CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 74, 29 March 1933, Page 12

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS.

FIXTURES.

Saturday, April I.—Manukau Club Championship, a p.m., Papatoetoo. Sunday, April I'.—Meeting, Domain, 10.00 a.m. , ... . Saturday, April B.—Sports at Western Springs Stadium, 2 p.m.

MANUKAU AND PAPATOETOE

RIDERS,

Undoubtedly the best grass track meeting of this season was tliat conducted by the sporting East Tamaki Amateur Club at the local quarter-mile track last Saturday. Brilliant sunshine and a splendid and enthusiastic crowd graced the meet.

Cycling always proves attractive to country gatherings, and this meeting was certainly no exception. Big fields of 25 in both the mile and two-mile, and 20 in the three-mile, with Handicapper Auckram's tightened handicaps, made for early bunching and really fine racing. In fact, the riders, when bunched and in their varied and distinguishing colours, looked somewhat like a field of racehorses, so close was the riding formation. Only one spill occurred. Les. H. Dwight, when riding alone, emptied over, possibly because he touched the inside ledge of the grass track with his left pedal. He did not get hurt.

Everyone was pleased to see Henry R. ! Dwight strike a patch of his old form. j Henry could, not go wrong. He won the mile, heat and final, and the three miles. He stood down for the two miles, expecting brother Les. to give this race a close go. Les. fell over in the second heat, to Henry's and the crowd's disgust and disappointment. The three-miler was a grand race. Trainer Horry Lane did not time his customary hefty push to coincide with the report of Jack Auckram's five-chambered revolver. Result, Les. Dwight was left several yards behind by brother Henry and Ivan C. Bellini, the other two scratch riders, in the first few seconds. The bad start must have unnerved Les., for he fell back each lap till the sixth, when the field bunched, and. as usual in such eases, slowed horribly. This gave Les. his chance, and taking it he got up to the bunch of 20 riders iu three lap 6. Ges. Johnson made a wild dash out at the bell, but to the astonishment of all dropped back before he entered the back straight. This left Henry Dwight in front, with Les. working his way up from tenth position at the bell. In the long straight Les. sternly chased Henry to fail by three lengths. The sporting brothers were given a rousing reception. They deserved it. H. Vic. Gordon, 15yds, could not beat H. Dwight in the mile, but was a close second. In the two-miler, off virtual scratch, 25yds, this diminutive rider showed the way home in the final, which he won in 5.28. Vic. has struck form too late to do much good this season, but the road should see him prominent.

Big Ernie D. Andrews, second off 45yds in the two miles, third off 25yds in the mile, and third off 75yds in the threemile, found the grass to his liking. Ernie promises to give the road season a better flutter this season than ever before.

Altogether the Tamaki meeting was a feast for the older hands. Henry Dwight started back in 1926, likewise Andrews, while Vic. Gordon was a Manukau junior back in 1929. The seventh annual race for the House Cup last Wednesday was a real eyeopener. Again the Dwight brothers, probably the two best distance track men in the province, gave an exhibition which was really thrilling. Both were on scratch. By dint of hard riding they were with the middle markers with six laps gone. But the middle markers were too slow to catch Jack Hall, 350 yds, and Fred. Markham, who were making the pace hot. So the Dwight boys bridged the gap, to be with the leaders with two and a half laps to go. Les. led at the bell, Henry next, and down on the pole line, but nicely pocketed through his own fault, Ernie Andrews with m.p.li. to spare. This formation continued with the speed rising slowly till the long straight was entered, when Henry moved up fast to win by

three-quarters of a length, with Les. second and Andrews only half a wheel out, third. Time, 11.26. This was the second fastest race for the cup, and the third time same has been won by Henry Dwight. . . . The Manukau Club's championships next Saturday promise good keen competition. The sprint title over two laps has attracted 11 riders, and the five miles over 30 laps of the Papapatoetoe Stadium track has drawn a field of 17 riders. Lap prizes to the leading rider at the end ot each lap will make this event exciting. The meet is in aid of the Grey Lynn Relief Committee, who are assured of the support of all amateur pcdallers. Another Manukau member has done the Auckland-Wellington trip of some 470 miles bv cycle. Cyril J. Cronk is the rider. He reported no punctures and a trouble free trip, and thoroughly enjoyed the hoalthv outdoor exercise. The gears used were 62 and 56, and free wheel.

TAKAPUNA CLUB

On Saturday last this club held a 23-/£ mile event, over the course to Albany and back, including one lap of the lake. Times made were good, and the roads, with the exception of about five miles, in famy decent condition. The first man hove was B. Laurence (3.0), time 68.41, who was followed by F. Roberts (6.0), time 76.22, B. Evans (5.0) taking third place. B. Laurence also defeated J. Sharpe for fastest time by seven seconds. B. Laurence rode a good steady race, and, although a <placc-getter of no mean order, this is the first time he has succeeded in pasuing the judge ahead of the field. His popularity was p.mved by the great ovation he received from club mates and spectators. Frank Roberts, in claiming second place, proved the surprise of the race. A new rider, Frank is a husky chap, and after further experience should have no trouble in gaining other placings. B. Evans, third, was the junior champion, but since becoming a senior, has been unplaced. He is expected to show further improvement, however, now being in sight of his old form. J. Sharpe, who lost the time, was particularly unlucky in getting a puncture within a mile of home, and he covered part of that distance at a double, wheeling his machine, only to find on crossing the line that he missed getting fastest time by only 7s. In the junior race of UV* miles, of the lake circuit, the winner was M. Hathaway (3.0), time 35.16, with A. Chaplin (scr), time 32.16 3-5, second, and T. Maloney (2.0), 34.17, was third, A. Chaplin making fastest time. M. Hathaway, riding his second race, has a good sprint, and should be tough with a bit more training. He appears to have the stuff riders are made of. A. Chaplin has a record to be proud of, and one which he seems determined to uphold, having ridden into a place every race this season. Next week's events are: —22 , /4 miles on the lake circuit, and 7% miles for juniors over the same course. Handicaps declared by Mr. Gallagher are:— Seniors.—J. Sharpe, V. Blomfield, ecr; E. Bacon, O. Durbin, 30s; D. Lydford, B. Oliver, 1.30; L. Coleman, B. Laurence, 2.0; J. Grant, G. Towart, 2.30; B. Evans, 3.0; W. Pearce, 3.30; F. Roberts, 4.0; G. Evans, L. Dick, 8.0.

Juniors.—A. Chaplin, 0. McKee, scr; M. Hathaway, T. Maloney, W. Henderson, 2.0; W. Johnston, 2.30; P. Bowdcn, 3.0; F. Jack, 4.0.