CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 19

CYCLING.

MANUKAU CLUB. The success of the Manukau Club riders at the second of the series of scratch race meetings held at the Papatoetoe banked asphalt-surfaced track last Saturday was far better than even the most optimistic anticipated. To win 54 of the possible 84 points was a notable achievement. Possibly the riders were fired because of their defeat at the initial meeting. Points winners were Gordon Cunningham 9, Gordon Patrick and George Holland 8, Phil. Johnson and Kay Chappell'6, Hon. Triner and Bill Morris 4, Phil, Morrjs, Allan Robinson, Jack Clark, Tom Riddell 2, and Jim Calder with 1. Gordon Patrick was again at his best and romped away with the A grade mile and two miles. In the two-miler on the last lap it looked very niuph as if Gooder and Hughes, the'two Lynndale lads, would shoot past him, for they came up with a rush from the back when Patrick led I at a sedate pace. In a flash Patrick found terrific acceleration, stalled their attempt and won by ten yards. He won so easily! that the crowd had to laugh. Robinson showed rare speed too, but as yet lacks' the finer tactics of sprinting, but liis knowledge is increasing with every race. Jack Clark and Les. Dwight also rode better than previously. Big Les. was troubled with a loose cotter pin, but, then, lack of attention to mechanical detail has cost many a. cyclist his chances of success. George Holland threw his chances away in the sprint event of the B grade by not crossing the line. He wheeled off the track protesting against Freddie Johnson for switching. Johnson was rightly disqualified from the event, but Ray Vernon was awarded the heat. George made no mistakes after that and showed himself far superior ,to the rest when he won the next four races lie contested. George's :place is definitely in the A grade from now on. Ron. Triner appeared to be riding with less dash —probably because of alterations to his riding position. His poise seemed •cramped and his failure to get a straight leg thrust might be cured by a slightly higher saddle position. Still, lie beat his old friendly rival, Tom Riddell, road ace, in each event. Phil. Morris has evidently recovered from his high jump off the banking at the initial scratch meeting, for he ran Holland a close second in the mile. The most improved pedaller on the afternoon was little Gordon Cunningham with five wins from six starts. He unearthed some really exciting sprints, but started far too eiyly in the two miles and sapped his energy somewhere on the home banking when big, burly "Bill" Morris flashed I>j»vt. Morris, too, rode better. Juniors Ray Chnppell and Phil. Johnson upheld the club's reputation in the ]) grade, while Jim Calder also had a share' in this section. _ I After last Saturday something good is ejected at the club's annual track championship meeting to be held on the Western Springs Stadium next Monday evening. The' first rase will start at. 7.45 p.m. 1