CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 59, 10 March 1932, Page 20

CYCLING.

AUCKLAND AMATEUR CLUB. PREPARING FOR ROAD SEASON FIXTURES. Saturday, March 12.—New Zealand Championships, Domain. Last Saturday witnessed all-Auckland's crack wheelmen assembling to compete for the Auckland provincial championships, held at the Domain quarter-mile grass track. The track, after much use this season, was a little dusty and loose in parts, making riding a little dangerous. Mjr P. Byrnes, the club's scratch man, again demonstrated bis old ability at sprinting by defeating a classy field in the mile. He may have repeated this performance in the five-mile, but had the bad luck to fall. In the mile all Auckland sprinters were in the final. A terrific sprint started at the 220 mark, each rider pedalling in great style. Just on entering the straight Byrnes jumped, and, sprinting brilliantly, headed his field by a length at the line. M. P. Byrnes is an experienced track man. For many years he was unbeatable, but due to ■illness had to retire at the end of the 1027 season. He made a reappearance last year. Riding from scratch he won several handicap events. This year, in spite of little competition, he has again proved himself a brilliant sprinter.

In the handicap events L. Oxten put Tip a sterling performance in winning the two-mile handicap. Each, season sees a big improvement in Oxten, who possesses a powerful sprint, and we soon should see him on the honour mark. Now that the track season is almost at a close, preparations are being made for the opening of the road sejLson. Auckland Club members will again race at Te Atatu, which they consider, from a .point of safety, surface and convenience, the best course at present in Auckland. The season will open on either April 16 or April 23. The election of officens will take place on Sunday, April 3. Next Sunday morning a meeting will be held at the Domain. This will bo the last meeting of the season of the track committee. S. HAYES WINS THE MILE. The Auckland Cycle Club's one-mile handicap held last evening at the Khyber Pass grass track attracted a record season field of 21 riders. Results :— First Heat.—S. Hayes (50yds) 1, E. A. Cleaver (80yds) 2, K. Mathieson (80yds) 3, L. G. Pinfold (110 yds) 4. Time. 2.27 1-5. Second Heat.—J. Cooney (60yds) 1, M. Hibburt (90yds) 2, C. G. Galbraitlx (110 yds) 3, W. Archer (110 yds) 4. Time, 2.25 4-5. Final.—S. Hayes 1, E. A. Cleaver 2, K. ,T. Mathieson 3, J. Cooney 4. Won by a length. Time, 2.35. WELLINGTON REPRESENTATIVES Laurie -Roberts, formerly of Manukau Club, and one of Wellington's cycling representatives for the New Zealand championships, was welcomed this morning. lie said that the other members of the team, Ulmer and Gane, were due to-morrow. Uliner was the winner this year of the half-mile and one-mile provincial titles, and Gane was the winner of the three-mile title. Roberts had been somewhat incapacitated by a poisoned hand at the championships. However, he expects to go better now and came here early to get better acquainted with the track.

Wellington is the only other centre where they race on the grass frequently so that the Wellington team -will probably have a fairly good chance. It is understood that Foßgharty, of Dunedln, was also due to arrive this morning.