CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 221, 18 September 1929, Page 16

CYCLING.

— % WITH THE AMATEURS. "OBSTACLE" ROAD RACE. THE 50-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP. [ FIXTURES. , Saturday, September 21,—30 Miles Auckland Provincial Amateur Championship. Epsom to Clevedon, 2 p.m. Saturday, September 25.—22 Miles Senior, ui Miles Junior. The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club's senior race last Saturday from Mangere Central to Papakura and back, a total distance of 25 miles, would have, judging by the riding on the outward trip" to Papakura of 12}' miles, been one of the best of the three "out and home" raceti held this year had not a bis mob of cattle been on the road at "the same time as the 24 seniors who competed. The riders were not interrupted -rerv much by the cattle on the way out, but coming back they met them head pn at the narrow little bridge between Manurewa and Wiri. The front markers suffered little, for they just crossed the bridge before the first of the mob of 200 strong. But for the back division the race immediately developed into an obstacle race at this stage, moving and fierce-looking obstacles at that, but, luckily for the riders, not fierce natured. On the vvay out to the turn at Papakura the two limit riders, W. Clarke and T. J. Farrelly (10m), pacing each other well, led and turned 2m 5s before the next group of five, Mackrell, Hall and Carden off Giu 30s, Camp off Bni, and Steen off 5m 30s. The fastest riders out to the Papakura triangle turn were the stratch trio, Wade, Whitten and .Dwight. They took 33m 355, whilst Roberts and Fletcher, both off lm, took only 10s longer. Thus the fastest time issue, even at half-way, was a very open gamble. The turn", which all, bar Galbraith, Whitehouse and Francis, the "originals," took in a right-hand direction, was composed of that fine loose and treacherous metal so well known to all who travel further than the good concrete road extends. H. R. Dwight (scr), who has often been termed by his club mates the "spill artist," met with misfortune at this point, or, rather, bend. • Although he fell heavily and was badly i rashed by the gravel he quickly re- i mounted and rejoined his two co-markers. Later on he accepted a lift from Mr. ;

Hall, an enthusiast who always likes to

follow the "out-and-home" races in his car. On the trip out the scratch trio had gained 4m 45s on the leader, W. Clarke (10m), and as they are noted for

their "second half" work, would have been well up at the finish. The fly in

their ointment was as stated before, the cattle. Clarke, shortly after turning at Papakura, dropped partner Farrelly, and for the remainder of the race kept the lead, although towards the end he was being fast overhauled by a pack of ten. When he looked back two miles from homo they were well back, and just visible as tiny specks, but at a mile and a bit to go they had taken definite shape in Clarke's vision, at which he revived wonderfully and thumped his machine along to good purpose, to cross the line with 60 yards to spare, to register the only victory he has had in the last two seasons. W. Clarke (10m) rode a hard and honest race, and consequently richly deserved the reward he received. He had no assistance whatever on the "home" trip. Of course as soon as he commenced tho return journey he passed the other competitors who were still on their way out, and was thus able to get a fairly good idea of how he stood in relation. Perhaps' the fact of knowing that lie had euch a substantial lead at the particular point in question gave him the necessary encouragement to keep pegging away on his lonesome. He has competed in eleven races this year, but Saturday's wa6 the only one he took with real seriousness. Curious to relate, the last Papakura race on July 6, when, by the way, no less than 3S competed, was also won by a limit rider E. Hall, off 10m 15s. L. B. Roberts (lm) nearly hoisted his Papakura colours full mast on Saturday. He just failed to catch the elusive Clarke, but, besides coming second, had the honour of collecting the fastest time award with 67m ols, beating Wade, who led Whittenin their sprint, by 24 seconds. Tho fact that he and D. Fletcher dropped such line road riders as F. Taylor and

F. J. Casey, also off lm, on the way out, seemed to have a distinctly beneficial influence on the pair, who afterwards rode as if possessed. Roberts turned at his "home towii," Papakura, 4m 25s behind Clarke and 50s before the scratch men. He had almost a clear run through tho cattle, which fact probably sealed

tho fastest time issue in his favour. Roberts is much the same type of rider, as far as performances go, as is Whitten. On other than the scratch mark he shines out with every brilliance, but off

the latter mark'he cannot foot it with Wade or Dwight when the sprint eventuates.

D. Fletcher (lm), third, partnered well with Roberts, and on the trip out made the pace very willing—too. willing for n"uself—for on the way back he had to ; lct Roberts make the pace, but all the same Fletcher made the sprint worth while, and chased Roberts over the- line a S™ a - n ' ea f- F] etchcr has shown fate hH' SC ! his scason ' of Kate. He has two firsts, a third and &

fastest time to his credit, and must be duly considered in the "fifty" next Saturday.

L. W. Roberts, brother of "L.8.," com-

peted off 4.30 in the race tinder review. He is down on holidays from Kaikohe, where he has off scratch with the members of the cycling club there. He found the fast-surfaced Auckland roads not to his liking and retired after five miles. The plodder type is "L.W."— a type of rider rough and hilly roads generally develop. The Junior Race. ), Ten juniors competed in their 54-milor last week, for which the winner received *■ a neat gold-centred silver medal kindly donated to the junior division by Mrs. C. A. Paul, mother of W. C. Paul (the limit junior rider). The finish was partiale larly close this time, and thirty seconds 1 would have covered the field at the cony elusion. A spirited go between E. J. j McKenzie and L. Cogan, the two 2.50 i markers, resulted in the former winning i his first cycle race. McKenzie commenced f racing on August 3 last, since when, i besides the above success, he was third . off 2.30 on August 17, over a similar dis- • tance. Cogan, out of 10 starts, has ; recorded two firsts and as many seconds. ; Xpw that C, T. Yule, who made a good • name for himself as a scratch junior, has > been transferred into the senior ranks, i G. M. Lothaby seems to be likely to jump ; into Yule's "shoes." On Saturday i Lethaby clocked 15.52, decidedly good i time, considering the howling gale blow- . ing across the circular Mangere course. , He rode off 30s, virtual scratch, with R. L. Francis, whom he had little difficulty in heading off in the sprint for time honours. The Auckland Amateur Fifty Championship. On Sunday practically all of the Manukau Club members who intend competing in the 50 miles Auckland provincial amateur championship road race next Saturday, made a final run over the course. The race will start right on the first stroke of 2 p.m. from Market Road, Epsom end. The course will be the as that of last year's race, the "fr\ 'I pan" loop at the Clevedon end 1;.-. ;: again used. Intending competitors will assemble) at the president's residence (Mr. H. G. Brewin), at 1, Highwic Avenue, off Market Road, between 1 and 1.30 p.m., change there and ride along to the starting point 400 yards away. i The committee met on Monday even- • ing and finalised all arrangements, and the trophy list, which provides prizes for no less than fifteen placings. The limit men this year are receiving as much as 23 minutes' start as against s 15 minutes last year when the event was t won from scratch by J. Whitten in the •! record time of 2 hours 16 minutes, with 0 C. A. Clarke off 8 minutes, second. The r. scratch division this year appear on « paper, and no doubt will give a practical a illustration on Saturday next, as the c strongest team to ev< r contest the championship. J. Whitten. the holder, 11. R. 1 Dwight. J. H. Wade, L. B. Roberts and Angus Mackie. The latter rider is the scratch rider of the Papanui Amateur f Cycling Club of Christchurch. His f inclusion on the back mark will lend 3 particular interest to the annua! race. £ All trophies, other than those which have ( to be engraved, will be presented to the p successful competitors at the president's jl residence after the conclusion of the j event and refreshments have been j partaken of by the riders. •>