CASH RIDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 277, 23 November 1927, Page 14

CASH RIDERS.

PELHAM'S GOOD WORK.

REVIEW OF SATURDAY'S RIDING.

POOD TRACK WANTED.

(By WHEELMAN.)

The Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club will stage two events, a one and three mile, at Blandford Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Some good racing is now being seen in the different events held there, the majority of the riders are getting used to the track, and are showing improved form.

H. Pelham was the hero of Saturday's racing. Starting in three events, he won each time. He was making his first racing appearance on the grass track, and it should remain a happy one for him. He has been one of the Auckland Club's most successful riders this season, being runner-up to A. White for the most number of points in the year's road racing. Pelham seems to be able to handle the going'better than most riders. He knows the advantage there is in being in front over the latter stages, and makes no mistakes about getting there. The meeting between he and Slater Hayes next Saturday should be worth seeing. Another man who has 6hown a big improvement in his riding is F. Lawlev. He was a hard»man to beat on Saturday, and had the track been capable j of carrying more speed, it would have | seriously troubled H. Pelham in the last

100 yds of the two mile fltoalv ,-i < K. Rae rotle well, and in getting second to Pelham in the second heat, and running third in the final of the two miles he put up one of hia best performances. A. Sutherland rode well in the "miss and out" scratch race, finishing secnnd, but he could not get up'to the field in the heat of the two mile event.

W. Francis put in two very hard rides. In his heat of the two mile event he put up a great ride. He had bad luck in striking a rider like H. Pelham, otherwise he was sure to have been in the final. In the "miss and out" scratch race, he ran in on the inside in the third lap, got blocked and was counted out. "Miss and Out."

.. The "miss and out" event was, in fact, a very, interesting race to watch; In the fourth lap when the field had got settled down, P. Rickman's wheel collapsed and he fell heavily. H- Pelham and A Sutherland, with F. Lawler handy, always held Rood positions. the 9th lap, H. Pelham took the lead, and stalling off challenges from Lawler and Sutherland, inaiintained it over the last three laps, winning by a length. A great race for second place took place between Lawler and Sutherland, the latter lasting long enough to win by a few inches, Th* time, 5m 52 3-ss, was good, showing that a good bat was maintained all the -way. j Of the three scratch riders figuring in the handicaps "for Saturday's events, only S. Hayes has so far put in an appearance. F. Prior does not fancy riding on grass, and it looks like A. White feeling the same way. If the Blandfdrd Park Stadium Company want to do any good with this ground they must realise .that; a good cycle track has '\c& io be provided, and this also applies to the running track. • At Other Places

W. Mackie again won a double at English Park' Stadium lait Saturday night. He won his match rao# with J. Bearman, and won the three mile scratch event. In our first trial of the

match race (one and a half, mile) the finish was the most exciting ever seen St English Park. Ma-ckie had a clear lengtfi'i ;lead entering the straight, but Bearman finished with such a kick that Mackie ohly .won by inches. In the second heat (quarter mile) Bearman again only got beaten by inches. He left his sprint too late both times. Harry G. Watson—after averaging a fall and a puncture a day—ran second, and won £100 in the big Australian classic, the Dunlop Grand Prix, which finished at Melbourne last Saturday. With W. Rennie, another New Zealander, they won the teams race first prize, which carries $60 with it. Rennie finished fifth in the big event, winning £20; and also won the sealed handicap run in conjunction with the race, of, £50 first pnze. -This is a wonderful performance •&HV..80 far : as we know,-the only' two '.ciders from the Dominion competing to

put up. * . . ■. . 1 The winner was the Australian champion, .H. Qpperman t ' who, with the exception of, one puncture, went through the .whole 690J miles without any trouble. His time, 40h 4lm 3,45, averages just on 17 miles an hour for the full journey, and establishes a world s record.