CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 204, 30 August 1933, Page 15

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS. MAJTOKATJ CLUB. FIXTURES. Saturday, September 2.—Centre 44 Miles, 2 p.m. Saturday, September o.—Senior Cotter Cup, Junior President's Cup. Forty riders were seen in action in the two 15 milers held by the Manukau Club at Avondale South on Saturday. Bright sunshine again prevailed, but an adverse northerly wind slowed progress. The junior championship drew ten starters, and proved a regular feast for Chas. T. Dwight, oft" 1.0. Dwight rode a remarkably fine race on his own, and led for the last three laps o£ the six laps event to win comfortably. When he crossed the line no other rider was in sight on the three-quarter mile straight. Dwight is a solid lad, and appears ae if he will carry on with the good reputation made by his two brothers, Lee. and Henry. His 15 miles took him 43.43. Eddie Hansen, ecr, was second. He finished two minutes after Dwight. Garry Leonard, ecr, had his front wood rim eplit, and the warning rub of same against the forks gave him a chance to slow up and investigate. Jack Richardson rode well to get third off 3.30, but could have done with more start like many others. Short races are evidently popular with the seniors. Thirty started in the 15miler, but so torrid was the pace that eleven retired. The club appears to have a splendid recruit in Lee. MeFarlane, the Malvern star rider. McFarlane had 6.15, caught the leaders on the last lap and in a sprint showed himself no novice by clearing away from Let;. Gerken, 5.30, and winning by three lengths. His time of 45.44 was real good for an initial effort over the fairly strenuous course used. Les. Gerken, second, always ridee a genuine race, but rarely has a. placing. Everyone was pleased to see Tom Sullivan, 7.30, one of the limit trio, gain a placing. Tom was third. He rides hard every Saturday. He had not previously been placed despite his good efforts. Jim Fanch, fourth, did not appear to be as fit as usual, for he was dropped towards the close. Johnnie Brown, ecr. resumed racing last Saturday, but found Les. Dwight, eer, too speedy in the sprint after sharing the pace to the best of his ability throughout. Dwight's time was 42.16. just 1.27 faster than his brother Charlie's. Dwight and Brown are now even with four fastest times each for club championship honours. Nest Saturday's "harbour" Centre race of 44 miles has drawn a Manukau entry of 33, and a great race over this popular course from Devonport to Western Springe is assured. After the race a dance will be held at the Crystal Palace. The form shown in this race should have some bearing on the result of the 100miler on October 7, for which riders are training hard. A familiar sight on the Great South Eoad of a week-end is bunches of cyclists training for the big race. A total entry of 61 riders has been received for next Saturday's race. The event will start from the Esplanade Hotel at Devonport, on the stroke of 2 p.m.

LYNNBAUB AMATEURS. FIXTURES. Saturday, September 2.—Centre's Harbour Race. Saturday, September 0. —121-Mile Combined Handicap Race. Saturday, September IC.—Club's Harbour Championship. The outstanding performance on Saturday was that of E. Hughes (30s), who did the hat-trick by gaining first and fastest time, and also broke the lap record by 12e. He did the lap in 17.54, and this was certainly a great piece of riding, and at that will be hard to beat. Hughes has been unfortunate in several events this season, 6O his succees was weH deserved. V. Harris again came to the fore for second and second fastest time. He also broke the existing record by six seconds. This place pute him in an unassailable position for the points cup with 50 points. For his second road race, W. Conway performed very well, and promises to become a strong rider with regular riding. In gaining fourth fastest he beat a lot of the old hands. William B. Robbins also has done the "hat-trick," not in merit but in misfortune. He had his third successive puncture in as many rides, after getting new tyres and wheels. He is due for a change of luck. It has definitely been decided to finish the club's harbour championship at Folke Street, New Lynn, instead of Western Springs. Seven riders have nominated for the centre's harbour race next Saturday. TAKAPUNA CLUB. Last Saturday this club held annual senior-junior event for the Farmers' trophy. The weather was fine, with a light breeze, and good times were made by the majority of riders over the strenuous course. W. Nash, off scratch, who made fastest time in 77.48, did the 26 miles with 4.0 to spare from the time set by V. S. Bloinfield in this race last year. B. Oliver is apparently in first class form, and his well-developed sprint stood him in good stead when he entered the straight on evfen terms with W. Nash, followed closely by Pearce and Coleman, with the rest of the bunch tucked in behind. Oliver withstood Nash's determined challenge for supremacy, and, moving up sharply, established a lead of half a wheel. Bill Nash put his best efforts into this race, and was keen to gain time at least. It is time this pedaller scored a win, as he is generally found well up, and has been making second fastest time for quite a while now. W. Pearce has improved his riding and staying ability almost out of recognition of late, and is now taking his racing in earnest. L. Coleman, last year s winner of this event, made a valiant effort to hold his trophy, but weakened rather in the last few miles. A. Lydford has gained the title of the club's unluckiest rider. " Lyddy" has been in some great positions for placings this season, but has either crashed or met misfortune within sight of home. It is a coincidence that in two of the races, where he had practically secured a placing, he met his Waterloo in the same place, at the judge's feet. A. Grant, who finished fifth, in a fine type of rider. Always a battler, "Grantie " does a tremendous amount_ of pace-making, but, owing to lack of sprinting ability, just fails to make the grade. A victory in this quarter would prove very popular. W. Henderson was the first junior home, the only other junior to finish being G. Laurence. These riders are both of the type which does not acknowledge defeat. There will be no club event next Saturday. Members desirous of so doing will take part in the centre event around the harbour.

AUCKLAND LADIES' CLUB.

Laut Saturday a four-lap race "was again conducted at Mount Albert. A very strong wind was blowing, which enabled the riders to attain great speed down the finishing strait, but made it rather difficult up the hill. Miss Emily Pile, who' gained first place, is the most promising ( rider often having fastest time .within her grasp. Miss Edie Hansen heartily deserved) second place, only losing first place down the home stretch. Miss Hansen is now in third place for the Kolin Competition Cup. Miss Violet Baird gained third place and fastest. Miss Baird is leading in the points b.v one from Miss Ellie Swinburne, who has unfortunately sustained an injury owing to a spill while riding to Muriwai laßt weekend, and will be unable to racc for some Flossie Wood also has not yet recovered completely from her abrasions which she received Saturday week.

I AUCKLAND AMATEURS. j

FIXTURES. Saturday, September 2. —44-Mile Centre Harbour Kace. Saturday, September 9.—BJ-MUe Club Handicap, Te Atatu. Saturday, September 16.—17-Mile Club Handicap, 'i'e Atatu. Last Saturday saw the long awaited event for the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club's 44-mile round-the-har-bour road championship, which was run off under fair conditions. The course, which is a severe test of any rider's skill, attracted thirteen starters, and for the greater part of the journey they had to battle against a hard head wind. The winner,- W. Barry (3.0), in leading the field home not only secured his third win this season, but also ran very close for time honoure, being only 22s out, while he also won' the larmers' Cup for fire t place. This, his latest effort, is only : a just reward for hard work, and a spirit o£ determination which has characterised [ all Bill's work this season. In also regis- : tering third fastest time a good deal of praise ie due to hie co-marker, H. Webster, : who, although labouring under a heavy cold, shaved the pace to euch effect that at Henderson they were actually faster ; than the scratch men, but the cold told ; on Harry in the closing stages, and he ' was forced to let Bill go. ' The surprise of the day was caused by ; C. Thackwell off 8.30, finishing where he ' did. As the writer predicted last week, the 8.30 bunch proved to be a very hard combination to crack, and it was only ' when the pace was called for on the concrete for home that they broke up for 1 Charlie Thackwell to go on with W. " Barry to claim second place. Charlie hae \ been riding very inconsistently lately, and \ 60 this placing came as a great surprise, ! and from now on there will be no excuse ' if he does not figure more prominently \ in the placinge. [ The scratch men provided a great thrill \ when, in a well-conteeted eprint, Jttoy ■ Arvidson just got in from Gordon ' Patrick to capture the Kohn Cup as well as his second championship race, for he l also won the unpaced championship a few - weeks ago. Gordon, who is still suffering - from the after-effects of a heavy cold, did i not show that dash and brilliance which s was expected from him. Too much 'cannot • be said for the future of a rider who can, I in his first road season, win two club ; championships, and in Roy Arvidson, ! should he keep improving, the club ; possesses a potential Olympic Games rep. There is every indication for a > close finish for the points cup ! this year. Three riders, W. Barry, . H. Webster, and It. Arvideon are tying " for first place with 35 pointe each. There I were many expressions of appreciation for i the good work put in by the riders' . parents, who helped to provide the . refreshments after the race, and especially - to the Barry family, to whom the club • is indebted for the warm milk which was , so welcome after the hard race.