CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 113, 15 May 1935, Page 16

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS.

THE MANXTKAU CLUB. FIXTURES. Saturday, May 15.—221 Miles Senior. 7> Miles Junior. Sunday, May 19.—Waiwera Run; 9 a.m. Ferry. Saturday, May 25. — Centre 22-miler. bwanson Course. Under tho speedy conditions prevailing last Saturday plenty of action was witnessed at Avondale South when the 48 starters were set loose. The senior race of 17% miles was a very fast affair. Tho back-markers teamed wonderfully and with three laps to go there were 14 riders in the leading positions. As some compensation for his spill when sprinting the previous week, Jack W. Clark, off 1.15, scored a decisive victory from 11 others in the final dash for the line, .Jack's victory was thoroughly deserved, for he made the pace a real cracker at times.

Bill E. Dilworth'e second place off 5.0 was a. big surprise and hie best effort to date. Two seasons of farming have not lessened Allan Robinson's speed qualities, for he was a close third. Aβ a junior three seasons ago he wae an outstanding performer, and has records still unbeaten.

Tom Eiddell, fourth, lias jumped into fame suddenly, and appears as if lie will be capable of maintaining his present ■brilliant form. Phil P. llorris i<j fairly new to the game but ho boat several others to finish fifth and showed fine stamina to stay with more seasoned men. Tom Nixon ie gradually getting into trim, while Gilbert Purdoni, a first season rider, did really well to finish seventh. Len Beuth, winner of the opening race, could not get through in the sprint, in which he had to take to the grass. Viv. Ellis ia another consistent rider who lacks a sprint. Lionel Nicholson was given a great chance on Saturday, but appealed to get himself well boxed in when the tune for sprinting came along. The two limit riders, Jock Stewart and Bill Brown, deserve credit, for, although caught by the back-markers, they hung with them and finished in the big bunch.

Johnnie Brown had his firefc opportunity of the year to uphold his tine roadracing reputation and right well he did it when he reeled oil' the 17Ms miles in 47.7 to knock another 17a oil' his previous course record. In the two previous races this year he punctured, but had a clear run on thi« occasion. He cleared away from Gordon Patrick and Les. Dwight on the second lap and completed the live iniletJ 15s ahead of them, and continued to stretch the gap. He finished 23s after Jack Clark, who was second fastest in 47.59. Brown will be one of the best pleased over the centre's decision to rerun the May race, for he met tyre trouble in the original race.

In the junior race of 10 miles, C'has. Dwight, scr, had a hard chase after Ron Wilson and Ray Chappell, off 455, and just managed to be fastest in 29.21. He gained 4s only on the other two, who paced well together and appear as if they will make a splendid combination for the junior scratch mark now Dwight is a senior. Don Frafier secured another third but sprinted well to beat Theo Stites. Horry Hoffman, 6.0, had a hard lone ride to finish first, just 5s ahead of Irev. Winsor, 3.0, who was rapidly catching him over the final lap.

The centre's decision to rerun the Swanson race was fully justified, for those lidere who were directed over the longer course had no hope of overhauling any who had taken the shorter route. Riders will have three big road events in succession, the rerun race on May 25, the Continental etyle event on June 1, and the Takapuna Club's big open race on June 3. This latter race will be the biggest event of its kind to be staged north of the city, and as the roads will be new to most local riders an interesting race is bound to result.