CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 97, 26 April 1932, Page 17

CYCLING.

THE CASH RIDERS

ROAD RACING COMMENT,

TOJUKIXS FALLS, BUT WINS.

FIXTURES. April 30 —25-mile Handicap, Tamaki (oi

laps), 2.45 p.m. May I—Club Kun, Hunua, Assemble Newlnarket. U. 30 a.m. May 7 —Club Captain Cup, 10 miles. .Although the riders had to contend with a strong wind on Saturday, the conditions otherwise were good for road racing, when the Auckland Cycle Club decided their weekly race over 20V£ miles (iVz laps of the circuit), at Tamaki. A good field of 1!) again faced the starter, and they were dispatched in a shower in the following order: —I'\ Clarke, 11.0; T. Davis, 10.0; F. Lowndes, 0.30; P. Bieknell, W. Hills, O. Porter, 11. Starke, L. Tomkins, 7.0; N. Healey, 5.0; M. Hibburt, 4.30; D. Storey, 0. Willcox, 3.40; IJ. Hall, H. Clay, G. Hall, 3.15; J. Cooney, R. Watson, K. Mathieson, 1.45; S. Litchfield, scr. A brief survey of the lace and lap times is ippended. The order at lap one (iVz miles) was: Clarke, 14.35; Davis, 15.1; Lowndes. 15.38: Tomkins, Bieknell. 17.17: Starke, 17.48; Hills, Porter. 18.39; Healey, Hibburt, 10.17; Storey, Willcox, E. Hall, Clay, 20.14: Watson, Cooney, Mathieson, 21.38. G. Hall and Litchfield punctured. Lap two: Davis, now with Clarke, passed at 20.7; Lowndes, 20.17: Bieknell, Tomkins, 30.37; Hibburt, 32.3; E. Hall, Willcox, Starke, Porter, 33.2; Hills, 33.25; Healey, 34.0: Storey. 34.15; Cooney, Mathieson, Watson, 34.20. Clay punctured. Lap three saw five pass within seconds of one another, Davis, 43.31; Clarke, 43.40; Bieknell, Tomkins. together going well, 43.45; Lowndes, 43.55; Hibburt, 45.1; E. Hall, Willcox. 46.12; Mathieson. Coonev, Watson. 46.51: Storey, Hills, 48.20. Lap four, with '2Vs miles to go, Bieknell and Tomkins had taken the lead, passing at 57.6, but they both fell on the bend soon after, the latter continuing, whereas Bieknell damaged his machine. Davis was next at 57.50, Hibburt. Lowndes. 58.1; Willcox. Hall, 50.10; Mathieson, AVatson. 50.40 (Cooney fell). Tomkins managed to hold his advantage and crossed the lino 10s ahead of Hibburt, who was 54s ahead of Davis. Then followed Lowndes 22s after him. Mathieson. Watson, Willcox and Hall went over in that order in the sprint to I':.': iine. 2.20 after the winner, Mathieson gaining time. Bicknell's Bad Luck. Lon Tomkins (7.0), although he tired towards the end of the •previous weeks contest managed to get third, thin being his first ride since last road season. Evidently' the race did him good, for along with Isicknell, his co-marker, he showed no signs of slackening, their lapping being exceptionally steady, as shown below. It wan great team-work, and to fall when they did was truly bail luck indeed, especially for young Bieknell, spoiling what would have been a good finish between tlie pair. Tomkins skidded, and Bieknell went over him. By a strange coincidence, Kae, Tomkins' mate in the previous race, also fell on a bend. Tomkins lapped in 13.17, 13.20, .13.8, 13.21, 0.30, actual time 62.45, 45s slower than his previous ride. Murray Hibburt (4.30) rode a great unpacked race, and in his three exhibitions so far has fully borne out tlie good opinion of .him expressed by the writer previously. Second in the opening race, machine trouble when lying second in the next, and now- his latest performance shows his consistency. To ride the full distance unpaced, and record third -fastest time, only, 35s slower than Ken Mathieson. speaks for itself. Nearly a minute behind the winner at lap four, and then to get within 10s of him shows what valuable time Tomkins lost by his tall. Hibburt lapped very steadily in 12.47, 12.46, 12.55, 13.0, 8.54, riding time 60.25. Torn Davis (10.0) is improving with every race, and as this is his first season on the road his performances so far arc most encouraging. Before the season closes he should be a greatly _ improved pedaller, as he docs most of his training with Bill Pratncy, under whose tuition ho should benefit. He lapped in 14.1, 14.0, 14.24, 14.10, 0.50, actual time 66.40. Tim Lowndes (0.30) was out _ for his first ride, and rode creditably. From the word go lie tried to get Davis half a minute ahead of him, but try as he would lie was still 22s .behind him at the finish. Lap times: 14.8, 14.0, 14.8, 14.6, 10.10, time, 60.41. . , , . Ken Mathieson (1.4) along with his comarkers Watson and Cooney, teamed well together all the way. Cooney fell in the fourth lap, leaving Ken and Watson to fight out the sprint. The last-named again rode well, and led into the finishing stretch with AVillcox, Hall and Mathieson in the rear. Ken did not look as if lie would get through in time, but eventually seized an opening to put the issue beyond doubt, a length ahead of his mate. He lapped in 12.23, 12.42, 12.31, 12.40, 9.25, fastest time, 59.50. P. Bieknell was the unluckiest rider who ever sat a machine on Saturday, his fall robbing him of a sure stake. The club have lost another of its good road men in Billy Mathieson, who has left for Paeroa to take up a permanent position there. All will join in wishing him the best o£ luck, although lie .will be missed. , . _ ~ , . Members are advised that a club run will be hold to Hunua next Sunday, leaving Clarke's Cycle Works, Newmarket, at 9.30 a.m. The first run was a huge success. Evidently these runs are going to prove popular and fill a long felt want. The Whakatane Cycle Club have decided to postpone their .big Tauranga-AVhakatane road race, which was to have been hold on June 3, on account of the Rotorua carnival being set down for that day. The date will be announced later, with full details.

AUCKLAND CLUB.

The Auckland Cycle Club's road programme was advanced a further stage on Saturday at Tamaki under good hut windy conditions, consequently there was again a "oocl muster of members. The distance was 20i miles over 4i laps of the circuit, and the field of 10 were dispatched in the following order: —F. Clarke, 110 ; T. Davis, 10.0; F. Lowndes, 9.30; P. Bieknell, \\ • Hills, O. Porter, H. Starke, I'. Bieknell, 7.0; N. Healey, f>.o; M. Hibburt, 4.30; C. Wil'leox, D. Storey, 3.45 ; F. Hall, H. Clay, (i Hall, 3.15; .1. Cooney, It. Watson, K. Mathieson, 3.45; S. Litchfield, scr. The placings were: — 1,. Tomkins (7.0), 1; M. Hibburt (4.30), 2; T. Davis (10.0), 3; F. Lowndes (0.30), 4. , Winner's time, 02.45. Fastest time was registered by K. .T. Mathieson (scr), in 50.50. AUCKLAND AMATEURS. Fine weather was again experienced for the club's 15-mile handicap and novice race, run together from New Lynn to Swanson find return. A strong hond wind on tlie out stretch made the times much slower than was expected. There were 24 starters, a record for the club. The novices race resulted : —- Strathdee (7.10), 1; W. Brear (545), 2; IC. Yates (7.45), 3; Patrick (;>.10), 4 Fastest time: It. Patrick (5.10), 44.30. The competitors in tlie open handicap started as follow : M. Byrnes, H. Browne. I. Laloli, scr; L. Oxten, 2.30; C. May, B. Scott. 3.30; C. C.ooder, R. Bartrum, 4.10; \y # Crocker, K. Mosliiem, G. 45 ; S. Stocken, 7.10. M. Byrnes liad the misfortune to break has rear axle at Swanson while going strongly. The results were: — s S. Stocken (7.10). 1; W. Crocker (0.4u), 2 • K. Mosliiem (fi.45), 3 ; C. Gooder (4.10), 4. 'Fastest time: H. Browne (scr), 44.1.

MANUKAU AMATEURS. • A Irish wind on the back stretch and a few light showers impeded the progress of the riders in the junior and senior road races conducted by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club on Saturday. The iunior race ot' ten miles resulted : W F .T Elliott (3.0 X. l: K. Campbell (5.0), 2 • K. W. Rates (2.0), 3; S. J. Ward (2.0), 4; .T. K. Hall (scr). T, . Bates secured fastest time in 30.20. He was 3.3 outside the course record for '' U The 3 'eight laps (20 miles) senior race rCS I"!m h7Roid (9.30), 1; Keith N Clark (4 30) 2; Dick C. Chappeil (u.30), 3, Stewart J. Baird (3.30), 4; Ron. G. Foubister (scr), 5. _ Fastest time: R. Foubister (scr), uS.U.