CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Issue 17, 21 January 1932, Page 18

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS. FIXTURES. Saturday and Sunday, January 23 and 24.—Kun Thames, leaving Newmarket 1 Saturday, February 27.—Meeting Sturges Park, Otahuhu. Sunday, January 31. —Run Cornwallis, 9 a.m. Fast times were returned in the onemile handicap decided by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club at tliG Domain track last Wednesday, when 28 of the club's riders were seen in action. Eric A. Cleaver was the outstanding performer. In his lieat, which lie won from 25yds, he returned the sensationally fast time, for grass, of 2.23 1-5. In the final he displayed an -unusually strong finish to dispose of Les. H. Dwight and win by one length and a half. The time in the latter, 2.29 1-5, was slower because Cleaver, virtual scratch rider in it, had actually collected his field with only two of the requisite four laps ridden. Les. 11. Dwight, second off 30yds, appears to improve with every ride. He took the lead a bit too early in the event under review, for when he hit the finishing straight he had not sufficient reserve energy to answer, as strongly as he would have wished, Cleaver's challenge. However, there is no getting away from the fact that Les. will help his brother Henry a lot to keep the Dwight colours prominent. Les. is over 13st in weight and when he starts using same something has to move. , . _ Ex-junior A. W. D. Robinson, third oil 35yds, continues to hold his own with the seniors, despite his fairly stiff mark. L. M. Nicholson, 75yds last week, won his heat. The latter rider ought to be pleased to learn that heat winners are being given one point in the cup competition. . In the five junior events so far decided cither Gordon or McLachlan has been placed first. McLachlan has himself won three of the five and it will take some drastic handicap changes to prevent him from continuing in his winning strain. Mae. won last week's as easy as you like. Mac is a powerful lad for his years and withal a good grass track rider, but he has a bad habit of trying to look under his handlebars when he gets to the front ot ' l ft Bellini, second off 45yds, is another of the favoured juniors who lias competed with a fine run of successes. It must certainly be disheartening to the long markers to see the same juniors rush past them in each race and battle out the finish. Last week the eight starters were all bundled at the half-way mark, which is absolutely ridiculous for a track race. A little systematic training would help to remedy matters. ' The ever-popular Frank J. Casey returned last Friday by train from his lioliday tour, per cycle, of the South Island. The roads, generally speaking, he considers well below the North standard, but the varied scenery fully atones for this failing. Taking advantage of the longer twilights he pedalled to the tune of 147 miles on one day and 142 on another, while he averaged 120 per day without any attempt at bumping the pace. The big annual run to Thames will be held next week-end, leaving Newmarket at 1 p.m. Ten have signified their intention of making this strenuous run to Thames next Saturday. The return, via the coast road on Sunday, will be easy compared with the run down. But to cover 74 miles in seven hours should be within the compass of a trained cyclist. After this run practically every Saturday is booked for a race meeting. AUCKLAND PROFESSIONALS. The Auckland Cycle Club held a one mile iiiid a lialC. handicap at the Khybor Pass grass track last evening There were 12 starters. Result:—S. Litchfield, 100 yds, 1; .1. 11. Wade, scr, 2; 51. llibburt, 220 yds, 3; G. Hull, 100 yds. 4. Won by a length and a liall. Time, 3.42 1-5.