CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 246, 17 October 1934, Page 19

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS.

MANUKAU CLUB. FIXTURES. Saturday, October 20. —Week-end tour, Newmarket, 1.30 p.m. Monday, October 22.—Labour Dny Sports. After a strenuous road season with not a free Saturday since April 14, Manukau Club members are now turning their attention to track work, and a section to touring. Next Saturday all members will be keenly interested in the welfare of the club's team, which will compete in the Dominion's biggest road race of the year, the annual Palmerston North to Wellington road race of 102 miles. The team — Johnny Brown, Chas. Clarke, Keith Clark and Lionel Nicholson—is quite able to give a good account of itself. Brown has not been fastest in 20 road events over the past two seasons without gaining much knowledge which must come in very useful on Saturday next. His ability at hill climbing is well known locally, and that notorious two-mile climb to the top of the Paekakariki Hill, 780 ft up, should give him his chance to play his trump card. Chas. Clarke is no 9lug either over a distance, and as he is keen to start from scratch this year he evidently must have great confidence in himself. He certainly has displayed good form this year with two wins in hard races, and was second fastest in the 105-miler a fortnight ago.

Keith Clark and Lionel Nicholson will find the course new to them, and possibly because of this may do better than Many anticipate. Both pedallers have proved good, speedy stayers in local events, and are keen to do well.

Several members have entered for the jjabour Day meeting at the Domain grass track. This meeting will open the track lacing season, which promises to be a most successful one for the club once again. There are quite a number of members who do not take any interest in track work, and this section has mapped out a series of week-end tourlets. Next J'eek-end, a 2% days' affair, they are going th'rough to Te Awamutu and round the Jirongia district, leaving Newmarket on Saturday at 1.30 p.m. They hope to reach Hamilton before dusk. With good weather the trip should be an enjoyable one, and . s°me adopt the stripped-to-the-waist st Jle they employed last summer, then some tanned figures should return citywards next Monday.

BEACH HAVEN CLUB

The long season of the Beach Haven Amateur Cycling Club was brought to a on 6 °, n Saturday, the final event being a -JO-mile race—once round the circuit then out to Glenfield, concluding with another ap of the circuit. Seniors and juniors ® ce ® together. R. Elia, a junior, off 7.0, as the winner, and rode an exceptionally good race, riding unpaced throughout. ..There was a strong head wind, which on outward journey especially troubled e riders. This made the winner's time / ' °T~! . go °d performance. J. Culpan + . cr- ' f finished second, also gaining fastest time, 62 27. S. Hilder (1.15) was just eaten by a wheel by Culpan, his time T a'? ®*'42 1-5. Fourth place was filled by ha * ' w ' lo f ini ' 6 hed some little distance

. , le conclusion of the race a happy r ' a ture of the presentation of IV renc ' l Cup to J. Marris took place. ma tine cup, which is for annual competi--f°r! Was donated by the French brothers, H<ast Tamaki, and was presented to the inner of the 24-mile race, held on Sepember 22. On behalf of his brothers, Mr. juei-vyri;French expressed their pleasure in eing able to help the club, and then asked 118 Mother, Mrs. French, to present the r " arr ' s suitably responded, after i c^eerE were given for the winner ®na also the French family, who are keen supporters of the club.

LYNNDALE AMATEURS.

FIXTUKES. Sunday, October 21. —Busy bee at track. •Monday, October 22. —Haces at Domain. A very enjoyable time was spent at the prige-givUjig and dance held by the Lyimdale (jiub last Wednesday. Mr. J. iJolan presented the prizes, and commented on tlio growth of the cycling division, especially ill the junior section, which is exceptionally strong for the size of the club. The prize-winners were complimented on their success and the keen competition shown throughout the year. In concluding, Mr. Dolan also complimented the committee on the work done through the past season, and the tine club spirit shown by the riders.

Only two Lynndale riders competed in the 100-mile event. P. Johnson, for a junior, rode very well to be with the leaders at Ngaruawahia. He finished in the time limit. A very creditable performance. S". Alderson was going well, but was unfortunate in having to retire.

The work of clearing the track is going ahead well, and should be finished in a couple of weeks if the same willing support is continued. There will be a chance for those few riders who could not get along last week to come out next Sunday and compete, with spades, in clearing off.

TAKAPUNA CLUB.

Battling against a heavy head wind over the exposed portions of the course, Jlie riders made fair times in the 2214-mile event last Saturday. The race resulted in a win for the veteran rider G. Towart (G.Oj, with his co-marker A. Chaplin finishing second. L. Denning finished third in 62.3, the fastest time on the day, with S. Laurence, also off 1.0, fourth, his time being Is slower.

Towart and Chaplin, the limit men, both rode strongly and crossed the finishing line as the rest of the field headed round the bend into the straight. This bunch, with three of the men in for time, staged a fast finish. Denning proved the strongest sprinter, shooting from the back to defeat his co-marker for time and place. R. Jones, from the scratch mark, on liis lonesome, rode easily and withdrew in the fifth lap. This rider has been advised to retire from racing for six months, but is finishing the season out. G. Towart, who is the oldest active amateur cyclist racing at the present time in the Auckland district, is still capable of producing a more than average sprint for a feather-weight. At the beginning of the season lie shared the scratch mark with D. Lydford and S. Laurence. He also gained second place in the Merson medal event, being defeated by the scratch man V. Blomfield for first placing by half a wheel. Gil. is fairly prominent in track racing, the distance and weather being more in his favour.

A. Chaplin has already had a number of placings Jo his credit. Owing to his readiness to take his full share of the pacemaking, victories in this quarter always prove popular with spectators and team mates. "Shorty" has finished every event in which he started and has gathered in two firsts, a second, three thirds and quite a few fourth places this season. Another pedaller who takes the palm for consistent and solid work is L. Denning. This brilliant youngster won his first two starts and since then, in senior and junior races, has taken four firsts, one second and six thirds, and three times made fastest time, which makes an imposing list for a 16-year-old in one season's racing. Next Saturday the club will hold its last road race of the season, the event being an 18%-miler, over the lake circuit. A large field is nominated and good racing is expected. This is a combined seniorjunior event Tor the Onslow Wood Memorial Shield. On Monday next, Labour Day, the track season will open at Taharoto Park.

Handicaps declared by Mr. S. Gallagher for the ISI-mile road race to be held by the Takapuna Club next Saturday for the Onslow Wood Memorial Shield, on the lake circuit (the last road race of rhe season) :—K. Jones, S. Laurance, L. Denning, scr; B. Evans, A. Parker. r 1.0 ; E. Williams, D. Keating. 1.S0; O. Durbin, 0. McKee, 2.15; A. Grant, A. Gunn. 2.45 ; G. Towart, R. Eagles, 3.30; N. Evans. A. Chaplin, 4.0; A. Sligo, 1.,. Coleman, 4.45 ; J. Gemmell, 14.0.

On Monday, Labour Day, the club will open the track season with a programme of events at the tine new track at Taharoto Park. Four races will be. held through the day as follows: Half-mile, one mile, two miles handicap and a two miles miss and out race.

Adjustments for the handicap events :— B. Evans, G. Towart, L. Denning, K. Jones, ser in all events; A. l'ark-er, O. Durbln, 10yds, 15yds, 23yds ; A. Grant, 15yds, 25yds, 40yds; D. Keating, O. McKee, 20yds, 35yds, 50yds; A. Gunn, It. Eagles, 25yds; 45yds, 65yds; L. Coleman, E. Williams, 30yds, 50yds, 80yds; X. Evans, A. Sligo, A. Chaplin, 40yds, 70yds. 110 yds; J. Gcmnioll, 75yds, 130 yds, 220 yds.