CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1928, Page 12

CYCLING.

AMONG THE AMATEURS.

RECORD ROAD ENTRIES.

BOYS PACE WELL.

The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club has reached the half century in their list of starters in club races. On Saturday 50 riders competed in the 17mile open handicap—an increase of eight on the previous best—thus creating a club record. This is a fine performance on the M.A.C.C. riders' part, and reflects great credit on the management. On the club's present showing, it should not be long before this fine entry will be eclipsed. Saturday's races set down for decision are an 11-mile open handicap and a SJ-mile junior event. The latter will start at 2.30 p.m. sharp, the open event following later.

No better pacing has been seen at Mangere than that done by the three limit youngsters. D. Fletcher, C. Francis and W. Clarke, who finished in that order in the Manukau Club's open event on Saturday. From the word go these three boys went all out, each taking a bit of pacing, and doing it so consistently that the rest of the field never sighted them.

Apart from the fact that Saturday's race was contested by a record number of competitors, it also created another record. During the running of the race 32 riders were together in a bunch, and rode that way for over six miles, the previous best being 22. As most of the riders are using different coloured jersey 3 the sight was a very fine one.

D. Fletcher, the winner of Saturday's race, is one of the most promising youngsters seen at Mangere. Only a boy, and riding in his ordinary clothes, his finishing sprint was an eye-opener to everyone. Right through the race he was out in front most of the time, doing more than his share of the work, and although up against two good ones, when it came to racing he left them standing. He has one of the finest seats seen at Mangere, and with proper care will go far in the game.

C. Francis, who finished second, could not finish with the winner. He paced a good honest 17-miles with the other two, but was unlucky to strike such a snag as Fletcher, as he had no trouble in beating Clarke. If this rider would sit still on his machine, he would save a lot of energy. W. Clarke, the third rider to finish, is one of the club's most consistent performers. Every Saturday sees him a starter, and as an honest rider he has no superior in the Manukau Club. A win for this wheelman would be most popular with riders and club alike. Let it be soon.

The scratch division in Saturday's race comprised M. P. Byrnes, J. H. Wade and J. Whitten. These three riders are undoubtedly the best three amateurs in Auckland to-day, and should have finished closer up to the field than they did. Their effort was mainly to watch each other, and wait for that final sprint, instead of getting into it and picking up their field. The consequence was that there was only one rider, M. P. Byrnes, in it at the finish. He opened up a gap of two lengths on Wade a hundred yards from the finish and kept it. There is no rider in New Zealand who can treat Byrnes with contempt when it comes to the finish of a slow run race.