CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 201, 26 August 1930, Page 13

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS.

PRESIDENT'S CUP. CONTEST,

LITCHFIELD'S FIRST CASH SUCCESS. FIXTURES. Ansnst 30 —30 Miles Handicap (Clarke Cup and Miniature), 2.45 p.m. September (i —IS Miles Handicap (Special Trophy). Last Saturday was one of the best davs for road racing that the Auckland Cvclc Club have experienced this season. It was President's Cup day, the 20-mile handicap being for a cup donated by Air. J. L. Harris, the president of the club. The contestants had to traverse two laps of the large circuit (7* miles), and two of the smaller one (2i miles). With such a beautiful sunny day in evidence, and the roads in first-class order (excepting a stretch of recently laid metal), it was only to be expected that a good field would line up to do battle. Although some of the star back-markers were absent, a splendid contest was witnessed, and the ultimate winner of the cup. although in attendance nearly every week, has been unable to compete as often as he would have wished on account of ill-health. This was Sid. Litchfield, the examateur, who joined the club at the end of last track season, and, by his win, scored his first success in the cash ranks. He was warmly congratulated by his fellow members and supporters of the club. As the cup became his own property, Sid. went heme feeling very pleased with himself. The Race. C. Iteid (S|m) was first away, followed bv W. Hills (7m los), W. Archer, F. Lowndes (7m), A. Rose (sm), R. Green, H. Clay (4m 50s), S. Litchfield (4im), W. Pratney, G. Hall, L. Pinfold (3Am), F. Taylor (30s), and S. Gooch (scr). On completion of the first lap (7§ miles), Lowndes was the leader passing at 23.43, while Archer, his co-marker, came next at 23.55, but collapsed, having had a bad spill- The nearest riders to the leader now were Litchfield, Clay and Green, who passed at 25.10, the rest of the field going by thus: Hills 25.23, Reid 20, Pinfold.°Rose and Hall 27.34, Gooch and Taylor 2S, while Pratney retired. Just after the etart of the next lap Green puntured in both wheels in some loose metal. At the end of two laps (15 miles) Litchfield, who had dropped Clay, moved up smartly to join Lowndes "~in the lead, these two passing 2m 5s ahead of Gooch and Taylor. These two were riding a wonderful race together, but unfortunately for them both Taylor punctured in both wheels "in some loose place as Green. Hills and Pinfold came next, 2m 40s behind the leaders.. With one lap of the stnall circuit completed and one to go, Litchfield and, Lowndes were still together, lm 4s ahead of Gooch, who had gained lm Is on his own r with Hills and Pinfold lm behind him. Litchfield left Lowndes in the final lap, with Gooch riding all out to get them, but Litchfield, riding well, came on to cross the line a winner by 33s from Lowndes. Gooch was just behind Lowndes before entering the finishing straight, but, realising he could not get to him, eased up, to finish 13s behind, and 46s behind the winner. How they Rode. Sid. Litchfield (4im) showed by his performance that he is now right back to his best form after a long spell. After riding in the four opening races, in one of which he registered a third, he was compelled, owing to ill-health, to miss the n«J seven, and it was not until last Saflirday week that he was awheel again. In that race he showed that he had looked to his training, for he dropped his co-markers in the first lap, but unfortunately, took the wrong road and retired. How unlucky he was in that respect he showed in the race under review, for he won on his merits and by a nice margin. This rider, of thickset build, should go well over a distance, and should give the back-markers something to think about in future races. His lap times were: 21m 10s, 21m . 20s, Sm 30s and Sm 9s; his actual time being 59m 9s. Lowndes' Best Ride. Tim Lowndes (7m), while not riding in the same form as last season, is improving, and registered his best ride to date. How he would have fared with the winner, if Archer, his co-marker, had not fallen in the first lap, is a matter for conjecture, since they were both going well and pacing one another excellently. Tim is not as good an unpaced rider as the winner, and in the next lap he was overtaken. A mile and half from home Litchfield forged ahead, but Lowndes keeping a watchful eye on Gooch managed to hold him oft. His lap times were: 22m 13s, 22m 475, Sm 30s and Sm 42s ; his actual riding time being 62m 12s. Good Ride by Gooch. Sam Gooch (scratch), in gaining third place and fastest time honours, again demonstrated what a wonderful little rider he is to get within 46s of the winner. He and Taylor were going "great.guns" together, until the lastnamed punctured; but Gooch showed his unpaced ability again to gain on the leaders. Speculation was rife among the onlookers as to whether he would get up, but the finish was too near, and he had to acknowledge defeat after a splendid performance. It was a pity Hares was absent, as a great race between the pair would have eventuated, but next week v *"e may sec this in the 30-miler. His lap times were: 19m 30s (record lap), 20m 355, 7m 29s and 7m 51s; actual riding time being 53in 255. Topical Pars. It was something outaof the ordinary to find two riders, namely R. Green and F. Taylor, puncture in the same manner, and in the identical place. To puncture in one tvre is a common occurrence, but when it comes to both, well, the two riders themselves voiced their opinion °n the subject. And well they might, for both were riding a great race at the time. Wallv Archer came down a beauty, suffering severe abrasions in consequence. He was going well, too, and was looked upon as a likelv winner among the frontmarkers. Ken Mathieson, who came off last week, was present, but decided to stand down until next week. The rest should do him good. Slater Hayes was an absentee, being under doctor's orders to have a rest. Slater has done a lot of hard riding this season, which has left Its effect. Next week may see him a starter. Bill Pratney was awheel again on Saturday, this being his first ride since liis accident. Bill is looking his old se lf now. but is not in the right condition Tet to see out a hard road iaee.-

County Council's Decision. A recent decision given by the Hanukau County Council in connection with the Hamilton to Auckland classic, set down for September 27, is giving the committee of the Auckland Club no end of trouble, and much food for thought among the cycling fraternity. The said council imposed restrictions on the club after tile accident, which were quite in order, except for one, the club being unable to procure the third party risk for £1500. The club, therefore, have never been on the county's roads since and as the riders in the big race have to come over a portion of their area, apprcx. 12 miles of the S7, the committee applied to the council to waive that restriction for that day. This the council decided they would not do, so the position at present is that the race cannot finish at Auckland. The committee will meet this week and discuss the critical position, but the writer was given to understand from the secretary, and to publish in these notes, that the race would be held, and will finish at a place to be decided. Cash riders in the Auckland province should bear this in mind, and there is no doubt news "nil! be eagerly awaited. Clarke Cup. Xext Saturday's 30-miles handicap will be for the Clarke Challenge C'up and miniature, which will be retained by the winner. This fine trophy has been donated for annual competition by Clarke's Cycle Works. Ltd., Newmarket. Five laps of the miles circuit will be used, and one of the 2J. The race will start and finish at the usual place.