CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 138, 13 June 1934, Page 16

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS. MANUKAU CLUB. FIXTURES. Saturday, June 10.—20-Mile Senior, 5-Mile Junior, 2 p.m. Sunday. June 17.—Helcnsville Run, Reservoir, 9 a.m. Forty-four Manukau Club riders were out on Saturday last and a fine spirit of enthusiasm was displayed, for the afternoon was showery. However, one consolation the wind was light; another was the improvements to the roads. The two limit juniors, 11. Vernon and J. A. Macdonald, off 3.30, were never headed in the junior ten-miler and in a hard finish Vernon secured his second successive win. It was his third race. Geo. Holland again proved too tough for Chas. LJwight and beat the latter in to gain fastest' time in 29.11. Although it is the best ten-mile time done during the past two seasons, it is a good deal short of Alan Robinson's record of 27.15.

Ihe senior race of 15 miles produced some fast racing and an all-round improvement was noticeable. The winner was F. E. Gatland, off 6.0, with Tom G. Sullivan (CO) two lengths back. These two riders shared the lead for the last four laps of the six-lap race and managed, by sharing the pace, to hold off a big bunch of 16 riders. Gatland was riding in his second race and is a brother of S. E; Gatland, who raced with the club at Mangere in 1929 and who recently returned from Wellington, where he also .participated in the road sport. Everyone was pleased to see Tom Sullivan ride so well, for lie starts in every race, but seldom sees out the distance. He has yet to win an event, but, whether victory conies his way or not, lie will always turn up with his characteristic smile. Big. burly Bill Morris threw his weight about to good purpose when he headed the big group of 16 riders, to gain third place 22s after the winner. His time, too, was a startler. He took 42.7. Last year lie had a couple of wins and was third in the "100" and in his present fighting form there is no telling what he is capable of.

Another popular rider, Chas. A. Clarke (4.0). showed speed, too. Chas. finished fourth. Ho is another of the solid brigade like Morris. Clarke is the oldest active lacing cyclist in amateur ranks in Auckland. He won Auckland road championship honours over disgraceful road surfaces between Mercer and Auckland in October, 1926, when foul weather prevailed. Johnnie Brown (scr) must be just tired of dropping the other scratch ridel's, for he is now going after course records. On Saturday lie modernised the 15-mile course record witli a time of '40.30, a 7s reduction, of a very hot record which he shared with Edgar Raper, who did a 42.12 ride on Saturday, and Ernie Andrews, who is now in New South Wales and has had three plaeings in road events over there. Brown is another Ron Foubister. but will have to keep fit to beat Ron's wonderful record of 17 fastest times in the 1931 season. The points for the Kohn Cup after seven races now stand as follow:—R. Gallagher leads with 8, and .T. Brown, J. G. Morris, Cliff Gillespie. F. E. Gatland, Tom Nixon, R. T. Riddell, R. J. Vernon, R. C. Chappell and Arthur Dwight have each 5 points. The Eddie Grant Memorial Shield competition, won by Eddie Hansen last year, is now headed by Johnnie Brown with 22 points, then comes 11. A. Hoffmann 17. Jim Archer and Chas. Dwight with 15 each and H. Vernon and J. A. Macdonnld with 13 each. Manukau riders will be pleased to learn that the Palmerston North-to-Wellington road race is scheduled for October 20. The Manukau Club has always assisted a team to compete in this annual 102-miler and with the Auckland 100-mile championship on October 6 next will be in a better position than ever to select a "hot" team for this year's event down South. Next month, July 21 to be exact, the centre will conduct tne teams' race with a team from all seven clubs now operating. The Manimau team will possibly be picked from the following:—J. Brown. Les. Dwight, Jack Clark, Lionel Nicholson, Keith Clark, Eddie Raper and Jack Hall. Four will form a team. The team will be clocked over the course prior to the event. A fine cup, to be called the Malvern Star Cup, has been donated to the centre for annual competition on the road by Mr. J. McFarlane. father of Les. McFarliine, a Manukau Club rider. Mr. McFarlane has specified the cup as an award to the first rider homo in the annual "harbour" race of 44 miles, the next biggest race, with Auckland wheelmen, to the "100." The cup should make the race more popular than ever.

I LYNNDALE CLUB. FIXTURES. Saturday, June 10. —lti-Mile Senior and (Si-Mile Junior Handicap Maces. Sunday, June 17. —Kim to Heleusville, 1) a.m. Last Saturday the members of the Lynndale Cycling Club were the guests of the Takapuua Club, and despite scattered showers, interesting racing was witnessed by a large enthusiastic gathering. Seventeen started in the junior event, Geo. Hoi ton and K. Bassett, off 3.30, being limit, and Koss Jones, A. E. Da vies and K. J. Robertson, being the scratch bunch. Geo. Holton, riding for the first time, gave a very creditable performance. Drooping his co-markers on the first lap, he increased his lead to win easily. W. Williams rode a very good race, but will improve with experience. Ho spoilt his chances in the last centre race by leading out too early. C. Crisp has thrown away some excellent chances through lack of training. H. J. Robertson and A. E. Davies were second and third fastest on the day, but found Ross Jones, the Takapuna scratch luan, too good for them.

Thirty seniors got away to an excellent start for the 22%-miler. Stan Aldcrson (8.0), riding for the first time for the club, showed he is going to be a tough boy. Dropping his co-marker, B. Munns, he took the lead in the first lap, to steadily increase it and finally win by nearly three minutes. K. Hankin (2.45) is commencing to show some of his old form, when he was just beaten for second place by half a length by his co-marker, A. Parker, of Takapuna. who was also second fastest. R. Campbell was only a length back fourth, with Helliwell, Caddy, Smith and Cook next, wheels separating them. Sixteen riders entered the straight for the sprint for second place.

B. Scott (1.0) rode the best race of his career when he gained fastest time after a lone, gruelling ride. Dropping only 3s to the scratch quartet—Lydford, Williams, Gooder and Hughes—on the first lap, he commenced to ride away from them, and was 40s ahead on the- fourth lap. However, the scratch bunch was broken up when Lydford was dropped and retired, and Hughes punctured when going well. Scott's time of 62.22 was just 15s faster than Parker, of Takapuna. A. P. Johnson had to retire after the first half through not being fit, while Hugh Norris found the going too fast for his 'flu. Next Sunday a big club run will be held to Helensville, members meeting at New Lynn at 9 a.m. PAPATOETOE CLUB. The following handicaps have been declared for next Saturday's race to Papakiira and back :—O. White, & Pinfold, scr: D. N. Pinfold. R. L. Francis, N. Wardell, 40s; L. Foublster, C. Allan, 1.0; E. Moffitr, A. Pinfold, H. Wnite, 1.15; A. Vazey, Hi Lawson. 2.0; E. Webb. K. Bechre, I/. Vessev, 2.30; A. Simons. K. Melnnaruey, <;. Jones, 3.0;. KI, Snieed. 11. Bellini, -W. Kerr. K. Hadlield. 3.30: L. .Tones. R. McDonald, 1!. Crow. 11. Bechre, M. Knrn, 4.0 ; A. Paul. L. Sutcllffe. R. Alexander. 4.30; SI. Watson. W. Bayly. 5.0; A. Coulter. T. Failtbfiill. I. Williamson, R. Waite. C. Mullins. 6.0: 11. Osborne, J. Patrick, H. White, .7. Plcklieil, 'H. Rainbow, .7.0 ; L. MMdlcton, 10.0.,