CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 19

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS.

Ui&T WEEK'S RACES.

v FIXTURES. ! •• ■ Saturday, March. 2S—Henderson and SilverHile Sports. cnndar March 29—Kun to Hunua. Ponson'by Reservoir._ 9 a.m. Wednesday. April I—l* Mile Handicaps. Stadium.

It 13 invariably found that when a thing is lost or done away with, then and then only is its true value recognised. This was the case with the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club last week (Wednesday). The dub has been taking advantage of the summer-time daylight saving scheme during the present season, but last week the return to standard time caught both riders and officials napping, and darkness was on them before they quite realised the fact. The mid-week events have been exceptionally well patronised this year, as a result of the two cups offered for competition by Mr. G. H. Lethaby. One of the cups' will be awarded outright to the winner on points of the senior events, and the other will go to the leading junior rider in the handicaps. Clarke Wins Lupton Trophy. There is not another rider in the Manukau Club who has his name engraved on the club's trophies more times than has Clias. A. Clarke, the wellknown and popular wheelman from OneHis name appears on the Fleetwing Shield twice. This shield is competed for annually in the road championships. Clarke won the 1926 MercerAuckland event and last year's road race over the Devonport-Riverhead-Western Springs course for the latter mentioned shield. He won the Cotter Cup in 1928 over a 15 miles course at Jlangere off 2m 30s. For cool and calculated riding it is doubtful whether there is another rider in Auckland to approach Clarke. Last week he rode off a fairly stiff mark of 260 yards (limit man was R. Gallagher on 390 yds), but managed to hold his own to win from a field of 16 in the fair time of 4m 225. Previous to last week he had had little success as a track rider. Road racing is his long suit. At long distance work he has very few equals and fewer superiors.

Webster a Brilliant Rider. Under the tuition and advice of scratch rider J. H. Wade, S. G. Webster, 200 yds, has rapidly produced form which has already, in his first season of racing, won for him many successes. He only commenced to race December,' but since then he has- won one junior, event,, and since his transfer to the senior ranks last month has scored a win, a second and a third:'. His second place he scored last week when he ran Clarke hard just to be defeated by half a length. Webster has a good" finish, but at present is inclined to make his run too early. If he keeps on improving at his present rate he will be one of the club's leading riders next 'season. S. J. Baird, 140 yds, came third last week. Baird is not a strong rider, but has a neat effortless action. As yet he has not developed a powerful enough finish to win for himself a club event this season. Two seconds and a third so far stand to his credit. _•

The Senior Scratch Riders. The back-markers in last week's senior race would have got their field had they combined in the pacing work. Wade made his laps willing, but none of the others followed up with the good work. After'a while Wade eased up, anticipating one of the others to take a lap. None went out and the pace developed into ~a, crawl. Such action is certainly not going to influence Handicapper Auckram. The long-markers will reap the benefit of it though.

Domain Sports. Two handicap cycle races were decided at the Auckland Domain grass track last Saturday afternoon. The ground was in perfect condition after a dry spell of almost five weeks. The! mile provided scratch rider M. P. Byrnes with a clear-cut victory from a field of six. With 2$ laps gone he was with his field. Instead of staging a runaway win-lie let A. Kent, 100 yds, lead into the straight and then calmly drew past to win by two lengths.' His time of 2m 28s was really good, for he was not extended during the ride. \ The value of mutual- pacing was clearly shown by H. Browne, 120 yds, ftnd H, McElroy, 100 yds, in the threemiler. Throughout they shared the laps and Byrnes consequently had a vain chase for 12 laps in an endeavour to bridge the gap separating liim from McElroy. A good -finish was expected between the pair, but McElroy appeared a done rider over the last half-lap, when Browne just shot away to win by 220 yds in 8m dead. Byrnes was fourth.