THE PAEROA MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 30, 6 February 1928, Page 15

THE PAEROA MEETING.

A RECORD FIELD. MACKIE'S TWO WINS. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") PAEROA, Saturday. In ideal weather, with a record crowd attending and also a record entry of representative riders competing, the Paeroa Athletic Club held its second cycling gala this year to-day. Notable riders competing at the meeting were: W. Mackie (Christchurch), New Zealand champion, S. McCann, C. Tippings, H. Inch (New Plymouth), S. Hayes (Auckland), and J. Harcourt (Hamilton). The track was not at its best owing to the long spell of dry weather. During the afternoon the Waihi Municipal Band played selections.

A feature of the racing was the riding of W. Mackie in the longer distances. He won as he liked in the five mile, and in the three mile was looking round at the finish. R. Coulter and S. Hayes fell in one heat of the two mile, but neither was hurt. Following are -the details:— OPEN HANDICAP of £5. One mile. First Heat.—W. Godkin, ISOyds, 1; W. Francis, 120 yds, 2; C. Chisholm, 180 yds, 3 Time, 2.23. Godkin took the lead at the bell, and was never troubled, winning by six lengths. Second Heat.—L. Alexander, 200 yds, 1; C. O'Brien. ISOyds, 2 ; A. Pilkington, 120 yds, 3. Time 2.21. Won easily b.v live lengths. Third Heat.—W. Renouf, 135 yds, 1; T. Russick. 200 yds, 2; O. Stace, 100 yds, 3. Time 2.24. The winner came through 100 yards from the finish, and won by six lengths. Final. H. Alexander 1 W. Renouf - C. Chisholm ....' 3 Won by a length after a great race over the last lap. All the back markers were unplaced. Time 2.20. TWO MILE OPEN HANDICAP. First Heat.—J. Harcourt, scr., I\V. Francis, 100 yds, 2; W. Godkin, 3. Time 5.15. Won easily by ten lengths. Hayes and Caultin fell. Second Heat.—H. Alexander, 250 yds, 1 ; W. Healey, 200 yds, 2; S. McCann, 40yds, 3. Time 5.7 1-5. Won easily by eight lengths. Third Heat. —C. Tippins. 135 yds. 1 ; N. Randrup, -Ktyds, 2; O. Stace, 120 yds, 3. Time, 5.6. The winner rode a great race. Mackie finished fifth. •Final. C. Tippins (New Plymouth) 1 M. Randrup 2 Stace 3 Tippins rode a fine race. He was in charge a lap and a-lialf from home, and won by a length, Randrup being the same distance in front of Stace. Time, sm. THREE MILE OPEN HANDICAP. S. McCann, 60yds behind 1 W. Mackie, 70yds behind 2 J. Hareourt, scratch 3 The back men held command at two laps to go. and McCann led at the bell, where Mackie was. in a bad position. Half a lap from home the field opened out, allowing Mackie through. In a great finish McCann won by inches, with Harcourt close up. Time, 7m 355, a track record. FIVE MILE OPEN HANDICAP. W. Mackie, 100 yds behind 1 C. Tippins, 1000 yds 2 S. McCann, 80yds 3 The race was spoiled by only eleven starters competing. The back men were up at three miles and a-half. Mackie took charge in the straight and won easily bythree lengths. A great race for second place, inches only in it. Time, 13m 395. 3i MILE HANDICAP. W. Mackie, SOyds behind 1 J. Harcourt, scratch 2 S. McLean, 70yds behind 3 The best race of the day. The limit riders paced well, but the back markers caught the field with a lap and a-half to go, and in a great finish Mackie won by half a wheel, inches separating second and third. Time, 9ni 395.