CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 256, 29 October 1929, Page 19

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS.

END OF KOAI> SEASON. ?

W. PEATNEY'S GOOD CUP WIN.

FIXTURES. October 30. —Two-miles Handicap (Domain, 5.45 p.m.).

The Auckland Cycle Club official? could not have wished for a better day than Saturday to conclude their road season, it being ideal for racing. The event was a special one, for a very fine silver cup donated by Mr. J. Edwards, and drew a splendid field of 20 riders, all anxious to win the trophy. It was indeed a fitting race to conclude the season, which has been the most successful in the club's history. The distance was 19.4 miles, over three laps of the Mangere circuit, and at the conclusion the winner, W. Pratney, was presented with the cup by the donor's wife, Mrs. J. Edwards. President J. L. Harris, in declaring the season closed, spoke in eulogistic terms of the club's successful season, and the rapid advancement made by the club in the past few years. Everything, he said, pointed to an even better one next year. After thanking the various donors of trophies, the officials and ladies' committee for their hard work, and the members for their fine sportsmanship, he presented the points cups to the winners amid cheers. A most pleasing incident then took place, when Mr. F. Lowndes, on behalf of the boys, called on Secretary H. W.. Tonkin to accept a token of their appreciation of his services in the form of a gold watch, suitably inscribed. In returning thanks, the secretary stated that he had always found it a great pleasure to work among such a splendid lot of boys, and hoped to carry on the good work on their behalf. As to the race itself, speculation was rife about who would become the proud possessor of the cup, as the riders were riding in their best form. At the end of lap one the field were practically the same as they left, the virtual scratch men, Hayes and Lindop, off £m, having gained lAm on the limit men. Lap two saw Pratney, Whyte, Green (4m), Slack and Eae (3tm) together, having done well this lap, being 35s ahead of McDonald and Lowndes (3m), Taylor, Yule and Healey (2m 20s). The scratch and 1m 10s men were 2m behind at this stage, only gaining £m on the leaders. Pinfold (2m), punctured when going well with Fletcher, his co-marker, leaving him a lone ride to the finish, which was bad luck, a,s they were well in the running for time at this stage. Coming over the hill for the finish, the same leaders were still in front, and in the sprint to the line Slack led out, but Pratney and Eae came at him, Pratney winning nicely by half a length from Eae, with Slack the same distance away third. Green was two lengths behind fourth. In the sprint between the back men Lindop beat Hayes by threequarters of a, length, with Matliieson half a length away.

W. Pratney (4m), the young Maori rider, was a very proud man when he stepped forward to receive his trophy, and well he might be, for he certainly deserved it. He has shown remarkably good form in his last four rides of the season, having' gained two wins and a third. Last week he would have gone close to winning only for a motor car on the line. During the race he did some splendid pacing, his laps being very fast, and was mainly responsible for keeping the next bunch away. His new machine has made a big difference to his riding, and next season one can look forward to big things from this rider.

K. Eae (3Am), second, was in a like position last week, and has filled this berth on no less than four occasions during the year, which is indeed unlucky for him. The writer picked him to d<j well after his previous week's performance, and would be a top-notcher if he could only develop a sprint. He was a little disappointed at not winning xhe trophy, as this is his one ambition, but admitted afterwards that Pratney more than deserved it for his good work.

C. Slack (34m), third, has three of these to his credit this year, and, like Eae, cannot seem to muster up that little bit of extra dash to catch the judge's eye first. When- Slack led out he looked the winner, but the other two finished on too well for him. He is another rider who has been out of luck for a long time, but the track season may see him a winner. R. Green (4m), fourth man, who scored a win at his first attempt in the club, is gaining the necessary experience for the road, and next year will see him a much improved rider. Though the official timekeeper placed J. Lindop (Jm) as fastest time winner, it was found afterwards on correcting the various times (a usual procedure) that he had made ■an error. This was excusable, for Lindop and Ilayes had been let up to half a minute by the handicapper in the only race of the year, as they usually appear on scratch. In reckoning times, four minutes were allowed instead of three and a half, therefore instead of Lindop, beating Healey by 12s, Healey gains Lime honours by 18s from him. Healey, Taylor and Yule rode splendidly off the 2m 20s mark, Healey just squeezing home from Taylor. The corrected time is now 50m 37s instead of 50m 255.

Next Wednesday evening at 5.45 p.m. a two-miles handicap will be held on*the Domain, in conjunction with the Manukau Amateur Club. This race should have been decided last Wednesday, but was postponed owing to the rain. The handicaps will therefore stand as published for that date. It behoves all members to attend and support these evening meetings, for by doing ro they are helping themselves for the big meeting in December, not to mention another which may eventuate in the New Year. The committee are out to make the track season as good as possible, but the necessary encouragement, must be forthcoming if the club is to make rapid progress in this department, which lias drifted back of latter years. Not only that, but it tends to keep all members together until the opening of the new road season.

Auckland Club members will be pleased to hear that G. Hall, Hamilton to Auckland winner, gained a place on the piize list in the Hound the Mountain Race, his position being tenth off a 16m mark. His placing brought him £2 2/ also winning special gold medal donated by Spates and mite, Ltd., for the first Auckland Provincial rider to finish. Hall must have ridden a good race to finish in the position, for he was on a mark with some of Taranaki's best, and would have to ride every inch of the 100 miles. The writer thought he was a bit harshly treated by tlie handicapper, but evidently Hall next season is going to prove a long distance rider of no mean ability. L. 1?. Roberts, the winner nf the event off 24m, finished ninth off in the Hamilton to Auckland race after puncturing twice, and looked a likely winner at New Plymouth with an extra 4m.