CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 23 August 1928, Page 15

CYCLING.

AMONG THE AMATEURS. THE 50-MILE HANDICAP. The Manukau Amateur Cycle Club will hold a 22-mile open handicap next Saturday. Should it be a fine afternoon a record number of starters is expected. It is hoped the three scratch men, J. H. Wade, M. P. Byrne and J. Whitten, will be amongst the number, as these three never fail to attract a crowd. The record attendance for the season was at Mangere last Saturday, when the 50mile handicap was being run. The crowd at the finish was so great that only the strenuous efforts of Secretary Les. Wilson and his committee prevented accidents from occurring.

It was most unfortunate that J. Whitten and J. Wade bumped in Saturday's trial 50-mile race, when the former came down, bringing H. Dwight with him. This ruined the scratch men's chances, which up till then looked good. Riders should not ride up alongside each other even to dodge the wind, as the leading rider may have to swerve suddenly to dodge a stone or a pothole, with the result that quite unintentionally an accident occurs. This was the case on Saturday, when, quite apart from the fact that it ruined the scratch riders' chances In the race, it also spoilt the race from the fastest time point of view. J. C. Stewart, the winner of the 50mile event, showed remarkable staying powers. Right through the race he rode with good judgment. Over the first lap and a-half he was on his own most of the time, but once he was joined by W. Dwight, F. Taylor and S. Baird he never looked like getting beaten. He is a most erratic performer, but when well is a very hard rider to beat. He simply played with the rest of the field on Saturday.

No rider tried harder than F. Taylor, who finished second, in the big race. He was one of the most fancied riders on the middle mark, and he fully justified the selection. Riding a hard, unselfish race, he was mainly responsible for keeping away from the scratch division. When it came to the final sprint he put up a game fight, but had no chance of beating the winner. C. L. Ru=sell was undoubtedly the most popular rider riding in Saturday's big race. For three laps—roughly 30 miles—he held the lead, having ridden a splendid unpaced race. Entering the last lap, he was joined by Stewart (the winner), Taylor and Dwight. These four were never troubled after this, but unfortunately Russell skidded in some loose scoria three miles from the finish and fell heavily. This spoiled whatever chance he might have had of winning.

There were numerous accidents during the running of the big event on Saturday. H. Russell was the first to strike trouble when his tyre came off in the first lap. bringing him down. Then followed Foubister. Clark (twice), Kay, H. Dwight, Whitten and W. Dwight. They were all attended to by a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and were seemingly none the worse for their experience. Most of the falls occurred on the .loose scoria road round the hack of the course.

The ladies associated with the Manukau Club provided afternoon tea for riders in last Saturdays' big event, which was greatly appreciated. The thanks of all are due to those who so ably assisted in seeing that riders and others grot a cup. The Manukau Amateur Cycle Club intend sending three representatives to Wellington next month to compete in the 50-mile New Zealand road championship. The three to go will be selected by the club's executive earlv next month, and will be chosen from J. H. Wade (the present holder of the title), M. P. Byrnes, H. Dwight, J. Whitten and F. Casey. There is also a chance of J. C: Stewart, the winner of last Saturday's race, being asked to make the trip. J. Standen, the Australian Olympic representative, finished third in the world's amateur sprint chamoionship, held at Budanest recently. The plaeings were:—Hanson, Denmark, 1; Beanfrond. France, 2: Standen, Australia, 3; and Sivargnini, Italy, 4.