CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 293, 11 December 1929, Page 16

CYCLING.

WITH THH AMATEURS.

EVENTS OF THE . MONTH,

INTRODUCTION OF MOTOR PACING.

FIXTURES,

•Wednesday, December 11. —Half Mile Senior and One Mile Junior Handicaps. Saturday, December 14. —Hamilton Club's Sports,' Steele Park, Hamilton. Saturday,. December 14.—Lynndale Club's Sports,. New Lynn. Sunday, December Meeting ■ Manukau Club, Domain,. 10 a.m.' Wednesday, December IS.—One Mile Senior and Half Mile Junior. ' „ Monday, December 30.—Cycling Carnival, Y\ r estern Springs Stadium, 8 p.m.

Under a threatening sky last Wednesday evening the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club conducted its mid-weekly meeting after an interval of a fortnight, the previous week's races having to be cancelled. In the junior two laps, seven started. The scratch mark was occupied by H. V. Gordon, who was conceding 90 yards to limit rider W. C. Paul. The latter mentioned pedalled furiously over the first lap, and at the bell still had a ten yards' advantage over J. Colman (60yds). Down the back straight Paid commenced to tire, and the field rapidly closed on him. Colman started his effort in the back straight and gradually drew away, to win by 20 yards from K. Hellier (40yds). Both placed riders were competing in their first track race with the Manukau Club. Colman, who came down from Papakura for the race, shaped particularly well, and has every prospect of making a name for himself off the back marks in the junior division events now that G. M. Lethaby and'E. Hall have attained the age of 10 and thus have automatically been transferred to the senior ranks in races of which both have had their efforts attended with success. The three-mile senior race, in which 19 started, was the first race so far decided this season. Like all lengthy track races, it held the close attention of the fairly large gathering of enthusiasts right from the gun, and wound

up with a most exciting finish between

® the second and third placed riders. The ; race was a regular triumph for J. H. ■; Wade, the popular scratch man. He wa6 * giving away liberal starts. The front t markers were W. Borland (385 yds) and W. McCollum (370 yds), both of whom lapped together splendidly and held the k lead -until -two laps from home. Their nearest opponents started off 270 yds, $o 2 the former pair did real well to hold 3 them off for so long. The 15 middle ; markers bunched early. Wade, and 3 Casey (40yds), who started off his mark 3 slowly to allow Wade to get up to him 2 on the first lap of the twelve in order 3 that they could work together for the benefit of each, did not make much impression on the field until the seventh lap, when .Casey appreciably increased 1 the pace. Wade followed suit in the L eighth lap arid before the conclusion of same was' up with the big bunch of i middle markers. E The ridiculous case with which Wade b and Casey' went upon their field sealed ! the fate of the race in as far as the scratch-rider was concerned. But there was some excited speculation as to who would fill second position, for Mackie ! (00yds) had had a fairly easy ride, and 1 before the race commenced was con--1 sidered "dangerous." At the start of the 1 bell lap there was some wild shuffling 1 for.position, several riders risking to pass on the inside to get to the front. L. H. •Dwight (220 yds), noticeably offended in this direction, and was fortunate in getting through without interfering with any of the other nine then in the leading, bunch; Just going out of the straight, G. J. Whitehouse (200 yds), touched his front wheel against the rear of another rider's and took a neat toss. W ac^e went" to the front down the back straight, after which the result was a foregone conclusion, for the Dominion's champion half-miler is in fine form now. Mackie arid Casey were right on his wheel when he entered the straight, but lie simply romped away from them over the last 100 yards, to win without any apparent exertion by two lengths. The; exciting, touch to the conclusion of the race was provided by Mackie and Casey, who made a willing finish of it for second place. Mackie beat Casey by half a length to register his first placing since competing in Auckland. 'Mackie was the scratch rider of the ■Papanui Amateur Club, of Christchurch. He won the three-mile Canterbury track championship at Christchurch on February 9 last in the splendid time of 6m 45 3-ss. A good race is anticipated between the trio who filled the places last Wednesday in the half-mile invitation scratch race at New Lynn next Saturday afternoon.

The Lynndale Amateur Athletic'and Cycle Club was unfortunate in that rain commenced three hours before the scheduled time for the opening of its sports programme. It cannot be commended for deciding to hold its sports this coming Saturday, December 14, with the knowledge that the Hamilton Amateur Club has a big meeting set down for decision at Hamilton on that particular date and at which many of the Auckland athletes had entered. The Hamilton Club is working hard under the secretaryship of Les. Jones to place amateur sport on a good footing in the prosperous Waikato town, and the Lynndale Club's officials might have decided their sports on December 21, despite the fact that the date is close to Christmas. The matter is one which might very well receive the attention of the newly constituted Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, with a view to avoiding a clash of interests.

The Manukau Club's officials are working hard to ensure the success of thencycling carnival at the Western Springs Stadium on the evening of December 30. The organisation is in' the able hands of Mr. J. Mackie, the well-known Christchurch cycling enthusiast, who will be assisted by Mr. J. C. Stewart, both of whom are able to devote much in making the preparations. Motor-paced cycle racing will be introduced for the first time to Auckland patrons at the meeting. The event of the evening will bo the five-mile scratch race, for which £16 will be devoted towards trophies. To ensure a fast race: the leader at each half lap will receive a small trophy in recognition of his efforts. Such encouragement is necessary ; in such lengthy scratch races and should meet with the desired result. Three handicaps will be held. The first, which will be decided at 7.50 p.m., is open to novices, in this case new members who have never previously raced. Entries for all events are fixed at 1/ a. race. j

The intention of the club is to encourage entries rather . than endeavour to make the entry fees help pay for the trophies, an example, it is hoped, that will be followed in general by all amateur clubs in the future. Entries close' early, on this occasion, to enable the programme to be out several days before the meeting. Entries must be forwarded to Secretary Les. Wilson, Box 35, Auckland, no later than December 18. No entry forms will be accepted later than that date, or if incorrectly filled in. A special general meeting of the club will be heia next Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at the Auckland Domain pavilion, when members will be fully acquainted with matters relative to the carnival. ,