CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 299, 18 December 1935, Page 24

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS. MANUKAU CLUB. The boys of the big club went out to the first open floodlight meeting at the Papatoetoe banked track last week to see how the Papatoetoe pedallers were progressing, and, although they, the Manukau wheelers, won every race, the local anklers favourably impressed them. Gordon Patrick was the big draw card of the night, and his efforts were far from disappointing. There were two handicaps and lie won both from scratch. His swoop off the home banking and up the short finishing straight was an eye-opener. In the two-miler few realised how he did place 20yds of floodlight between himself and Tom Itiddell, whom he accompanied to the homo banking, and then streaked away like a supercharged Mercedes. His half-mile time of 60 l-ss. places him just where he was last season, i.e., in the first flight. Ron Triner, the brilliant junior of Wade-like build, also had two wins. He won the junior mile from Phil Johnson after mowing, down his field in remarkably rapid time. In the miss and out he found Geo. Holland a tough proposition, so the pair made a dead-heat of the finish, much to the crowd's excitement. Johnnie Brown is quickly accustoming himself to track racing, and won his lieat and was third in the half-mile final. Tom Riddell and Phil Morris are a splendidly matched pair. In the two-miler Riddell just managed to beat his rival clubman. Competitively and financially the centre's scratch race meeting at the Papatoetoe track last Saturday was a great success. The local lads proved too familiar with the track for the majority of the visitors. The A graders, Gordon Patrick and Allan Robinson filled minor placings. Robinson's riding was a big improvement on his previous efforts, but Patrick did not seem to take the races at all seriously. In some of tile events he made some real dashing sprints from the back of the field, but started them too late to achieve success.

The star performer in the B grade was Ron. Triner. He won the half, was third in the inile, and finished first in the threemiler, but was disqualified for coining down too quickly when lie took the lead. Riders forget that the pole line is marked for a distinct purpose. When overtaking a rider who is inside the .pole line the overtaker must allow that rider two clear lengths before coming into the pole line area- Saturday's big spill," when seven riders fell, was a direct result of an infringement of the latter mentioned ruling. Strict adherence to rules is essential in scratch, races where fields, are bunched throughout. Phil Morris shaped well to win the mile, I but was one-of the unfortunates in the I three-miler. He was forced to swoop up the track, a 14ft high banking, and went over the top to tumble down the grassy slope on the other side. _ Fred Markham, Arnie Keith and Jim Archer also fell and received abrasions through severe contact with the rough asphalt surface. Tom Riddell won this race, with bronzed Len Beuth second. Gordon Cunningham and Bill Morris were the only C graders. Both were placed in their heats, but failed to figure in the finals. Juniors Geo. Grigg and Theo Stites gained a couple of points in the D grade. The next big meetings will bo at Rotorua on Boxing Day, and at Whatawhata on New Year's Day. The Whatawhata meeting always proves an attraction, possibly because of the fine glittering, open air display of the trophies to bo won. The club's championship carnival is scheduled for January 27. at Western Springs. Negotiations have been made with Speedways, Ltd., to have the fence removed for training during the second week of January, when a midweek meeting will be held.

NORTHERN CLUB.

Tlio Northern Club did not have a very successful day at the scratch racing held at the Papatoetoe Stadium last Saturday, owing to the fact that a large number of the club's riders are first-season riders, who are just starting 011 their first track rides. Also, there is a certain amount of prejudice against that track, mainly owing to the steep nature of the banking. Some of the riders were inclined to go very cautiously, but that is where they made a mistake, for that banking is for the purpose of maintaining higher speeds than is possible 011 a flat track, and therefore the faster the pace the less likelihood of any mishaps. Universally, it is the opinion that GV&in cranks are the correct length of crank to use on that track. The most successful club man was Mai. Byrnes, who secured a second and a third placing. This was the second appearance of Byrnes 011 the track this season, and under the circumstances his form augurs well for the future. Byrnes has the happy knack of acquiring top form at the right moment, and his club mates are quite confident of seeing the blue and white colours taking some ,of the honours in the Auckland championships. Merv. Gamble, the club's road champion, rode very well and will be seen at his best at the country meetings in the New Year. Gamble had a very successful season in the Waikato last year, and was recognised as the champion of the Waikato. Everyone was pleased to see Harry Webster riding so well after a long period of inactivity. Other riders in his grade should appreciate the amount of hard work and energy that Harry expended in several hard and fast laps, which alone were responsible for doing the- distance within the time limit. Webster was the only man, apart from Byrnes, to register any points for the club. Other riders worthy of mention are Alan Richardson, who is a fast and determined rider when fit; Len Subritzky and Ted Ivey would both have done better if they had kept within the pole lines as much as possible. Another man who rode hard was Sid Windsor, the rider who won all the D grade races in the last scratch meeting, but he found that being in the B grade is a much tougher proposition. Members will be pleased to note that the club championships will be held on Monday evening, February 3, 1930, when a full cycling programme will be put before the public. It is the hope of the club to make this carnival the outstanding one of the year.

LYNNDALE CLUB.

Last Saturday a number of Lynndale cyclists and supporters journeyed out to Papatoetoe Stadium to take part in the scratch race meeting conducted by the centre. The heavy rain that fell at midi day caused a number of the Lynndale boys to postpone their trip to Papatoetoe. The club was second on the day with 25 points, being beaten by Papatoetoe Club by I' 2 points. Lynndale's points were compiled by a small band of five competitors, a very good average—2s points, five competitors—something that the club should boast about and also something that should inspire the rest of the Lynndale members to take part in open company, as it is these scratch meetings and open meetings that improve a rider's riding ability. The most successful rider was A. Johnson, who won all the C grade races. Freddie displayed good form, and is an old head, always having something j up his sleeve at the finish of his races. Johnson is one of the pioneer members of j the Lynndale Club, but has not been a very consistent starter. Len Farrant filled second place in the one-mile and three-riiile C grade races to Johnson. The track seemed to suit him. Len is a vastlyimproved rider this "track season. Walter T. - Willis rather disappointed nfter having so much success at the track | at New Lynn. Walter was third in the | one-mile C grade and fourth in the three- ' mile C grade. The banked tracks do not seem to suit Willis, but he should do well on the country tracks in the province, such as Rotorua and Whatawliata. • E. L. Graham Hughes won the threeI mile A grade, and won it well, and also Iwon his heat of the one-mile. Graham is riding at Rotorua and Whatawliata over the holidays and lie should be successful, \ as he has a fair knowledge of these tracks.

Colin R. Gooder won the A grade onemile by one length. 'This rider has always been, fairly successful -a-t one-mile races. Colin is not taking part at any meetings over the. holidays, having a rest that will not hurt liim. The next points meeting that Lynndale will conduct at New Lynn will be held on January 11, 1936, when the races will be half-mile, one mile and three miles junior and senior and a three-mile open.