CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 202, 27 August 1931, Page 17

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS. iLANIIEAU CLUB'S EACES. FIXTURES. Saturday, August 29.—10 Miles Junior and Senior Events, 2 pan. Sunday, August 30.—Bun leaving Newmariet 9.30 a.m. Saturday, September s.—Swanson Baees. Junior and Senior. Saturday, October 3.—"Harbour" Championship.

Favoured by last fine weather the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club's junior and senior road races drew good fields.

The junior race over two laps (five miles) gave Len Oxton (2.0) a. splendid opportunity to show his mettle. Of laid Oxton has 'been, pedalling well and would probably have fceen placed previously this season had not bad luck dogged his tracks in the way or email mishaps. He rode off with four others last week, hut over the closing stages none of the others could survive has increased pace. It was his first win of the season, and thoroughly deserved. J. B. Hall (1.30) must hare a. failing for third places, because he registered his fourth last Saturday. He has been placed in five of the nine races in which he has competed. The Avondale antler, S. J. Ward (1.30). second, displayed much improvement in his -ridinjr. It is his first Season on the road. With a little more serious training he may register a win "before the close of the season. When A. W. D. Eobinson defeated_ H. V. Gordon a fortnight ago in a winiaasisted sprint, some put his success down to the favourable conditions prevailing at the time. Such a conclusion wa3 too hasty, as Eobinson proved ">n Saturday, when he again led Gordon over the line by-half a length. ~ Eobinson has at last developed a fast sprint. He should have a splendid chance in the forthcoming junior championship race which will he held in a fortnight's time over the Swanson course. Bobinson's time of 14.10 last week was the fastest recorded among the junior division. . Last season the juniors had no championship race. Thus, they are- keenly looking forward to the coming event. Whether it will he decided on the unpaged system or on the handicap method, will he decided hy the executive committee this week. Seniors.

It is quite apparent from last week's senior 25 miles race that the riders will have to do a lot of hard riding and training if they are to make a success of the big "harbour" event. Twenty-one started on Saturday, but only eleven finished. Punctures were far too prevalent, and before the 'big race a lot of -hard cash • wiH have to so into new covers. Les. Dwight,. Jim. Leather and Gordon Whitehouse had tyre trouble. The unhappy feature was Jhat all three were going exceptionally well at the time of their respective misfortunes, especially Leather, was sharing fastest time honours with Stewart Baird when his tyre deflated. The long-markers themselves, and 7 -it was one of these ridere, F. EL Baston (10.30}, which is a lap start, who won. Baston rode hard for six laps_ on his own before he caught up to the limit man, I. H. Eeid (13.0). The pair then paced together for almost four laps. Baston shot away from Beid with a mile to go, and won his first road race by 16s. Baston is developing into- a solid pedaller, the type who generally excel at distance work. Sid. Pinfold turned 17 years of age during the week and said "good-bye" to the junior ranks for ever. He is going to make things Every ior the seniors, ) if his first -ride since turning over is any indioatiom. IHe was second of£6Js» and ied his: team-mate, Eeg. Baston, brother of winner, by a couple of lengths in. the fast finish, in which, both passed the tailucky Eeid just 15 yards from the line. Jtank J. Casey, scr, rode erratically to gam fastest time in 73.22. After three laps he dropped Ken Spr&gg, scr, and on the fifth lap caught up, to Wnitehnuse, who &ad punctured and changed machines. With the latter's assistance he # increased his pace, particularly over the closing stages, when someone whispered that Stewart Baird was "in for time." Casey/a laps gave some indication of has ipasmodic ridmg. He lapped as follows: 12, 132, 120, 1.2, 7.9, 7.27, 126, 1M and 7.36, but did nis tenth and final in 7J.7. Eght sped through to Mercer on last Sunday's-run, while Eric Mnßane .and Geo. Clark went one further and made Te Kauwhata. The hill work on such runs must stand by the riders when ■■thechampionship race eventuates on October 3 next. * - -

AtTGKIiAND CLTJBTS RACE.

SATDEDAY'S :GEEAT EOAD EVENT.

FIXTURES.

Satnrdar, August 29.—50-Mile Anckland Soad championship, L3O pjm, Devonport. September 5. —81-iDle, at Te Atattt.

-Under ideal road racing conditioffli last Satnrday fifteen faced the starter m/"" 5 Anckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Grab's longest race of 27% miles, over three of the long laps at Te Atatu. Of the fifteen who faced the starter only hx finished. GIL Jeeves, J. CL O. Browne and 3. Eaig retired with punctures, while the rest who retired seemed to-find the race a bit too strenuous. They fell out in order not to overstrain themselves for next Saturday's 50-mile championship. W. Crocker (8.30) rode a hard race to win by a close margm from C. May (7.30). Grocker thoroughly deserved to win this event—his first placing so far—for he has been a- trier thronghout the season. Of. late C. May has been prominent in the placings. Last week saw hint second to W. Crocker. With a good handicap he should perform well in the 50-miler. . R. Scott (7,0) finished third after pushing a scraping wheel over the last four miles. His style of riding is well suited for next week's events"

Both E. Ball (lm), who returned fastest time, and J. C. Laloli (lm), who finished in second fastest, time, rode well, but did not extend themselves, owing no -doubt to the closeness of next week's race, to return the time of 78.55 and 78J5 1-5 respectively. H. O. Browne (scr.) was a little- unlucky, for,. in the last lap, when pacing with E. Hall and T. C. LoloH, he punctured, and had to retire from the' race.,

2?ext Saturday the clnb will be conducting the Anckland .provincial road championship on-the rarmd-the-harbour course.. iSttmerous trophies have been donated, and next week should see a record field. The race will start at Devonport at 1.30 (the ferry leaving- the city at 1 o'clock), and will finish at the Western Springs Stadium. Many and various are the opinions as to who will win the championship. E, HaH seems to receive the most support, for of late he has: been tiding well, and for the last- two months has been training hard for this event. E. O. Browne, who has proved himself a fine unpaced rider, should also stand a chance, as his powerful style of riding will suit the course. It is thought that the middle markers will probably finish first, though some of the hmit men may give them a hard j race.

On the night of the race a dance will be held at the Crystal Palace Ballroom, to "welcome the visiting harrier teams, who yB. be competing in Auckland on that day for the !New Zealand harrier chamu l< 2 sili ?- At the da3lce trophies won by beta the harriers and cyclists will be presented.