CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 280, 26 November 1929, Page 14

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS. K. MATHIESON IN FORM. CARNIVAL IN THE NEW YEAR. FIXTURES. Nov. 27.—1$ Miles Handicap, Domain, 5.45 p.m. Jan. 25.—Auckland Club Carnival, Otahuhu. Cash riders have experienced a quiet time for over two weeks, rain having prevented the usual Wednesday evening track races on the Domain, but last Wednesday the conditions were better, when a three-mile handicap was run. The enforced spell would not do the riders any harm, having a tendency to freshen them up after the strenuous road season. Still it is just as well for riders to get all the racing that is possible to fit them for the carnivals that are held over the Christmas vacation. The Springdale Club will be holding their meeting as usual on Boxing Day, and then follows the Te Aroha Fire Brigade, sports on New Year's Day. Cyclists are well catered for on both these programmes, good money being offered, with £30 at Springdale alone. The Auckland Cycle Club's three-mile handicap last Wednesday evening saw a splendid muster of members, seventeen facing the starter. It is indeed very gratifying to the committee to see the good response made to these evening races, and augurs well for a successful season. The race was a pretty one to watch, and was productive of a line contest, the whole Held being bunched after traversing five hips. The frontmarkers did not use their handicaps to advantage, allowing the back-inarkcrs to get up early and sit in for the final sprint in the straight. Until the frontmarkers realise it is only by going out and forcing the pace in the early stages, this will always be the case. It was left to Fletcher and Healey to do all the hard work out in front, the rest being quite content to sit in, which is not sportsmanlike. At the end of the sixth lap Mathieson (75yds) had taken advantage of the slow pace and collared the field, Hayes (scr) retiring in the next lap, having made no impression on the field after a lone ride. In lap ten Francis (120 yds) went up very, fast, after being in the ruck, but had the misfortune to fall on the bend entering the straight, just as he had gathered the field. At the bell Archer (200 yds) sprinted to the front, with Mathieson tucked in behind, and held the lead until the straight, where Mathieson J shot to the front to win easily by two lengths from Fletcher, who came from well back, with Taylor right on his wheel third, and Sercombe fourth. Ken Mathieson (75yds) has been victorious in the two- events so far contested, and should now be eligible for the honour mark. The race looked the goods for him after getting up so early, his fine finishing sprint always being the deciding factor. Ken has proved himself a fine rider this season, both on the road and track, the improvement being very marked. It will be interesting to see how he fares with Hayes this week, if the handicapper elects to place him on the mark. Dave Fletcher (180 yds) second, as in the previous race, came from we'll back to gain the position after riding prominently in the early stages. He ruined hie chances of a win by doing too much Lard work out in -front, 1 consequently he drifted back to come again, but had no chance with the winner. If h.: elects to take it steady in his 'next race the chances are he will reap his reward. P. Taylor (180 yds) third, rode a good steady race right through, ond should excel in races two miles and over, as he is always finishing on at the end. Since joining the cash ranks he has done very -Well, and next season should ece him in the fhet. flight. A. Sercombe (200 yds) fourth, rode well for Ids first ride after a long spell. It w'll be remembered this rider joined up half-way through thx- road season, but only had one ride, af>uwards entering hospital.. This was thtV outcome of an accident he had at tha Lynndale tracklast year, when competing with the amateurs, and suffered severe concussion. It is gratifying to know he has quite recovered.

S. Arnott, a new member, made a favourable impression for a first performance, being out in front at the end of lap eleven; he looks like being a fair rider with a little experience. '.

P. Rickman, who was a good performer on the road and track, has relinquished the cycling sport to take up rowing, Cyclists will wish him sacjeis in his new sphere.

The proposed big carnival which was to be held on December 7 by the Auckland Cycle Club has been definitely cancelled, the main reason being that the City Council could not guarantee the Western Springs track being ready by that date. Another matter the committee had to contend with was the big motor and cycle meeting at the speedway on the same date, which would have naturally affected the attendance. Therefore the committee decided to cancel all arrangements, which, I think, will prove a wise move.

During the past week the club have been • busy making arrangements fol* a carnival to be held at Otahuhu, and it has been decided to hold a meeting in the New Year on Saturday, January 25, at Sturges Park. While this will not be as big a meeting as the one that was cancelled, it will be a fine little one nevertheless, and; riders should give the committee every encouragement ,as it is in their interests the carnival is being held. The committee propose to allot £31 in prize money, £18 for cyclists and £13 for runners, which should appeal to all. There will be a halftone, two and three-mile handicaps for cyclists, and 120 yds, 220 yds and 440 yds handicaps for runners. The track, which is being laid down by the club, should be ideal when finished, and will be four laps to the mile with nice easy bends, level, and a long straight, in fact it will be a replica of the Domain track. A general meeting of club members will be held shortly, and the programme finalised by the committee for early issue.

The race to be decided on the Domain to-morrow evening will be a one and a half mile handicap, when all members are requested to be ready by 5.45 p.m.-

AUCKLAND CLUB. r.in Th ? I * ollo ' (vi ns .handicaps have been clpCvcfp ? Ir - G - Kni S ht for the Auckland to hP hlVri S on . e .. mile and a half track race iSg at 5 4-° n _ the Domain to-morrow evenS: sat h. esjg

MANUKAU AMATEUR CLUB. Members of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club will decide a senior and a junior handicap over a distance of half a mile at the Auckland Domain to-morrow evening at 5.45. The following handicaps have been declared :— Half-mile, Junior. —G. M. Lethaby, scr; E. Hall, 15yds; H. V. Gordon, 20yds; C. C. Beart, 40yds; L. Oxton, 50yds; IC.Hellier, 00yds ; S. Budge, 70yds ; J. Coleman, SOyds ; S. Sargent, 90yds; L. Cogan, 100 yds; W. C. Paifl, 110 yds.

Half-mile! Senior.—First he&t : J. H. Wilde, scr; F. J. Casey, 10yds; L. B. Roberts, 20yds: S. Baird, 30yds; 0. G. Galbraitli, 35yds: C. I. Gainsborough, L. Aldred, 40yds; G. J. Whitehouse, 45yds; X. B. Casey, l>. H. Dwight, 50yds; M. R. Carter, E. Andrews, 60yds; L. Hall, 70yds; W. McCollum, 80yds; W. Borland, 90yds. Second heat: H. R. Dwight, A. Jlackie, 20yds; E. A. Cleaver, J. Whitten, 30yds; A. W. Pinker, F. W. Restall, 35yds; K. Xankivell, S. Litchfleld, 40yds; G. P. Clark, G. 31. Lethaby, 45yds; K. Spragg, 50yds; A. W. Mackrell, 60yds; E. J. Avery, 70yds; C. Hansen, 80yds; E. King, 90yds.