CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 209, 4 September 1929, Page 14

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS. HARD GOING NOT RELISHED. 1 : ' TOO MANY WITHDRAWALS. > i FIXTURES. . Saturday, September 7. —53 J Miles Senior r (Iliumatao) and 5h Miles Junior. I Saturday, September 14. —25 Miles Senior (I'apukura) and 5J Miles Junior. Saturday, September 21. —50 Miles Auckland Amateur Championship (Clevedon). For the first time since July 30, 1927, ' the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club held a senior race over the Tamaki ' course last Saturday. The response as ' far as entries were concerned was very meagre, only 27 starting. Weather conditions were excellent but the entry was , small because the members do not favour racing over such a hilly and rough surfaced course. The route taken was from Mangere Central to Otahuliu, 1 along the concrete to Panmure, across ' the bridge over the Tamaki Stream, ' thence on over loose metalled roads nearly to Howick township, where a sharp right turn was taken to reach Papatoetoe, via East Tamaki. From Papatoetoe tar - sealed roads led to the finishing point, Mangere Central, which was approached in the opposite 1 direction to that of the usual weekly races. It is a tricky course to follow, but as all riders had made acquaintance with it on the club runs, none lost his way. Mr, A. Mackrell kindly followed the race with his motor truck, and picked up all those who retired en route. His truck was filled to capacity with 1 riders and their machines when it arrived back a few moments after the race had concluded. The rough surface, from Panmure on, soon began to take its toll, and before Papatoetoe and the good roads wero again reached five had punctured ana four had retired. Then an accident, brought about by careless riding along Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, reduced the field by four. Accidents of this nature are practically the only' one's that happen to racing cyclists, and if competitors would bear in mind not to take undue risks then road racing would be entirely free from trouble E. J. Avery, off 7m, was the hero of Saturday's race of 27 miles. He went as far as the Pakuranga Hall with his three co-markers, then took a fit into his head to dart away on his own. He hot only got away from the trio but kept gradually getting further and further away. Over the last 18 miles he rode alone, and therefore unassisted, yet kept off all opposition, to win in runaway, fashion by just 57 seconds; easily the most convincing handicap win of the present season. Only a strong rider, possessing stamina and determination, and plenty of confidence, could accomplish such an unusual feat. Avery employed the correct tactics under the circumstances. Seldom has Handicapper Cleaver had his handicap adjustments shattered so badly. Still, in all fairness to "W.G.," it must be . mentioned that but for Avery, the runaway, an exciting struggle for first place would have been witnessed. Avery's time for the distance was 73.43 —fast travelling for a limit rider. He favourably impressed many who saw him come second in the 17-miler the previous week. He was competing in his third race, and his efforts in the "53i" next Saturday will be watched with keen interest. By making his sprint early and rounding the bend 100 yards from the line with a good lead, G. J. Whitehouse (sm) was able to claim second position, with a length to spare. It was his first success this season; he was a junior rider last year. His, best performance this year was recorded in the last "53i" on August 17, when he finished fourth, 200 yards behind Dwight, who won off scratch. So strenuous was that particular race that out of 25 starters only four finished, therefore Whitehouse's ride, viewed in that light, was all the more meritorious. "Everything comes to him who waits," thought L. Aldred (3.30), who came third. He knows now, perhaps to hi 3' regret, that such is not always the case. For instance, last Saturday ho took no notice of Whitehouse's early "jump," but waited till he reached the bend before making his all-out effort. When he reached the bend Whitehouse had opened a six lengths gap, and Aldred went like one possessed, only to be just too 'late and to suffer defeat by one solitary length. Aldred, it will be remembered, was second in the club's annual 11-mile road championship on July 20, and is a sprinter of no mean order. He won an 11-mile off 1.5 on May 4 last. J. H. Wade (scr) came to light last week by winning fastest time honours in 68 minutes. He led Roberts over the line by a clear length. Dwight had to ease up in the sprint on account of a car, otherwise he would certainly have been very prominent in the picture, As it was he was only three lengths away. It is good, though, for the scratch men to have a few reverses as far as the time honours are concerned, for it tends to lend added interest in the weekly races. Wade has made fastest time in

'seven of" the "1"9 J races he "lias competed in this year. His outstanding performance was the winning of the 2.2-miler 011 June 15 from the scratch mark. The Junior Event. Thirteen juniors raced in their event over one lap of the Mangere circuit, five miles and a-lialf, unpaced conditions. The two scratch riders in the weekly handicaps, C. T. Yule and E. Hall, appropriately finished first and second fastest, their times being 15.22 and lo.Jo respectively. Cr. M. Lethaby, in 15-°l> was the only other rider to get within the 16m mark. W. C. Paul, the midget junior, won the sealed ■ handicap. He went round the course in 18.44, the slowest time returned, but when his handicap bad been'deductcd it was found that he was the winner by a bare two seconds from H. J. Shepherd (3m), who was racing in his second event. Paul's last success was a first off 4.40 on August 10. The trial was sponsored by Mr. G. Lethaby, who takes a lively interest in the junior division, and was very anxious to have the lads perform against the watch. He donated the first three time trophies for the event. At the last general meeting it wafe decided to hold the 50-mile Auckland provincial amateur championship cycle road race on September 21 instead"" of September 28 as scheduled on the season's programme. The date was changed on account of the Auckland Professional Club's annual Hamilton-to-Auckland race being set down for decision for September 28. Therefore, with the championship fifty only three weeks off, the riders are getting down to serious training. "The club run last Sunday afternoon over the full course from Epsom to Clevedon and back wa3 patronised by no less than 21 members. The roads were in excellent order at the Cievedon end, and a fast race is anticipated this year. A peculiar accident happened to Club Captain, Casey when riding at a fast bat behind another clubman near Clevedon. The back wheel of the rider in - front flicked a sharp stone right on to the point of Casey's chin, inflicting two deep cuts upon same. A bathe in a nearby stream, and ' all was O.K.

Next Saturday's senior race will be over five laps of the Mangere and Ihumatao circuits (53$ miles) and it is sincerely hoped that a good number will endeavour to complete tlie full course on this occasion. The last event on August 17 drew 25 starters, but only four finished. The race will start slnirp at 2 p.m., and the junior race, of five miles and a-half, will be held whilst the seniors are racing over the Ihumatao course. .