CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1931, Page 14

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS.

TTEWS AND NOTES FROM

TRACK

ARCHER'S EASY WIN

FIXTURES

January 26—One and a Half Mile Handicap, Springs Scadlum, 6 p.m. January (Anniversary Day)— Awakeri Sports Meeting. February 14—Morrinsvillc Friendly Societies Carnival. February 21—Kumeu Sports Meeting. The Auckland Cycle Club's "afterwork" training races were continued last Monday with a one mile handicap, for which twelve riders took their places. Through the day it rained heavily, but before the event started it had cleared, leaving the concrete track quite diy, thus again showing to advantage over a grass one. The race was notable for the easy victory attained by Wally Archer, one of the front-markers, his win being the easiest recorded of the races to date. With/four riders figuring on the limit mark (170 yds), the back-markers had no chance of getting up from the word go, these four and Archer making the pace a "cracker."

W. Johnson, J. Haigh, H. King and J. Jacob rode off limit, 170 yds, then came W. Archer, 140 yds; H. Clay, 90yds; F. Taylor, 70yds; K. Mathieson, W, Mathieson, 50yds; L. Pinfold, 25yds and S. Litchfield, sor. With the gun Archer went away with a great burst, picking up the four in front before half a lap, and these five rode bunched until half way through the second lap. Here Archer forged to the front, with the back-men doing their level best to. get up, K. Mathieson and Pinfold making the best headway. With a lap to go, Archer left the field completely, with Jacob up second, and Haigh and King next, then Taylor. Archer came on to win, easing up, by thre lengths and a half from Jacob, who was tiring, with K. Mathieson, who came fast, a length and a half away, followed by Pinfold.

Winner's Improvement. Walley Archer (140 yds), since his second to Pinfold in the six-lap handicap on December 8, has shown improved form. In the two events in between this and last week's he rode prominently to be just beaten out of a place. On January 1 at Te Aroha he finished second to A. Rose in the one and a half mile consolation handicap, but one was not propared to see him win so easily as in the race under review. A repetition of last week's form should see him prominent in this week's race, for he will still be on a handy mark. His win puts him into second position for the points aggregate with eight points. I

J. Jacob (170 yds), like the winner, ir improving with every race, and though tiring badly, managed to hold on long enough to get second place. This Maori rider is very popular with the onlookers, and hia fellow-members, and , being aii honest grafter in a race, anything that comes his way ie well deserved. When Archer went to the front Jacob tried to •go with him, but to no avail, and trying to catch him was the'cause of his slowing up near the finish.

Ken Mathieson (50yds) third, is now riding near hi« best, gaining minor places in the laet two events] In both these races he, like the rest of the backmarkers, had a hard task getting up with the field. Another 20 yards and he would have had Jacob, for he was finishing very fast. He will be a competitor at Morrineville. Just as the race started Bill MathicßOn's chain tightened, locking his wheel and forcing him to retire. Thie was real bad luck, for he had only gone ten yards or so.

During the race H. King had five or six spokes ripped out of his front wheel. This WHift cautsed by Taylor cutting in between King and Haig in the lat.t lap, for which he was cautioned. He ruined Haigh'fi chance ateo, forcing him on to the cinders.

Track Gossip. Sid Litchfield was a starter again after a epell, caused through a recurrence of a bad strain he received two years ago on the Domain. This wae the cause aleo of hie non-appearance at the meetings during. the holidays, which 'was rather unfortunate for him as he was riding at his best. . Harry Clay and Frank Taylor were another pair who have been having a reet. Frank hae not been enjoying the best of health for quite a long time now.

W. Johnson, who rode in the junior ranks of the amateurs twelve month* ago, joined the cash ranks last week to have his first ride on the concretebanked track. For two laps he went well, although riding unsteadily, which was only to be expected. He looks ;i rider in the making. ■ ■ I

Billy Mathieeon/informed the writer that there is*every prospect of hie being transferred to follow his occupation at Wellington. With the championships so near at hand, the club are unlucky in losing the services of one of its good back-markers. The club can ill afford to lose such.'a rider as Bill.

Alex. Sutherland, one of the founders of the Auckland Club, is still a resident of Melbourne, and in a letter received last week stated that the cycling sport is booming there again this year. All the racing is done on "The Drome" every Saturday night, which draws great crowds, as "Oppy". and Lamb are great draw cards. Sutherland does not do much riding now,, none at all on the tracks as all his time is taken up in training a couple of boys, one of whom, Bob Broadbent, is the quarter-mile champion of Australia.

New Track. The effort b.eing made by the cyclists to reform B.landford Park as a home for future racing is well under way. During the week negotiations for the lease of the ground were practically finalised, and the putting of the track in order is now exercising the minds of the officials. Mr. G. Sutherland's services have been enlisted, and as soon as the required amount of capital is available the improvements will be gone on with. The outlook at present is promising and future developments will be awaited with interest by followers of the sport.

Three cash events, of a total value of £18, appear on the Morrinsville Friendly Societies' programme on February 14, the distances being one, two and three miles. Entries close on January 31.

At Kumeu (22 miles from Auckland) three events, of a. total value of £17, are also allotted, namely, half, one, and two miles. This meeting will take place on the week following Morrinsville, and from the inquiries being made already it looks as if a big contingent of Aucklanders will make the journey north.