CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 August 1930, Page 15

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS.

PATRON'S CUP DAY. S. GOOCH7S OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE. FIXTURES. August 23 —20* Miles Handicap (President's Cup), 2.45 p.m. August 30—30 Miles Handicap (Clarke Cup and miniature). Overhead conditions were fairly good on Saturday, one light shower of small duration falling during the progress of the Auckland Cycle Club's weekly road race.. This was for the Patron's Cup, donated by Patron H. Edwards, which had been postponed from the previous week on account of the atrocious weather conditions. The contestants had to traverse three laps of the large circuit of 7§ miles and one of the small one of 2J miles, a total distance of'2p miles. The trophy, which was a unique one, and went to the winner outright, made the competition for same very keen, consequently thie race -was one of the most interesting to watch. It .is surprising what a difference a trophy makes to a contest, and with one attached to each event for the next month, there is sure to be some keen riding among the members.

Tlie race was notable for the outstanding perforinancs registered by Sam Gooch, who until ihij season was a member of the Poverty Bay Cycle Club. In 1928 he gained fastest time honours in th* Kamilton-to-At-fldand classic off a 12m mark in bad weather. Leaving his mark unaccompanied on Saturday, he rode the whole distance unpaced, to score a popular victory, and fastest time honours as well. His time of lh 9m 58s was 3m 3s better than when he gained fastest time in the last 25-miler. The Race. C. Willcox (7m) was first away, followed by F. Lowndes, W. Archer, K. Rae {6im), R. Green (5m los), S. Litchfield, R. Clarke, H. Clay (4m 455), and then a big gap to S. Gooeh (lm 15s), F. Taylor (50s), K. Mathieson (30s) and S. Hayes (scratch). At the end of the first lap (7A miles) Archer and Willcox were the leaders, passing at 23m 15s, followed by Green and Lowndes 23m 30s, Clay 26m, Gooch 26m 50s, Clarke 27m 20s, Hayes and Mathieson 2Sm 22s and Taylor, who had fallen on the- way, 29m. Litchfield took a wrong turning and had passed by ahead of the leaders, while Rae retired. On completion of the next lap (15 miles) many changes were noticed, Green being now with Willcox in the lead, lm 5s ahead of Archer, while Gooch was. riding well and holding his own with the two back men. He passed lm 47s behind the leaders, followed by Lowndes, who was just ahead of Hayes and Mathieson, the two last-named being 3m 39V behind, while Clay was 11s behind them. In the next lap, Green left Willcox, riding.we 11, while Gooch moved up very fast, this being his best lap of the race. . Green passed only 5s to the good of Gooch- for the last 2* miles, who in turn was 20s ahead of Willcox. Hayes and Mathieson went by 2m 15s behind Gooch, and this rider went into the lead, to come .on, and finish a great unpaced effort, crossing the line with 39s to spare of Green, the second man. Willcox was third, lm behind Green, and Hayes fourth, 2m 26s in" arrears of the winner. _ ..-<■ •Tγ

Gooch, TTnpacea. Sam Gooch (lm las) well deserved his victory on Saturday if ever a rider did, for to pedal the entire distance unpaced and secure fastest time honour besides speaks volumes in itself, a≤ anyone connected with the sport will realise. In previous contests this rider has ridden well, only to be beaten at the finish, for he lacks a "final .kick." Realising this, he evidently set out with one end in view on Saturday, to hold off the back men,'and to go on his own as much-as possible. How well and true he did this was shown in the race, for when 'he came. up- with one of the men in front of "him he flew past, giving them no chance : to 'go with him. As regards holding, off the back markers, his lap times showed that he was doing this also, for he gained in every one on Hayes and Mathieson, his advantage being 17s, 20s, 235, lls, a total, of lm 11s. For his inches he is sure a "game" one, and in this year's . Hamilton' to Auckland should" go a'great race. The handicapper should have no difficulty in placing this rider" for future club events. . A Improving Green Caught Again. K. Green (5m 15s } is undoubtedly-the most improved rider in the club,this season, and in every race he has contested has ridden well, showing marked improvement each week. As mentioned in these notes before his unpaced efforts have been a feature "of the season's racing, and he has been unlucky; on numerous occasions to be overhauled in the concluding stages of the races. .This happened again on Saturday, for with only 2i miles to go Gooch was os behind him, and with a mile and a half to go Gooch shot by. Hβ ; was certainly unlucky to strike Gooch on one of His" best days. .Green rides the hills well, *a great asset 'for the big race on September 27. To show his improvement since the last race over the 25-miles * course on July 26, when he received 7m 40s, and finished third, may be mentioned his time of 5m 15s on Saturday, "when he gained second place. C. Willcox (7m), third, recorded his best ride since joining ither. club, more especially so as he had never been over the large circuit before. He was always out forcing-the pace in front, and if he could only have hung to Green in the last lap may; have-been closer. This rider is rather unfortunate inasmuch as he is able to compete only every fortnight on account of his-work. Late.of Christchurch, he sent ; down, for his own cycle and rode same on the, race, :in ■• previous ■• races having ridden a "borrowed machine. Slater Hayes (scr) 7 finished- -fourth, but never looked like- getting up with the"lield or" gaining time honours either for he was losing time every hip against Gooch. If .the handicapper- elects to place Gooch on the mark twith Hayes next .week, - followers •of the sport j can look for some great riding between these, ■tWO. : • - -;..■ - . ,'_ •- .- ; '":■ ,--, ■.- .s

The lap times for the placed riders were: —Gooch, 21m ss, 20m 275, 20m 3s; 8m 23b; Green, 21in 455; 22m, *21m : 455, 9m 7s; Willcox, 23m 15s, 22m 15s, 22m lOe, 9m 425; Hayes,. 21m: 225,- 20nf 475, 20m 265, 8m 345. Topical Pars. . f Ken M&thieson is out of luck again, sustaining -a- nasty gravel rash and bruises when lie fell in the last lap on one of thQ coxners.T JEMs should keep "him from competing for a fortnight at least, and he hasn't miseed a race asyet. Erank Taylor abo came down in the first lap/Tml came off unscathed—he was lucky. *■■■ Sid Litchfield was awheel, again Saturday after many weeks >as-an onlooker, recovering from an illness. ■: He-

dropped his co-markers. Clay and Clarke, in the first lap, but unfortunately he took-the - wrong road, thereafter being out of the race.

Two new members will be competing in the club from next week, W. T. Pollard, of Waihi, and P. Aberhart, late of the Whakatane Cycle Club. The lastnamed competed in last year's Hamilton to Auckland.

Talking of the Hamilton to Auckland event get-down for September 27, the committee met last week, and it should not be long now ere the prize list makes its appearance. Already many fine trophies hare been donated, and the event should again be a huge success judging by the enthusiasm being shown by riders in the Auckland province.

President's Cup.

Next Saturday's 20i-miles handicap will be for the President's Cup, donated by the popular president of the club, Mr. J. L. Harris. This cup, like the Patron's, is. to go to the winner and will become his own property. Another fine race is assured next week judging by last Saturday's enthusiasm.

MANUKAU AMATEUR CLUB.

Two road , races, a. 5-miles junior, and a 25-miles senior were decided by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club on Saturday. Both events were over the O-miles circuit out at Mount Koskili; the senior race was over five laps. Conditions were threatening when the juniors went off, but they were able to finish before the rain set in. The junior race drew nine starters, who were dispatched in the following order: —J. R. Bowen and P. H. Bicknell, off limit 4min ; L. Cogan, 2m 30s; W. Webb, S. F. Budge and If. East, 2m; A. W. Robinson. L. Oxton, 455, and alone on scratch, H. V. Gordon. The finishing order and actual riding times of each are hereunder: — Actual time. S. F. Budge (2m) 14m 56s 1 W. Webb (2m) 15m 30s 2 J. R. Bowen (4m) 19m 20s 3 P. H. Bicknell (4m) 19m 21s 4 Fastest time was recorded by H. V. Gordon, off scratch, in 14m 7s. The going for time honours was very close, for A. W. Robinson, off 455, was only 8s slower. Just as the 15 seniors line up the rain commenced to fall and kept pattering dowr. during the first four laps, to ease off over the; last, and cease altogether just a few moments before the event concluded. Under the conditions nothing extraordinary or sensational was expected in the way of fast times. All finishes looked like a lot of "nigger boys" at the end. Road silt certainly did not improve their features. However, they showed splendid grit and determination to finish. The placed riders and their times were:

Fastest time was recorded by R. G. Foubister in 71m'39s. It was his seventh successive fastest time win. Cleaver gained ground on the last lap, but could not make up what he lost in the early stages. ROAD CYCLE RACE. 3IATAMATA TO TIRATJ. A road cycle race from Matamata to Tirau and back on Saturday resulted as follows: —J. Dragovitch (1 ?,m), 1 and fastest time; J. Phillips (1.23), 2: H. Lewis (1.45), 3. JTimc, Ih 5m 40s. There were six lengths between the first and second riders.

Actual ridiu? time. E. T. Baston(9m) 77m 38s 1 G .P. Clark (9m) 77m 3Ss '1 E. J. Avery (4m) 74m 14s 3 R. G. Foubister (scr.) 71in 39s 4 E. A. Cleaver (scr) ........ 72m Ss 5 C. Hansen (9m) ...» Sim 16s 6 .T. Whitten (-in) 75m 23s 7 E. Mullane (lm) 75m 14s 8