CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 116, 18 May 1932, Page 14

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS.

MANUKAU AND PAPATOETOE CLUBS. FIXTURES. Saturday, May 21. —10 Miles, jun., 15 Miles Senior, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22.—Run to Mercer, Newmarket li a.m. Saturday, May 2S.—l'apatoetoe Club's big event, 2.30 p.m. Saturday, June 4.—Centre's Race, Western Springs-Swanson, 2.30 p.in. Road improvements in course of progress and a stiff head wind on the hill section of the Avondale South circuit prevented any of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club's members from, returning any sensational times last Saturday. Otherwise overhead conditions were splendid and the class of racing left little to be desired.

The IVa miles junior race brought to light the fittest of the fit. Most of the lads found the trying wind a bit too much for them. Xot so the trio off virtual scratch. 455. E. W. Bates, J.R. Hall and S. J. Ward, off the latter mark, clapped on the pace to good purpose, and at the start of the third and final lap were about 300 yards behind E. Raper and E. L. R. Hughes, off 2.0. It was then only a matter of waiting patiently for one of the back-markere to win the final • sprint. ■About seven, and a half minutes later Hall and Bate 3 started a long sprint to the lin.e. Hall made the common mistake of leading out too early. Bates used his head by hanging on Hall's wheel until 40 yards from the line, when he came by with a burst and won by a wheel. Bates also made fastest time, 21.57. Three fastest in succession, one win and two thirds is his record for four starts this season. Bates has improved out of all recognition. Before the race Ernie D. Andrews, 5.0, came in for a whole host of good natured chaff when he arrived on the scene with a new cycle. "You'll have to win today, Ernie," said some. So Andrews did win. His half-length victory from the rapidly-improving; R. C. Chappell, was most popular. Andrews is one of the old school of Manukau riders. He won the ■first road race over the once popular Mangere circuit. It was in June, 1920, and he received a start of 6.0 in the event, a 17-miler. Jii 1029 he had a couple of wins, in 1930 a second place, and last season a win and three thirds. He is the present club captain, in which position he has further popularised the club runs, which are now a feature of the club's programme. He lapped the J:\vo and a half miles Oβ follows: 7.13, 7.31, 7.38. 7.43, 7.50, 7.40, 7.44 and 8.0, taking 01.10 to complete the 20 miles. A. Brass, 5.30, of Onehunga, might have done better than finish a close third had he curbed himself when caught on lap four by Andrews. Instead In- broke away and kept ahead till the final lap. This pedalling fast on his Own naturally tended to tire liiiri. • However, it was through Brass that the back markers were juet a bit unlucky' in not getting up. It was rather a coincidence that Frank ,T. Casey, 1.30,. should be fastest in the race which Andrews won. In tlio first race Andrews won Casey also finished fastest. So ancient history repeats iteelt. Casey rode a great race. Partnered by two good ones in Henry Dwight, who was sampling the circuit for the first time this year, and A. W. D. Robinson, who was second fastest to Foubister the previous week, he reaped much from combining forces with them., Here are the riding times o£ all the finishers:—F. J. Casey, fastest in 57.52; A. W. U. Robinson. 58.12: H. R. Dwight. f>o 20; R. G. Foubister, 59.30; I. C. Bellini. 60.33; Reg. T. Baston. 00.34; E. D. Andrews, 61.10; R. C. Chappell, 61.20; V Brass, 01.51; S. G. Webster. 62.59; J. G. Morris, 64.29, and L, Hall, who was having his first racevaiid-.Ramcly continued even though passed toy all, 66.30. Ron. G. Fonuister'a failure to make time came as no surprise now that the riders have all reached racing fitness. The trio, Caeey, Robinson find Dwight. m front of him bad the distinct advantage of mutual pacing. Anyone knowing that trio understands perfectly what l-oubister was up against. One of the biggest club runs ot the year was held on Sunday, when 23 riders. includinff four of the Takapuna Club members, went out to Papatoetoe to become acquainted with the course chosen by that club for its big 31-miler on May 28 next. The entries will be accepted next Saturday for this event by Secretary L. Wilson, from Manukians. Xo post entries are being entertained. The Cycling Centres programme tentatively arranged, is as follows:—June 4 and July 2. Western Springs to Swanson and back. 23 milea; August (> and September 3, Western Springs to Kumeu and back, 40 miles, and on October 1, the "Round the Harbour" championship event.