A CYCLE STADIUM.

Auckland Star, Issue 291, 9 December 1925, Page 9

A CYCLE STADIUM.

■ i BLANDFORD PARK SCHEME. the work in progress. The work of equipping Blandford Park with the appurtenances needful to its use for six months in the year as a cycle-racing and pedestrian stadium is well in hand, and there are now 30 men engaged in getting things into shape. Situated. in Graf ton Gully, this park lends itself admirably to the proposal, being beautifully sheltered and centrally situated, and strong hopes are entertained of making this stadium the finest of its kind in Australasia. Just when the work will be completed is not yet certain, but Messrs. Sutherland and Bray, of Otahuhu, who have obtained the contract for clearing, draining and terracing the land, and for making the cycle track which will encircle the football playing area, are pushing ahead during the present spell of fine weather. There is a possibility that the track may be in operation in March, but in any event things will be ready for a full season from October next year to the following March, which is the portion of the year the ground, at other times devoted to Soccer football, will be under the control of the syndicate which will undertake the running and cycle sports. The cycle track, which will be four laps to "the mile, and 24ft wide, will be surfaced with ' asphalt, and banked to carry any speed in competition. Motorpaced races are also to be included in the programmes. There will be installed 52 specially-constructed electric lamps of 2000 candle power each, giving a flood of 104,000 candle power, which will be concentrated on the track alone in a brilliant and shadowless ribbon of light, enabling any competitor to be quite easily distinguishable from any part of the ground. In addition special grass tracks are being prepared for 220 yards and 440 yards races, these being lighted by 26 lamps of 2000 c.p. each in the same fashion as the cycle track. Grandstand accommodation will be provided for 8000 spectators, and timbered terraces are being constructed for the seating of another 10,000 people. Mr. George Sutherland, the exchampion cyclist who has raced "with. | success in all parts of the world, i» , in charee of the undertaking, and he states that the proposal is to hold ' sports meetings every Saturday evening in the season. He states that he will cater for both cash and amateur ath- j letes in cycling and Tunning, and Iβ j intends to Dring international chain- j Dions to compete periodically at ta9 , ! Stadium. He expects to "be able te } nrovide the sport-loving public of Auck- . iland with a standard of cycling and j ■pedestrianism they have never before . had an opportunity of witnessing, and | ■with regular thrills. i .