CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 239, 9 October 1935, Page 20

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS.

MANUKAU CLUB'S SUCCESS,

An overwhelming victory accompanied the efforts of the 28 members who raced in the annual 100-miler last Saturday. Nineteen finished inside the time limit, lirst place, fastest time and the team prize was won by club members. The present North Island and Auckland provincial road champion is Lionel M. Nicholson. "Nick" was fastest in the record time of 4h 44m 2s, off the 10.0 mark. He worked hard to force the pace, with the willing support of his rival Tom L. Nixon, who was second fastest, and finished a few lengths behind him, Floyd Franklyn, the Pahiatua pedaller, and Roy Dutton, the Wellington wheelman. Jack Hall and Chas. Clarke also started off the same mark, but failed to maintain the swift pace set. "Nick" has gradually graduated to the title, for in open races throughout the last three seasons he has always been prominent, and it was fittingly appropriate that he should have to sprint .his club mate Tom Nixon for the titles, for Nixon and ho have been together in most of the big races this year. Bill W. S. Brown, winner off 30.0, rode a well-judged race, and when with the 34 leaders at Ngaruawahia he rode quite contentedly with them till at Pokeno, 85 miles, when the ascent of the Bombay Hill commenced, when he, Bob Showier and Elia and Scott went steadily away to top the long hill together. Bill entered the grounds first and won by a length. He is 18 years of age and slimly built, and a brother of the scratch rider, J. Brown. He won a 15-miler during the season and was third in the club's 44-miles "harbour" championship oif 20.0. Bob Showier (36.0) rode splendidly, considering his short experience of road work. He joined up late this season and was sampling his first 100-miler. He was fourth and may have been higher placed had he not skidded and fell when a quarter of a milo from the finish.

Edgar Raper (15.0), eleventh, found his gears of immense use like Nicholson did, his two-speed gear of 79 and 84. Edgar was frank in his praise of his, and considers he made a tour instead of a race of the whole affair. Jack Clark (15.0) was credited with 15th place, but owing to a judging error he may have been higher, for he came in with a big sprinting bunch. Little Gordon Cunningham had a hard push over the last few miles along with Gilbert Purdom. Bill Morris raced steadily throughout and finished very fresh. Bill Crocker, 1934 winner, finished 31st. Ray Whitley, "harbour" race winner, was less brilliant this time. Allan Robinson and Johnny Brown (scr) came in together, but had maintained a fairly slow rate to clock 4h 59m 16s. Brown was unfortunate

in falling when his tubular tyre rolled off the rim in the last 100 yards. The other finishers were Ron Norman, Bill Dihvorth, Dave Lawson. Cyril Cronk, Jock Stewart and Laurie Tanner. Jim McLaren had the misfortune to fall after going 21 miles.

Nicholson spoke in complimentary terms of the splendid support lie received from | Floyd Franklyn and Roy Button, the visiting riders, who helped him considerably to force the pace. In fact, he modestly attributes his victory to the fine work of Franklyn, who enthusiastically urged on his group. Franklyn and Dutton came up fresh from the Palmerston North to Petone race of 102 miles, in which Franklyn was fourth fastest in 4h 41m.

Next Saturday the Takapuna Club will hold its open events, and on Wednesday of this week the club will hold its annual meeting. The club has had a most successful season. Gordon Patrick won all provincial

track titles, while Nicholson collccted the Auckland and North Island championships, while as a team the club won the teams' contest last July and the team shield in last Saturday's race. The annual meeting will be held this evening.