CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 14

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS. H. CLAY STRIKES FORM AGAIN LABOUR DAY TRACK EVENTS. FIXTURES. October 11—Rudge Shield, 30 Miles Handicap, 2.45 p.m. h October 18—15 i Miles Handicap. October 27—1, 2, and 3 Miles Handicaps, Domain, Labour Day Sports. "With the big wheel race from Cambridge to Auckland, over, the Auckland Cycle Club were back again on the Tamaki circuit on Saturday, to continue their weekly road programme. The event was a 19 miles handicap over three laps of the 5§ mile circuit and one of the smaller one of 2J miles. Showery weather was the order of the day, and accompanying these showers was a strong sou'westerly wind, which made racing conditions very severe. These conditions and the gruelling race of last week over 80 miles must have had its effect on the riders, for only twelve hardy ones lined up before the starter. Nevertheless, the race proved an interesting one, more especially so as the two scratch men were absent for the first time this season, also, some of the best back-markers. Therefore there was keen competition for fastest time honours. Two limit men in Clay and Rae showed a return to form in filling first and second places, and Green, by finishing third and securing fastest time, proved that he will be one of the "topnotchers". next season. His time was Gom 15s. Clay ana Rae Step On It. K. Rae, W. Archer and F. Lowndes (7m) were first away, followed by H. Clay (64m), C. Willcox (6ni), G. Hall, R. Green ("4m), W. Pratney, S. Litchfield (2Jm),F. Taylor, J. Lindop dm 153). At the end of lap one (5i miles) Lowndes, Archer, Rae and Clay passed together, lm 4fis ahead of Willcox, while Green had left Hall and was 44s behind him. Litchfield passed next (having lost Pratney, whose chain came off), he being 3m 50s behind the leaders, while Taylor, Lindop and Pratney were 5m 18s behind. In the next lap Clay and Rae stepped on it and dropped»Lowndes and Archer, assuming the lead, passing lm ahead of them, lm 27s behind them came Green and Willcox, with Hall next, 4m -10s in arrears of the leaders, and Taylor and Lindop 5m 40s. Litchfield, punctured. Clay and Rae were still leading with %\ miles to go, and, barring accidents, looked assured of having the finish to themselves, for they were now lm 48s to the good of Green, who had left Willcox. Archer; passed 12s behind Green, who at stage was "well in" for time honours. The two leaders were still together for the final dash to the line, but Clay fin.ished too strongly for Rae, to win by three lengths. Green finished in third place, lm 27s behind the winner, to also gain fastest time. Archer was fourth, lm 35s behind the third ma'n. Pedallers , Form Reviewed.

Harry Clay his win on Saturday, 6howed a pleasing return to the form displayed near the opening of the road season. Riding unpaced off a 6m mark in an 18-mj.ler on June 21, he made an exhibition of the field, to win by 2m from the next- man to finish. Three weeks afterwards he had a bad spill on one of the corners first time up dn his new machine, which evidently shook him up somewhat, for he lost all form. Of late he has been noticed riding much better, and evidently hie ride in the big classic the previous week worked wonders in him. • Catching the three men ill front of him in the race under review, he set out to make those behind ride every inch of the journey, and Rae was the only one who could go with him. Glay will be on a nice handy mark next week for the Rudge Shield. His lap times were: 17m 2s, 17m 18s, 17m 325, and Om 265.

Ken Rao (7m), second, finished in a like position a fortnight ago, and in that rido showed that he was on the improve. How much so was fully shown by his latpsfc performance, for he had to ride every, part of the way with the winner, taking lap for lap. Considering Kae has not competed much this season, he did well, but when it came to the final eprint "fitness" was once again the deciding factor. This rider was unlucky to break his chain near Huntly the previous week when going well with Hills. Only for this they may have been placed, 98 they had gained time on the field up to this stage. R. Green (4m), third and fastest, ie riding very consistently, being always "knocking at the door" each week. In the first lap he dropped his co-marker, Hall, to then team up with Willcox in the second. In the third he dropped him aleo, but had no chance of catching the two leaders without assistance. In notching third place he scored another point for the points cup, which now Inakes him ten, two points behind the three leaders, Gooch, Taylor, and Hayes. If he retains his present form, which looks likely, his prospecte look bright to draw level. Lap timee: 17m 2e, 17m 32e, 16m 565, 9m ss. ; Wally iircher (7m), fourth, could not go the paora with Clay and Kae, and dropped weri back. He does not rid.e this circuit like Mangere, and off his present mark would have shown them all the way home if riding there this year, as would Lowndes. Lindop Awheel. A welcome return U> the road on Saturday was big Jim Liodop, twice champion of the club, and winner of many fastest times at Mangere. This was Jim'e first ride over the new circuit, and considering that he had not done much in the way of training (only on his motor cycle), he went well, finishing the course. With a few more rides Lindop should show up again, but it is a pity he is out so late in the season. "Odds and Ends." Bill Pratney, who had bad luck in falling as he entered the ground at the finieh of the big race the previous week, struck trouble again. This time his chain came off when going well with Litchfield in the first lap. On fixing same he continued, but it gave him trouble again/ and he retired. Sid Litchfield in the next lap met his "Waterloo" also, his back tyre coming right off, following a bad blow-out. He was "scorching" some at the time. Gordon Hall, winner of the big race fast year, has lost all his form this season. This is hard to understand; perhaps it's the circuit, blater Hayes absence was due to a bad knee, he suffering from.the same complaint as his co-irarker, Sam Gooch. L Pinfold could not start, for on his way to the circuit.he had a bad blow-out hie tyre and tube coming right off. ' Cash riders wiJl be pleased to' hear that three track events for them are included in the aW-cyoling programme to be decided at thii Auckland Domain on Labour Day, the 27th of this month. The evente are as follows: One Mile Handicap, £4 10/, firefc £3, 6econd £1, third 10/, entry 3/; Two Miles Handicap, £8, ftcit £&, second £2, third..£l, «wry */l W»«e Milt* Bandieap, £«, fiMt-{«, wcond [U: 10/, tWrd 10/£ «ntry

4/. It is to be hoped that all cash cyclists will patronise these events, as thie is the first time for very many years that they have "been included on the Labour Day programme. Entries with fees and performances close on October 15 -with the secretary, H. W. Tonkin, P.O. Box 305, Auckland. Rudge Shield Next Week. Next Saturday's event over 30 miles will see the much-coveted Rudge Challenge Shield competed for. This shield was Avon list year by Bob Clarke, of Papakura, who no doubt will be on hand again to defend same. The winner holds it for twelve months, and engraved on it are many names of riders who in their day were real top-notehers in the sport of'cycling both on the road and track. The'course will be ovcr'two laps of the 11-mile circuit, one lap of the 5-J-mile, and one lap of the small one of 2J miles. The event will start punctually at 2.30 p.m., so riders are requested to be in readiness to receive instructions, etc.