CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 152, 29 June 1926, Page 15

CYCLING.

(By SPEEDY.)

COMING EVENTS

Saturday, July 3, 11-mile amateur road race, Mangere. Saturday, July 10, 11-mile amateur road race, Mangere. Saturday. September IS. TiO-mile professional road race, Rangiora. Saturday, October 2, Tlmaru-Christehurch road race.

Saturday, October 9. Warrnambool-Mel-bourne 165 mile road race, and 100 mile Colac-Melbourne amateur road race.

LOCAL ITEMS' D. Anderson led home the field of ~21 starters in the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club's 17-mile road race at Mangere on Saturday. Riding off the smin. mark, Anderson rode above his average, and gained a lead of four points for the bicycle kindly donated by Messrs. E. Reynolds and Company last season. Anderson is one of the most enthusiast members of the club, and deserves the encouragement the success on this occasion should give him.

B. Clarke rode off the same mark as Anderson, and was only narrowly defeated for first place. B. Clarke has figured prominently in other road events held by the Manukau Club, and shows improvement with every ride.

E. Boucher rode his usual consistent race, being placed third off the s}min. mark. Boucher appears to fail in the eprint, although on the occasion under review he was in good fettle at the finish.

Andrews, winner of last week's 17-mile event, had the misfortune to puncture practically at the start of the race. He was treated liberally by the handicapper, and would no doubt have been amongst the place-getters at the finish of the race. Another rider who punctured was T. Faithful, who won fourth fastest last week.

With four riders off the scratch mark, it was not generally expected that '"Bill" Bray would annex fastest time off the 12 mm. mark. Much success on Bray's part was due. and this should be the reason for placing Bray on a mark where he will have a greater chance of annexing fastest time in coming fixtures. Bray is a rider who has always to be contended with. At Blandford Park lie has shown himself to be one of the best, and on this fast track, he was placed in almost every race in which he competed.

Another rider who has shown consider-, able promise on the road races this season is V. (Snowy l Baker. Bray and Baker, both with small gears on their machines, started off the same mark, the former proving just a little too fit for his co-marker. However, Baker has profited by the advice given him by older and more experienced enthusiasts, and deserves the success he attains.

Third fastest time fell to Eddie Grant, once the foremost competitor in Auckland. He represented Auckland province at the championships on more than one occasion. During the last year or so, however, Grant has not ridden with such dash. Apparently he is coming back to his old form. His time for the distance was only 18 seconds slower than Bray's (46min. oosee.).

With Casey, Blakeway, Wilson, and Whitten comprising the scratch division, it was 6omewhat surprising that fastest time should be won by two riders off the ljmin. mark. It is the usual ease, however, that four riders will . lose ground on a team of two, unless the whole four put their whole heart into the work.

MANGERE ROAD RACE. Slater Hayes, who secured fastest time by over a minute on Saturday, is an ex-Manawatu rider. He came up to Auckland to ride at Biandford Park during the season, and evidently liked Auckland so well that he decided to settle here. He is not yet 21 years of age, and he has already won several big events in cycling round about Palmerston North. He also won the amateur lightweight boxing championship of Manawatu in 1923 and 1924. He should be a good match for any visiting riders this season both on track and road, and he ranks as a distinct acquisition to Auckland athletics as a whole. Dave Storey, another back-marker, rode a well-judged race, and with a little more experience should develop into a first-class road rider. He was only beaten by a minute for fastest time. W. Hiils, off scratch, did not ride up to form, and was shaken off after going half the journey. However, he gamely plodded on, and finished up eighth, very tired. i Word has come through that Phil O'Shea, the popular Christchurch champion, is training hard for the TimaruChristchurch Road. Race. Phil has a great record in connection with this annual event, and judging by the way he was riding in Auckland a month or two ago, and not forgetting the fact that he is better even on the road than on the track, it will take a real top-notcher to head him off from fastest time. Canelli, who won Saturday's race, is a novice to cycle racing. He rode off 6m with Herewini, and after pacing the journey with him, managed to pip him by inches, at the finishing line. Each Saturday sees new riders in the cash ranks, and by the time the Hamilton, to Auckland * Road Race comes round, the A.A. and C. Club should be well represented. The stewards had a busy time on Saturday keeping the crowd back from the finishing post, and one fair enthusiast, who ventured too close, was bumped lightly on to the grass. Spectators should endeavour to keep back and give the riders a clear run in at the finish. By doing so, the risk of accident will be largely avoided. The A.A. and C. Club is holding another 17-mile event over the same course on Saturday week. Entries will close with the secretary, Mr. Alex. Sutherland. It has been decided that no entries from unfinaneial members will be received. W. Matbieson, who went so well on the road last year, does not seem to have struck form yet. He had the misfortune to puncture on Saturday when going along well. Herewini, who also has a reputation in football and boxing circles, made his debut as a road rider, and was unlucky in being defeated by so small a margin. He finished up very sore, and will need to do plenty of training. Archer, who was among the leaders all the way, secured third place. With a few more rides he should do much better yet. "Jumbo 7 ' Henderson was unfortunate in being beaten for third, place. With a few pounds of avoirdupois off, he will make the best of them go.' The arrangements for Saturday's race were well carried out by the officials. Messrs. Bert Moe, Marriott, Lauder, Browning. Wadham, and Johnson, whos' work each Saturday is a big factor in keeping the sport flourishing. ,

TAIHAPE ACTIVITIES. C. Ericsson asserted himself in no uncertain manner last Saturday, when he secured fastest time and third place off the scratch mark in the Taihape Cycle Club's event. F. Sexton, C. Benfell, and C. Anderson were amongst the placed riders.

PALMERSTON TO PETONE EVENT. As a result of well attended meetings of cycling enthusiasts and traders in Wellington recently, September 11 has been set down as a suitable date for the Palmerston-Petone road race (about 100 miles). The movement to promote this race has been going for some time, and there is little doubt that, with the backing of the traders in the Wellington and Manawatu districts, the event will prove an unqualified success. There is talk of the competitor registering fastest time being sent to compete in the ColacMelbourne amateur road race of 100 miles. A decision in this connection has not, however, been finally reached. The Colac-Melbourne event is held on the same day as the Warrnambool-Melbourne professional road race (October 9).

END OF HORACE HORDER'S CAREER. A letter from Horace Horder states that he is at present an inmate of the Sydney Hospital, suffering from injuries sustained as the result of his being run over by a motor lorry whilst riding a push bicycle on June" 4. His injuries were very extensive, consisting of a fractured pelvis, double fractured hip. fractured thigh, fractured knee, leg ■broken below shin, fractured collarbone, and concussion of the brain. According to the tone of the letter, Horder is very downhearted, as he will be unable to race again. He was on severa: occasions beaten by Willie Mackie and others in C'hristchurch when he was in Xcw Zealand a month or so aao. Nevertheless, he has some creditable performances to his credit, and when his brother I Harris) was riding in Australia, the two were associated in 22 successive wins on the track. They finished first and second on every occasion. Horace Horder (who is also famed as a footballer) did not ride in Auckland, but his brother was seen in action a good deal.

JOTTINGS. The 11-mile amateur road race being held by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club on July 10 is to be a benefit race. All the prizes are being donated by competitors and supporters, and the entrance money will be held by the club, as an addition to its finances. Several of the backmarkers have already made donations for the race.

Despite A. Leathern's accident in a road race r.t Mairehau (Christchurch i recently, he rode again the following week, and proved that his form is being maintained. He collected fastest time honours in the Southbrook Cycling Club's 15-mile road race on Saturday week. There were 23 starters.

Word of the formation of a new cycling club (the Port Nicholson Amateur Road Cycling Club) is to hand. The meeting which came to the decision to form this club was the beet attended ever held in Wellington.

Information received by '"Speedy" is to the effect that cycling is booming everywhere at present, and the proposed big events in different parts of New Zealand should be strongly supported.

The majority of riders are indulging in solid training. Frank Casey has lieen doing a good deal of late, and it appears to have stood him in good stead during the last race or two.

Con Gainsborough does not intend competing in future road races this season, but will be amongst the competitors when the track season opens at Biandford .''ark.