CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 262, 5 November 1929, Page 17

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS. HARCOTJRT AND PRATNXY DO WELL LABOUR DAY. FIRST MID-WEEK EVENT. FIXTURES. November 7. —3 Miies Handicap, Domain, 5.45 p.m. ; . After an absence of two years the Papakura Athletic Club once again held their meeting on Labour Day. Though the attendance was affected by the morning's rain the racing was good, especially the cycling events, close finishes being the order of the day, which worked the crowd up to great enthusiasm. The track was not of the best, a couple of places being very bad, consequently riders had to be very careful when negotiating these, especially in the opening events, when the track was wet. As the day wore on it improved, and the riders were able to attain better speeds. W. Pratney was the hero of the day, winning the half and one mile events, and dead-heating with R. F. Caulton in the mile and a half; he was also third in the three miler. Being a resident of Papakura he was very popular with the crowd, who elected to call him the "Pride of Papakura." Pratney was a very fit man after his road racing, striking from at the latter end, consequently he was just right for the track. Not only that, but being a resident he was able to train on the track, and handle it to better advantage. In the half and one mile events he rode brilliantly to win by half wheels, and in the mile and a half just got up to dead-heat. In this and the three mile he was rehandicapped, in the latter event feeling the effects of his other rides.

C. Slack scored a most pleasing win in the big event of the day, the two miles handicap, off 275 yards. He made the most of his handicap, and never gave the others a chance, winning easily. Whereas he rode ordinary road wheels in the previous races, track wheels were substituted in this event, which made all the difference to his riding. It was very gratifying to see Slack get a win, for he had ridden consistently without any luck on the road.

R. F. Caulton, of Te Aroha, who deadheated with Pratney, should never have been beaten in the mile and a half, for when leading in the straight he took it easy and Pratney shot .up on the blind side before he realised it. It was a case of taking the field too cheaply. C. Yule, second in the half-mile, was looked upon as a moral off 125 yds, but. made the mistake of letting Pratney through on the inside in the final lap. He did this in a bad patch, running wide to avoid it, which Avas bad luck,

W. Frances, second in the two mile, did not perform up to expectations,, but he was on a very tight mark, and had hard rides in getting up to the frontmarkers.

The last race, a mile and a half consolation, was left to provide the spectators withl'theithrill;of the day, when three riders-; namely Healey, Frances and K. Clarke, crashed entering the straight. Healey and Frances were leading together and/ swung out a little wide on the bend, when Clarke came on the inside and skidded, all three going down in a heap. Bowman and E. Clarke pedalled home easily, to gain first and second, and E. Clarke picked up his machine and carried it over the line to get third, but was disqualified for a breach of the rules. Coming on the inside is a dangerous practice, and the rule distinctly says that no rider must come to the inside unless three clear lengths in front. What would have proved a thrilling finish, ended in disaster, all three cycles being damaged, the riders losing some skin also. J. H. Harcourt, of Hamilton, fastest time winner in the Hamilton-to-Auck-land road race, competed in the Eound-the-Mountain race at New Plymouth last week, but retired, evidently saving himself for the ■ big track meeting on Labour Day, when all the New Zealand stars competed. Jim's best performances have been registered on the track, and he again demonstrated his! ability by scoring a win in the big wheel! event of the day, besides a second and a third. In'the Labour Day wheel race (two miles), for J. B. Dunn's Challenge Cup, he rode brilliantly, winning the final off 100 yds by half a wheel from A. Ellis (180 yds), with A. Frandsen (150 yards) third, time, 4m 53 2-ss. In the three mile handicap he was second off 140 yds, McCann (scr) beating him in a fast sprint by a length,. C. Parker (30yds) was third, time, 7m 21s. In the champion of champions event, two miles, all off scratch, which was a. great race, Harcourt again rode splendidly, to get third. "McCann, Parker and he fought out a desperate finish, McCann winning by half a length, time 4m 295. In the mile handicap he was unplaced. The Auckland Cycle Club held thenfirst evening track race on the Domain last Wednesday, a two mile handicap. There was a good muster of riders, 15 facing the starter. From the gun afast pace was maintained by the middle markers, who bunched early. Hayes, the only scratch starter, made no impression' on the field, and retired at the end of the fifth lap. With two laps to go Yule put a break of six lengths on the field, and Mathieson went up fast on the outside to take second berth. At the bell, Yule was still in front, but entering the straight Mathieson came with a good sprint to win by a length. Fletcher came from the ruck to beat Yule on the line by inches for second. K. Mathieson (100 yds) rode a welljudged race. He was very fit after his riding at Papakura, where he was harshly treated by the handicapper, standing up some big starts. His sprinting ability was once again the deciding factor. D. Fletcher (150 yds) second, "came from the clouds," to get the position, after riding prominently in the early stages of the race. He should do well" on the track, .if one can take a line on his finishing effort. C. Yule (150 yds) third, made the mistake of going out so early, otherwise he may have given the winner more trouble. This promising young rider has ridden well since joining the cash ranks, having a second and a third in two track events, and two seconds on the road to his credit. ■ .

W. Mathieson, brother of Ken; .was a starter on Wednesday, but could not go the pace set by the middle-markers, who are all fit after the road season. _ A few rides should see him in the limelight, as he was a non-competitor on the road.

Next Wednesday evening's race is a three-mile handicap.