CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 4, 6 January 1931, Page 12

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS.

HOLIDAY FORM REVIEWED. PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. fixtures. January C—Two Miles Handicap, Springs 'Stadium, 6 p.m. January 12—One Mile Handicap, Springs Stadium. January 20 (Anniversary Day)—Awakeri Sports Meeting. , January 1-1 —Morrinsville Friendly Societies' 'Carnival. The Auckland Cycle Club's two-mile handicap, set down for decision last evening, could not be liekl,, as the stadium was engaged by the broadsiding people. The race will, therefore, be decided this evening (Tuesday) at 6 p.m. During the holidays three carnivals were held for cash riders —Springdale on Boxing Day, Te Aroha on New Year's Day, and Rotorua on the following day. At all three meetings splendid entries were received, and the public witnessed some first-class racing. Unfortunately, at Herries Park, Te Aroha, the track was slippery owing to the rain, and spills were fairly frequent, but luckily there were few accidents to mar the day's sport. At Springdale the one-mile handicap was run in two heats and final. The six finalists were: A. Pilkington (Tc Aroha), 30yds; C. Lehrke (Taranaki), 90yds; F. Henwood (Hamilton), 95yds; W. Pratney, 80yds; A. Rose, 110 yds; and E. C. Moore (Matamata), 130 yds. Moore, who is a greatly improved rider, was the winner, with the two Aucklanders Pratney and Rose in second and third places. The two-miler was the best race of the day, terminating in a very close finish. The front and middle markers set out at a fast clip, and one by one the back men dropped out, Stace (Te Aroha) doing best in an endeavour to get up. K. Mehrtens (Taranaki), 120 yds, riding a well-judged race, came with a last-minute spurt to beat F. Henwood (Hamilton), his co-marker, by a wheel, with Pratney (110 yds) the same distance away third.

Mehrten's Strong Finish. In the big event of the clay, the threemile, £17 stake, Mehrtens was again the winner, off 150ycls, with Jim Harcourt (Hamilton), scr, second, and C. Lehrke, anotlier Taranaki rider, third, off 160 yds. Coming into the home stretch, Harcourt looked to be the winner, but Mehrten# finished strongly, fairly lifting his machine along, to win nicely by half a length. At le Aroha rain set in soon after racing commenced, and at one time it looked as if the racing would have to be postponed, but it was decided to carry on. The track was soon in a slippery condition, and falls were numerous, especially among the back markers, who were endeavouring to »et up. Consequently, these menhad°no chance of getting into the placings. Pilkington, who was riding well, had his fair share of the spills, and Harcourt likewise. Every cider had to use caution, or down he would come, and others with him. Mehrtens followed , up his Springdale successes by winning* the mile off 90vds, with W. Pollard (Waihi) aiid Kenwood! his co-markers, second and third respectively. One of the limit men in A'. Conning (175 yds) won the mile and a half event after practically all the field had fallen or met with mishaps, with Pollard (100 yds) second, and 0. Stace (Te Aroha) 35yds, third. In the two-mile handicap another Taranaki man, D. Coleman (OOyda), was the winner, with H. Lewis (Matamata) second, and Pilkington third off 40yds. Green of Auckland, looked all over a winner of this race until he crammed on pace, and down lie came. Pilkington also crashed, but eventually got third. To Aroha riders in O. Stace (SOyd*) and Pilkington (50yds), finished first and second in the three-miler, the big race of the day,, worth £12. Moore (220 yds) was third. Stace won 1 this race last year. Harcourt was unlucky, for, with 2i- laps to go, and when he wa? with the leaders, lie skidded, hitting one of the padded pegs to somersault into the spectators. He lost a bit of skin,-: and hie cycle hit an onlooker, inflicting a cut on the forehead. The consolation race of/one and a-half miles was a triumph for the Auckland riders, and incidently these were the only placings gained by them during the day. A. Rose ■was the winner with Wally. Archer second, and Bill Pratney third. At Rotorua,\ Mehrtens was again successful, winning the half-mile, and gaining second place in the mile.- Pilkington rode well here to win the one, and one and a half mile events. Coleman (Taranaki) was second in the half and one and a half mile events.

Taranaki Riders' Successes. K. Mehrtens was the star performer of the holiday racing, registering- wins, at all three meetings. He is a fine stamp of rider, and though not a nice pedaller to watch, gets every ounce out of his machine. His win over Harcourt at Springdalo in the three-miler Avas a first-class effort. At the finish of his races "he umvinds a long-sustained sprint. His four Avins and one second netted him prize-money to the value of £26, besides a points trophy. A. Pilkington was the msxt most successful rider with two Avins, a second, and a third. This rider rode prominently at the last Labour Day sports on the Domain, and before long he sh6uld find himself on the honour mark. His Avinnings totalled £13. Stace and Coleman Avere the next best winners with £9 each.

Aucklanders' Non-Success. Auckland ride re did not meet with much success. This is due no doubt to the fact they did their training and racing on the concrete banked track, and then went on to the grass. Bill Pratnev and Allan Rose were the only two to show up, the first-named annexing £3 10/, and Rose £3. Archer secured £1. Hayes, Mills and Litchfield were non-atarfters. Willie Mackie started at Te Aroha, but it not fit yet. Billy Mathieson was too harshly treated by "the handicapper to do any good, while Pinfold was a bit disappointing. Green was unlucky in one event. The Auckland Cycle Club officials have decided to hold a championship meeting this year, either at the end of February or the beginning of March. This will be a daylight meeting, and will be held at the Western Springs Stadium on a Saturday afternoon. The championships will be provincial, with perhaps, if possible a New Zealand one also included. Motor-pacing and an attempt on an unpaced record, besides novelty events will be included. The proposed distances for the championships are a quartermile, a half-mile and one mile, with a two or three-mile champion of champions event, which will carry lap prizes. Handicap events will also appear on the programme. With such men as Mackie, Hayes, Lindop, Litchfield, 'Pratney, Pinfold, W. and K. Mathieson, of Auckland, and Harcourt, Stacc, Pilkington, and Henwood from the province, as well as some Taranaki riders wlio have_ intimated their intention of competing, a first-class programme, should be witnessed. Particulars of the events at the Awakeri meeting on January 29 and the Morrinsville Friendly Societies' meeting on February 14 will appear in these notes next week