CLOSE RACING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 22, 27 January 1936, Page 12

CLOSE RACING.

CINDER TRACK STARS. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS. WIN FOR ENGLISHMEN. Heavy clouds, threatening a downpour before the evening was over, kept away from Western Springe Speedway on Saturday night all but the most enthusiastic followers of broadsiding. Still, the crowd; numbered about 5000 or 6000 people, who raised at time a tumult of applause equal to any that was heard from the throats of twice their number at previous meetings. The applause was well earned, too, ; closely-contested races being decided in times that were within a fraction of a second of the New Zealand record, which, until Dick Case's amazing effort of the previous Saturday, had stood for over six years. As the enthusiasts had expected, the international points race, in which New Zealand was represented by Alf. Mattson and C. Goldberg, England by B. Harrison and S. Greatrex, and U.S.A. by B. Lisman and B. McKinney, produced some close contests and fast times, three riders, one from each team, starting in each heat of four laps from a rolling start. In each of the four heats the first man scored three points, second two, and third one, and the four highest points scorers, who started in the final, were Goldberg with 6, and Harrison, Greatrex and Lisman with four each. The three last-named finished in that order, with Goldberg fourth, making the final scores: Harrison 7, Goldberg 6, Greatrex 6, Lisman 5. The match race between Doug. Mattson and C. Morgan ended in an easy win for the former in 1.20 3-5, after he had lea all the way, but that between Alf. Mattson and S. Greatrex was closely contested all the way. The Englishman took the lead, in the first lap, but Mattson drew level with him in the second, and neither could establish a perceptible margin over the other. Twice they roared round the course with the front wheel of one overlapping the rear wheel of the other, but as they turned into the finishing straight Mattson, on the outside, was able to push slightly ahead, though not a length separated them as they flashed past the judges. Results :— INTERNATIONAL POINTS RACE. First Heat. —A. Mattson (N.Z.), 1; Greatre-x (England), 2; McKinney (U.S.A.), 3. Jumping out from the start, Mattson established a lead of several lengths which was never seriously challenged, but Greatrex and McKinney had a great .battle for second place. After holding it for two laps, Greatrex lost second place to McKinney in the third lap. Drawing abreast in the final lap, Greatrex could not get ahead of him until they were turning into the finising straight, when 'a spurt put him a length in front. Tin?&, 1.17. Second Heat. —Goldberg (N.Z.), 1; Lisman (U.S.A.), 2; Harrison (England), 3. Although Harrison, jumping ahead from tho start, took the lead and the inside running, Goldberg passed him before the end of the first lap and established a safe load. Lisman passed Harrison in the third lap, after trailing him closely all the way. Time, 1.17. Third Heat.—Goldberg 1, Greatrex 2, McKinney 3. Taking the lead from McKinney in the second lap, Goldberg established a lead of half a dozen lengths, which he held to the finish ; while McKinney and Greatrex were racing level in a great tussle for second place. As they came up the finishing straight, there was little to choose between the two, Greatrex getting the decision by no more than a wheel. Time, 1.16 1-5. Fourth Heat.—Harrison 1, Lisman 2. Rather badly left at the start, Mattson tried in vain to catch the other two, but, he was still lying third, though not far behind them, when he fell at the beginning of the last lap. Harrison and Lisman were well matched, the latter s&veral times drawing level with the leader without being able to pass ljlm, and there was only a length between them at the finislj. Time, 1.17 2-5.

Final.—Harrison 1, Greatrex 2, Lisman 3. Going wide on the first corner, Goldberg got into the rough and dropped well behind. Harrison took the lead from Greatrex in the first lap and held it all the way, though Greatrex was never more than a couple, of lengths away. Both left Lisman well behind. Time, 1.17. JANUARY HANDICAP. First Heat. —Bray (2<syds bhd) 1, D. Mattson (30yds bhd) 2. From the commencement of the second lap, when they had left . the rest of the field behind, Bray and Mattson had a close race for leadership, w hicn was not decided until they crossed the finishing line to all appearances abreast, ! though the decision went _to Bray by a ' small margin. Time 1.27 1-5. ■ ! Second Heat.—Morgan (30yds bhd) 1, Hay I (lSvds bhd) 2. After leading for two laps : Cormack (limit) fell, leaving Morgan a i quarter of a lap ahead of Day, with an easy i win In hand. Time 1.30. I Final.—D. Mattson 1, Bray 2. Losing half a lap at the start, Bray was lucky that both Morgan (30yds bhd) and Dii> ! (15yds bhd) fell in the first lap, giving linn j second place behind Mattson, who was an easy winner. Time ,1.28 2-5. OPEN HANDICAP. First Ileat.—D. Mattson (10yds bhd) 1, Goldberg (OOyds bhd) 2. A refractory motor ! cost Goldberg nearly a lap at the start, but both Greatrex (100 yds bhd) and Day ( 10yds bhd) dropped out in the second lap. Goldberg reduced Mat.tson's lead by about a hair in the succeeding laps but had no hope of catching him. Time 1.25. i Second Heat. —Lisman (OOyds bhd) 1, A. Mattson (100 yds bhd) 2. The withdrawal of I'erry (limit), the third starter, in the first lap left Lisman with a good lead over : Mattson, which he increased considerably I before he crossed the finishing line, win- ! liing by double what the handicappers had given him. Time 1.21 2-5. Third Ileat.—McKinney (100 yds bhd) 1, Morgan (10yds bhd) 2. It took McKinney three laps to catch Cormack (limit), who was also passed by Morgan in the same lap, while Harrison (100 yds bhd) still hung well back. McKinney won by about ten lengths. Time 1.23 2-5. | Final.—A. Mattson 1, Lisman 2. Alf i Mattson took the lead from Doug Mattson in the second lap, but the latter hung on to second place until the last lap, when, after racing level for nearly all the lap, Lisman got ahead of him in the finishing straight by about half a length. Time 1.21 1-5. SPECIAL FOR FOUR FASTEST RIDERS. Harrison 1, Goldberg 2, A. Mattson 3. After he had taken the lead and inside position in the first lap, Harrison held it to the finish, winning by about five lengths. Goldberg hung second to him throughout the race, though seriously challenged by ; Mattson, who nearly caught him in the last lap, only a length separating them at the finish. Time 1.18 2-5. CONTESTS IN CANTERBURY. CASE WESTS TWO EACES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. A broadsiding meeting was held at | Monica Park last night, when W. Clibbett ! (England), R. Case (Australia) and ; several members of Putt Mossman's I motor cycle rodeo took part. Case and Glibbett dead-heated in one race, and in j another Case won by l-ss. J. Hobson was the most prominent local rider. The chief results were: — International Points Race, one mile.— First heat: Case and Clibbett, dead-heat, !1; Hobson, 3. Time, 1.20 3-5. Second heat: Hobson 1. Time, 1.22 2-5. The other I starters, R. Grant (U.S.A.) and E. (U.S.A.) had machine trouble. . Final: Case 1, Clibbett 2, Grant 3. Time, 1.20 2-5. I Fred Sliarman Handicap, one mile. — I Case 1, W. Ferguson 2, J. Roscoe 3. Time, 1.20 3-5.