CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1930, Page 16

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS. WEEK'S EVENTS REVIEWED. HANDICAP OP DIVIDED CONTROL. FIXTURES. To-night (Wednesday).—Senior half mile and junior one mile handicaps at Western Springs Stadium. Saturday, April s.—Papatoetoe Club's meeting, Papatoetoe. Saturday, April 12. —Auckland Cycle Club's big annual carnival at Auckland Domain. Easter Saturday and Monday.—New Zealand Union of Cyclists' week-end floodlight carnival at Western Springs.

At the East Tamaki Club's sports, decided at East Tamaki last Saturday afternoon, there were 110 cycle events other than a local race, featured on an otherwise good programme. When the local enthusiasts learnt that the officials were not inviting entries from members of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club, owing to pressure from the Wellington headquarters of the N.Z.A.A.A., of possible disqualification as a club, there was marked disappointment expressed, and this was reflected in the comparatively poor attendance. It was brought home to all who witnessed the sports, that the cycle races, which were a feature of the athletic events in past years, would have livened up the meeting, excellent as it otherwise a; yieared. However, tho olub met the position in the only way it possibly could under the circumstances by deciding a halfmile handicap open only to local cyclists who had not raced under the rules of the New Zealand Union of Cyclists. Five, one a member of the Manukau Club, lined up, and tho close contest which resulted was a fine tribute to the handicapper, whose task on this occasion was no easy one, for several of the competitors were an unknown quantity. The handicapper was none other than J. Whitten, the populaf unpaced road champion of the Manukau Club. Papatoetoe's promising pedaller, Geo. Jones, won the race from scratch in lm 265. Jones displayed unusually good judgment, considering it is only a couple of months since he first competed in a cycle trac?: race. He was first brought into prominence by the progressive Papatoetoe Club, which enjoys a strong position as a club in athjetic circles in Auckland. It was at its meeting on January 18 last that Jones finished second off 75yds in a novice half miler in Ira 14s, . Last Saturday he won by two lengths after utilising a well-timed sprint, which he commenced as late as the bend into the finishing straight, a matter of 100 yds.' Some suppressed mirth was occasioned by the ingenuity displayed by a couple of the officials, who rushed a tape across the track and held same up to assist the judges in making, their decision. To Jones, therefore, went the honour of breaking the tape when he won by two lengths. This is perhaps tho first occasion such an opportunity has been offered to an Auckland cyclist during the existence of the sport here. A unique victory. A ta*pe laid across the track, in the absence of a finishing line would have served the purpose and raised no comment. Held up as it was it could not but fail to attract the attention of all. Luckily it was of light textured wool. In reference to the time recorded by Jones of lm 2Gs for the half mile, this ■may mistakenly be taken as decidedly slow by anyone not acquainted with the track, and comparing such time with that of lm 10s generally recorded in a half mile handicap. In all fairness to Jones it must be mentioned that the track offered a most uninviting surface for a rigid racing cycle by reason of its bumpy nature. Cattle had beca grazing on the grounds prior to the mooting, and as only one cycle event was to bo run off the officials paid practically ,no attention to the quarter mile oval It is hoped that by next year an amidable agreement will be made between the N.Z.A.A.A. and the N.Z. Union of Cyclists, so that athletics and cycling will appear on the programme. While out at East Tamaki sports last Saturday afternoon, the secretary of the Manukau Club was informed by Mr. W. J, Hindman, president of the Papatoetoe Amateur Club, that his club would do its iitmost to obtain permission for the Manukau. members to race at its next carnival, to be held at Papatoetoe next Saturday week.' He mentioned that his club, being the only one to function with any degree of success this year, was probably the strongest represented on the Auckland Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A,, and as such would try and convince the other members to treat the matter with an open jnind, "The Papatoetoe Club realises the futility of running another meeting without the cyclists. On the last occasion, January 18, the cycle events proved really interesting, and in themselves attracted many visitors. The result of Mr. Hindman's campaign will be made known as soon as is possible. Just because the. cyclists want selfcontrol should not bring condemnation qn them from the N.Z.A.A.A.

Self control with any field of sport ia moat desirable for that particular sport's advancement, and the N.Z.A.A.A., by the remarks of some of its officials at the big conference at Wanganui qn March 15 last, that sub-centre committees to control cycling should be formed, frankly, admitted the advisability of separate control. But cycling ' slib'CeJitres is ft compromise of no use whatever. Athletics and ' cycling could be still "hand in hand" even under separate, control. The, antagonistic attitude' taken by the "three A's" is perhaps easy of explanation by anyone who witnessed the East Tamaki Club's sports , last Saturday afternoon, when the cyclists were conspicuously absent. So much for the new body, the New ZoalAnd Union of Cyclists, which lias already introduced many new ideas during the short time it has boon in operation. The two miles handicap for senior riders conducted by the Mamikau Amateur Cycling Club shortly after 6 p.m. last Wednesday evening brought home to all who were present the value of "Sidey Time." It was the first midweekly since the return to standard time, arid the event just concluded in timo to permit the riders to reach their homes with the aid of artificial _ lights as a protection rather than a guidance. The race was won by J. W hitten oft flOvds, after a brilliant exhibition. ■Riding off virtual scratch ho soon overhauled L. B. lioborts, 80yds. The pair then act oft' with determination to oollcot. in the field. Their pacing, each taking a half lap, and changing over Hko a machine, was an object lesson in regularity. Si\' laps and a fraction hurt to b'o covered, but with two to no Whitten a etna 11 \* led the field. On the Oiinl circuit Whitten commenced t« wind up early, and when he entered the finishing straight ho unfurled a light-

ning sprint to draw away from Robert?, whom he beat by one and a half lengths for first place. Whitten's time was 4m 27 2-ss. Many will remember that Whitten had the honour of winning the first senior race decided on the Western Springs track. It was also a two miler, and he won from off 90yds in tl»e club record time of 4m 21 2-ss. He could have done better had he been extended last Wednesday. Before the track season concludes Whitten will make a serious attempt to lower his figures for the standing start kilometro unpaced record, which lie at present holds at lm 17s. His ability at unpaced riding is well known, and he is confident of succeeding should conditions be favourable. Twenty-two miles unpaced in 58m lis Is his road record. , For two weeks in succession the junior mid-week races have been won by new members, but last Wednesday it was no runaway victory for A. W. Robinson, 50vds, registered a twolengths victory after a hard ride over the last lap, to stave off a strong challenge from W._ Paul, 75yds. On the home banking the back-markers were fast closing up, and it looked very much like victory for one of them when Robinson jumped out suddenly and tore up the straight to win by the margin mentioned. Robinson's time of lm 5 2-5s was really fast for a junior half mile handicap, especially so as it was his first race. Some of the club's finest riders have come from the junior ranks. Wade, as a junior, was a great little rider, and won his first race, a 5J miles road event over the Mangere course. G. M. Lethaby, last year a junior member of the Manukau Club, and this a senior, registered two fine performances at the Mount Albert Grammar School's sports at the Domain last week, when he won two handicaps from off scratch, and incidentally broke the school records for the two distances. He rode the two miles in 5m 42 l-ss, and the one in 2m 32 2-ss. On the Saturday afternoon following the big Easter week-end carnival at the Stadium, to be promoted by the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Union of Cyclists, the Manukau Club will commence its road season at Mangere. The list published in full in the "Star" last Friday has yet to receive the confirmation of a general meeting of members, but has beon' so carefully _ considered by the committee that it is not anticipated that any change for the better can be made. To make the ooming season even more popular a "new member" campaign is to be launched.