmin only.