THE BROADSIDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 39, 16 February 1931, Page 14

THE BROADSIDERS.

RELIEF MEETING HELD.

EVENTS AT WESTERN SPRINGS

SPLENDID RIDING BY LOCAL MEN,

Close, fast and thrilling riding was the order at Western Springs Speedway on Saturday night when a meeting for the benefit of the earthquake relief fund was held. Only one overseas rider, Billy Sticpewich, appeared, 'but his •motor early failed him, with the result that the contests resolved themselves into clashes between the local men. There was great rivalry among them. Ben Bray, one of the most popular riders at the speedway, had a rare night out, winning four events and running home second in two others. He was riding his old Douglas, which turned out to be exceptionally fast. , In all his races Bray showed almost perfect judgment and that, together -with the fact that often he rode his machine with a full throttle all the way, Drought him success. One of the best races of the night was a special match race between Bray, Durkin and Cairns. All three were mounted on Douglas bikes, and after a thrilling and spectacular contest, Durkin was the winner i'n the fast time of lm 24 l-ss. Results were:— Napier Handicap.—First heat: C. Morgan (Norton), ss, 1; D. Mattson (Blackburn), ss, 2. Time, 1.30. Second heat: H. Tetley (Rudge), 6s, 1; B. Allen (Rudge), 3s, 2. Time, 1.34 1-5. Third heat: Ben Bray (Norton), 3s, 1; P. Fletcher (Douglas), ss, 2. Time, 1.34 4-5. Fourth heat: H. Durkin (Norton), 2s, 1; A. Way (MattNorton), 4s, 2. Time, • 1.20 4-5. First semi-final: C. Morgan, ss, 1; D. Mattson,

Os, -2. Time; 1.29 3-5. .Second semi-final: B. Bray, 3s. 1; 11. Durkin, 2s, 2. Time, 1.27 3-5. Final: B. Bray, 3s, 1; D. Mattson,' ss, 2. Time, 1.28 3-5. Of the four starters. Bray, Durkin, Mattson and Morgan, only the last-named finished astride his machine, though Mattson wheeled ids bike home to get second place. Engine trouble put Morgan out in the first lap, and Durkin's motor went to pieces in the second, leaving Bray to chase Mattson. Not until the turn into the straight for the run home did Bray make up the two seconds he had conceded the other man, and then, as he passed, Mattson went into a wobble and crashed. Time, 1.23 1-5. WAIROA HANDICAP. First Heat.—Doug. Mattson (Blackburn), 3s, 1; Jack Cormack (Norton), 3s, 2. Time, 1.31 1-5, Second Heat. —C. Morgan (Norton), 3s, 1; C. Goldberg (Rudge), scr, 2. Time, 1.33. Final. —Morgan 1, Gormack 2. Goldberg, when riding well in third place, crashed on the home bend. Cormack made a great fight of it to catch the winner and was beaten only by a length. Time, 1.31 4-5. HASTINGS HANDICAP. First Heat. —M. Aickin (Douglas), 4s, 1; J. Jordan (Douglas), 2s, 2. Time, 1.35 2-5. Second Heat.—B. Cairns (Douglas), scr, 1; J. .McDonald (Douglas), 2s, 2. Time, 1.34 4-5. 1, Jordan 2. A bad start severely handicapped Cairns, but he rode a great race. Aicken got the lead and never looked, like .being beaten. Time, 1.31 1-5. BIG NINE. First Heat.—W. Allen (Rudge), 1; T. Butler (A.J.S.), 2. Time, 1.23 1-5. Second Heat. —W. Coyle (Royal Enfield), 1; Ben Bray (Douglas), 2. Time, 1.27 2-5. Third Heat. —W. Herbert (Royal Enlield), 1; D. Mattson (Blackburn), 2. Time, 1.28 3-5. Final. —Allen 1, Bray 2. The winner went to the lead early. Bray, who had the outside, passed Herbert in the first lap and although he rode a daring race, he could not catch Allen. Time, 1.24.