THE BROADSIDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 51, 2 March 1931, Page 13

THE BROADSIDERS.

VAN PRAAG'S OFF NIGHT.

DURKIN'S BRILLIANT RIDING.

EVENTS AT WESTERN SPRINGS

In anticipation of seeing sensational riding by the world cinder track recordholder, Lionel Van Praag, of Sydney, there was a big crowd at Western Springs Speedway on Saturday night. As sometimes happens wiKi sensitive riic ing machines, Van Praag's motor let him down, and, much to the disappointment of the crowd, the champion was not seen at his best. If the match races between Van Praag and the Mitchell twins, champions of South Australia, were disappointing, there was ample compensation in the brilliant and consistent riding of the local men. It was left to them to provide the thrills —and they succeeded. In the Australian match races, it was the first time the Mitchell twins, Clem and Norman, had met Van Praag iu contest. The first round went to Clem, and the second to Norman, it was unlucky fur Van Praag in that second race, when he was leading the field, that his machine stopped dead on a corner. However. Van Praag won the third and final round fairly comfortably from Clem Mitchell, the other brother being advised by the doctor not to start. Both the Mitchell boys crashed while training on Thursday; one got slight concussion and the other injured a wrist. Buckjumping. One of the best races of the evening was the special match race between Hen Bray and Herbie Durkin. With th° inside running ill his favour, Durkin {lashed ahead from the rolling start. But Bray, with his usual cool scheming, shot past Durkin on the inside and left him lighting his way through a thick screen of cinders. Durkin chased Bray hard, but seemed to ride into every rough .patch on the track, "me result was an entertaining biickjumping exhibition. Wilbert Coyle scored a splendid win in the Visitors' Handicap, an event which provided any amount of thrilling riding. Durkin brilliantly rode his way through to the final, overhauling the fields in line style, but in the final Herbert crashed in front of him and dissipated any chance he had of wanting first money.

After three heats and the final, in which thciu was a high standard of riding, Jack Connaek ran home a winner in the second series for the Vauxhall Cnp, with Sheppard in second place and Fletcher third. Results were:— AUSTRALIAN MATCH RACKS. Three laps. First Round.—C. Mitchell (Adelaide), Budge, 1; Van Praag (Sydney). HurleyDavidson, 2. Time, 00 4-ss. Clem Mitchell got away lirst and maintained the lead from Van Prang and Norm, Mitchell. The latter had the mis tor tune to crash in the lust lap, and Van Praag was not able to catch up to Clem Mitchell, who won by almost half a lap. Second Round.—N. Mitchell (Adelaide), Rudge, 1; C. Mitchell (Adelaide). Budge, 2. Time, 04 l-ss. The start was even, but Van Prang shot ahead on tlie bend and led by two lengths at tlie end of the lirst lap from Norm. Mitchell. Clem Mitchell was well back. Van Prang's machine failed in the second lap, and .Norm. Mitchell won easily from his brother. Third Round. —Van Prftae; (Sydney), Rudge, 1; C. Mitchell (Adelaide). Rudge, 2. Time, 03 l-ss. North. Mitchell, acting on medical advice, did not start. Van Praag had a slight advantage at the start, but was nearly shut out nt a corner on the last lap. He came up in the straight to win by two yards. TEAMS RACE. First Event.—B. Pray (Norton). B team, 1: W. Allen (Riidg"), A team, 2. Time. .1.24 4-ss. Besides being a race of mishaps, this contest was distinguished by tlie determination of the winner, Pray, who rode throughout with his goggles flying loose, but yet managing to wrest the lead from Allen and Cdldbsrg after his team mate, Garmsoh, had crashed in the first hip. Goldberg crashed in the final lap. Second Event.—ll. Durkin (Norton), A team 1 ; W. Herbert (Matt-Norton), 1! team, 2. Time, 1.24 3-5. Durkin got awav brilliantly and was never headed. His "team-fellow, Co.yle, crashed in the first. C Morgan (.'based DiirUin hotly, but crushed just before the straight, and Herbert was left to fill second place. VISITOR' HANDICAP. First Heal.—W. Coylc (Royal Enfield), ss. 1; B. Allen (Rudge), 3s. 2. Van Praag's motor failed. Time, 1.31 1-5. Second Heat.—.l. Cormaek (Norton). .>s. 1 ■ B Brav (Dougltisl, 3s, 2. Time, 1.30 o-o. 'Third Heat.—l'. Fletcher (Douglas), 58, 1 • M AieUeii (Douglas), os. and P.. Herbert (Royal Enfield), 4s, dead-heat, 2. Time, i •;•' 4-5 'Fourth Heat.—ll. Durkin (Norton). 2s, 1; C. Morgan (Norton), 4s, 2. lime, L First Semi-final.—W. Coylc (Norton), ss, 1; W. Allen (Kudgo), 3s. 2. After a crash in the first lap, Cormaek remounted, but was never in t.he hunt. Bray andAnen «> s 1- B. Herbert (Royal Enfield), 4s, 2. With five riders on the track, it turned out to be a great race. Durkin judged his ra«» beautifully; overhauling the field each time he rode into a bend. He won com-f°^hml-(SmSI?-mr:Ui!i 2. Right from the start, Coylc had the lead and stayed in front all the way. Allen's machine gave trouble in the first lap, and he withdrew n°the C second round Herber: came to grief in a spectacular crash, His bike leit mm and bounded in a mad career along the fence cominVto rest yards away from the rider/ Durkin had to slow down in consequence, and niter that had no.chance of catching the leader. Tune, 131 --oB GRADE (VAUXHALL CUr). First Heat.—T. Cormaek (Norton), Bs, 1- J. McDonald (Douglas). ss, 2, U. Mattson (Blackburn), scr, 3. Itoe. +.31 l-£ Second Heat.—C. Sheppard (Bcyal En field), is, 1: F. Linrtesay (Budge), 2s, 21. S: Cairns (Douglas).' Is. 3. Time, I.Bd l-o. Third Ileat.-P. Fletcher (Douglas Is, and S Williamson Norton). ss. dead heat 1; C- Walker (Douglas), 2s 3. Times, Fletcher 1.31 3-5. Williamson 3.80 «-J. Final.—Cormaek 1, Sheppard 2, llcU cr 3 Time. 1.30 1-5. Williamson, tie limit man crashed in the first l^"A{ t °'J» a * went on to win easily by ten lengths. SPECIAL MATCH RACE. B Bray (Douglas), 1; H. Durkin (Douglas) 2. The riders got away together, and Durkin, who had the inside running, "l out of the lirst bend. Then Bray opened out, and. riding brilliantly, whipped inside and took the >ead. Durkin. on a stiange machine, provided some bucXiumping. Bray won by 10 yards. Time, 1.2u _-o.