CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 171, 22 July 1930, Page 15

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS.

MCDONALD'S CONSISTENCY

REWARDED,

NEW COURSE NEXT WEEK,

FIXTURES. July 26.-25 Miles Handicap (new course), 2.45 p.m. August 2.—Championship, A and B Grades, IS miles.

Racing conditions were excellent on Saturday, when the Auckland Cycle Club continued its weekly road races with a 204-mile handicap over eight laps of the circuit. Despite the big counter-attraction, a good field lined up before the starter, the committee having previously decided to carry on with the racing, in view of having cancelled so many events at the opening of the season. If ever a rider' was deserving of a win it was Jim McDonald, for lie has been a model of consistency since the 'opening of the road season. His record is ample proof of this, for in the eight events so far contested his placings read one win, one second, three thirds and a fourth. Ken Mathieson secured time honours after a hard ride with his brother, trying to get up with the field.

Many Mishaps. Green (7m 10s) was the lone limit rider, and, as in the previous week's contest, rode unpaccd; he was followed by Willcox (Cm), Lowndes (5m 455), Rose (4m 255, Clay, Yule (4m 10s), Healey (4m), McDonald (3m 455), Taylor (3m 10s), Gooch (2m '20s), W. Mathieson (lm), and K. Mathieson (30s). At the end of the second lap (five miles), Green was leading Willcox by lim, Lowndes, Clay and McDonald together passing next, 45s behind him. Taylor and Gooch went by 3m 35s behind the leader, and W. and K. Mathieson 5m 10s. In the third lap the first of the mishaps occurred, Yale puncturing, and Lowndes, just after starting his fourth lap, came down in some loose metal. With four laps (ten miles) completed, Green was still in front, 14m ahead of Clay, McDonald and with Taylor and Gooch going well $m behind them. Starting the fifth lap, Clay also came down heavily at the same place as Lowndes, both having to retire. At the end of the sixth lap (15 miles), Green passed 25s ahead of McDonald, Wilicox having dropped back. Taylor and Gooch were now only 15s behind him, 'while the Mathieson brothers were 2m behind them. With one lap (2J miles, Green had been overhauled by McDonald, Taylor and Gooch, and he retired done after his hard ride. In this lap another mishap occurred, Gooch breaking his toe-clip going down the hill. McDonald and Taylor came on to the line locked together, the firstnamed doing best, to win by a length, Gooch finishing third, 17s behind the winner. The Mathieson brothers finished j next, lm 26s behind Gooch, Ken gaining | time by 24s from Gooch.

Comment on Riders. Jim McDonald (3m 455), at'last had the pleasure of gaining the big end of the "stake," and has surely well-earned it for consistent riding. His last win on the road was in October, last season, in a 19.4 miles, handicap off a 3m 50s mark, Saturday's victory making three since joining the cash ranks in January, 1929. In the previous week's race Taylor beat him, but "Mac" reversed the decision this time. His win now gives him eight points for the Pardy points cup, for which W. Mathieson and A. Ritchie are leading with nine.

Frank Taylor (3m 10s) followed up last week's second with another, consistent riding also being a feature of this rider's efforts. In the four events he has contested his record reads, unplaced, fourth, second, second. He and Gooch put in some, telling work in the middle stages of the race, which gave the two back-markers no chance of getting up, and eventually gave them the lead with a lap to go. Frank should go a good race in next week's 25-miler.

Gooch's Bad Luck. S. Gooch (2m 20s), although he finished third, was undoubtedly the unluckiest rider in the contest, for after going a great race he had the misfortune to snap his toe-clip at an inopportune moment. This happened when descending the hill in the last lap, having to dismount and remove it from his shoe, thereby losing 25s valuable time. He continued, but was unable to bridge the gap between Taylor and McDonald, finishing 17s in arrears. How he would have fared with the other two in the final Bprint is a matter of conjecture, for he was certainly going as well as the others at the time of the mishap.

Ken Mathieson (30s), fourth, and winner of fastest time, had a hard ride with brother Bill in trying to get within striking distance of the leaders. They were both very tired at the finish, Ken gaining time by 24s from Gooch. Even if Gooch had finished with the two first men Mathieson would probably still have had a few seconds to spare.

Lowndes and Clay Fall. Tim Lowndes and H. Clay by the irony of fate both came down at the same spot, the first-named in the fourth lap, and Clay in, the fifth. Some loose heavy metal which had just been laid was the cause of this, both riders suffering gravel rashes in consequence, Clay being the worse of the two. Both men were unfortunate to strike trouble for they were going well at the time. Lowndes also lost tome of his handicap at the start, breaking a, strap. & R. Green, the limit man, once again had a hard unpaced ride, and if he only had a man that could go with him over the early stages, lift would take some catching. In the last two races he has been overhauled with a lap'to go, and in Saturday's event retired, though not disgraced. >

A. Rose was awheel again Saturday, this being his first ride on the road with the cash men. When right this rider should show up, judging by his efforts when an amateur roadman.

Racing Next Week,

It has been decided -to carry on with the racing next Saturday, on account of the club cancelling so many races at the opening of the season. Another reason, and which the members laid stress on, was, having a fortnight's rest with the Hamilton to Auckland race so close at hand. Looking down the programme one realises it is wise, for the riders must have some distance events before them to harden them up, as the big event is set down for September 27. There are also four cup races before it, not to mention the championships which, by the way, will be decided Saturday week, August 2. Saturday's 25 miles handicap will start and finish at the same place, but will be run over a new course 74 miles in circumference. Three laps of this will be used', and one lap of the small one.