CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 21

CYCLING.

AUCKLAND AMATEURS. The combined Auckland-Lynndale road races, which were held on the Te Atatu course by invitation of the Auckland Club, were a pronounced success. In each race fastest time was gained by an Auckland Club rider, but the placings in the junior event were nil filled by the visiting Lynndale competitors. Most of the interest was focused on the clash between the rival club accs, Goodcr and Gamble, but, as often happens when two fast men meet, speed gives place to tactics, with the result that another rider usually registers a time very close to theirs. In last week's race Logan Laloli was only 22s slower than the scratch men, after an unpaeed ride over all but half a mile of tho distance. Jack Price punctured after going half a mile and left his co-marker, Laloli, to continue alone. On his present form Laloli bids fair to loom large in futuro races, and the unpaeed club championship on Saturday week will provide an unusually keen contest between him and Gamble. Ernie Tucker's brilliant sprint at the conclusion of the junior race was a reminder of his fast track ability. Tucker lowered his previous record for one circuit by 1.0, but his superiority over his Lynndale co-marker, Hutton, was in th« sprint only.

It was unfortunate that the finishin? straight had an extra covering of loose metal on the sides, but, even so, the senior event provided two furious finishes. That for first place was taken by A. Richardson, who timed his effort nicely to defeat Jack Speight by nearly two lengths. These two riders teamed consistently and caught the leaders only two miles from the finish. They did not "sit in," but, following Speight, they maintained a fast pace. The combined bunch contained four Lynndale and four Auckland riders. Third place was filled by S. Thompson, who recently notched a second place in a club race.

The sprint for tastest time became a duel between Gamble and Gooder, the former drawing ahead right 011 the line to win by a clear length. Both these men are araonest the best in Auckland, and further interesting contests' are anticipated.

Immediately after the race the selection committee announced the team for next Saturday:—M. Gamble (captain), L. Laloli, J. Price, W. Barry, A misconception lias arisen regarding the constitution of the so-called Auckland Amateur Cycling Club. Strictly speaking; there is no such club. The club is a committee of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club, and was formed originally as a road cycling division. The activities of the road division later were extended to track racing, but now that cyclists have the control of their sport in their own hands, some are inclined to overlook the above important constitutional fact. To belong to such a club ; a boasts Savidan, Elliott and a 60-year-old list of champions and record-holders is a unique liono'-r. The popularity of cycling was well shown last Sunday when literally swarms ot' racing cyclists covered the Great South Road. There must have been oyer 200 who made the journey to Mercer and back. Many were clad in jersey and shorts to take advantage of the brilliant sunshine. It was rather amusing for the cyclists to see people in cars lunching at tiie side of the road and gazing with evident astonishment at a group of young men who had actually covered by their own exertion more ground than they in their cars.

BEACH HAVEN CLUB,

On Saturday last the Beach Haven Amateur Cycling Club held its second annual race for the French Cup. The day was beautifully fine, conditions being ideal for cycling, and a large crowd of interested spectators watched the race. The distance was 24 miles, 6ix laps of the Birkdale circuit. R. Elia (7.0), the limit man, moved off first, there being a gap of 2l£ minutes before the next man, J. Day (4.30) went off, the rest of the field following at much closer intervals. R. Elia rode very well, maintaining a good pace until the end of the fifth lap, when he was overtaken by D. Patton (4.0), the eventual winner. A. J. Evans (1.30) was next, closely followed by L. Cooper (4.0). The scratch men at this time were in a bunch, almost within striking distance, and to the onlookers certainly looked like making one of their bunch a winner. This, however, did not take place, owing to Patton and Evans (both, by the way, showing much improved 1 condition) .doing the last lap as fast as the scratch men. Entering the home straight Evans had taken the lead, but in a long sprint was beaten by Patton by half a wheel. These two riders are to be congratulated on their fine race. R. Elia was third and rode one of his best races to date, but found the distance just a trifle too far. L. Cooper was fourth. In the first lap the scratch rider, A. Elia, broke the lap record by 10s, reducing it to 11.1, and also broke the course record, reducing this to 69.0, a very good performance. On Saturday week the club will hold a five-lap race, a distance of 20 miles, commencing at 2.45 p.m.