CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1936, Page 13

CYCLING.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. MEETING AT WANG AN UI. AUCKLAND TEAM'S PROSPECTS. The Auckland Centre of the NewZealand Amateur Cycling Association will be represented by nine cyclists at the annual Dominion championship meeting to be held to-morrow at the banked asphalt track at Cook's Gardens, Wanganui. It is over twenty years since such a strong team has represented the province and local fans anticipate at least one of the four titles at stake being won by an Aucklander.

The senior riders are Mai. P. Byrnes, Lee. H. Dwight, Colin R. Gooder, Roy T. Taylor and Jim H.. Harcourt, while the four juniors are Joe H. Gillbanks, Jim Archer, Chae. T. Dwight and T. Crawford.

The unpaced kilometre event will be run off to-morrow afternoon and on previous performances Mai. Byrnes should be the strongest contender for the title, which was won by Frank J. Grose, the Canterbury rider, last year when the meeting was held on the saucer-shaped track at Petone. Byrnes liolds the Dominion record at 76 3-5s and as no rider has got within a second of this time during this season Byrnes' prospects are definitely good. Roy Taylor astonished many when he won the Auckland kilo title on a windy night in 1.19 and is a particularly strong pedaller who has the ability to produce another surprise. Les. Dvviglit and Colin Gooder are two others who are splendid at unpaced work. Last year Gooder was second to Grose in the title event. Jim Harcourt, of Hamilton, has not yet had much experience at unpaced track work, but has a fine reputation at sprinting. Auckland's chief opponents will be Prank Grose and Les. Sowerby, the winner of the Wellington title, while Ron Ulmer, of Wellington, is another solidly built pedaller. The Sprint. Last year ex-Aucklander Jack H. Wade won this title. Many will remember that Byrnes had the misfortune to crash in this event at Petone last year when with a lead on the final lap. His tyre rolled off the rim. With a no-trouble ride he should be in a position to avenge his illluck to-morrow, for at the scratch races at Papatoetoe last Wednesday he was outstanding in the A grade races. Taylor is strong and if the pace is allowed to develop into a crawl till the last furlong then Taylor will have to be watched, for he packs a terrific jump and can accelerate from a slow pace with the best of the Aucklanders. Les. Dwight, Gooder and Harcourt are men who can be relied upon, but so far have not show_n the finer points in sprinting. The Ten Miles. This event will be paced and it is hoped that a far better result will be achieved this year than last, when the pacers ran riot and only four riders were left from a big field of twenty. Les. Dwight should, after his Auckland winning performance, be in the final sprint. Byrnes can stay, too, and packs a wonderful sprint, while Jim Harcourt has done plenty of distance work. Gooder andTaylor may find the distance a bit hard, for in previous races they have specialised on the shorter distances. The Junior Half Mile. Joe Gillbanks is expected to go well in this title race, but Roe, of Wellington, will extend him. Chas. Dwight and Jim Archer are competing at their own expense and evidently have every confidence in their ability. Crawford, of Hamilton, may find the banking too fast for him after coming off the local grass tracks around the Waikato. Briefly, Gillbanks has the best chance and with a week in Wanganui should have gained much useful experience through training with senior riders. The sprint, ten miles and junior event will be decided during the evening. Last year the title winners were Jack Wade, sprint, Frank. Grose, unpaced kilometre, and Ron Ulmer, ten miles. AUCKLAND CLUB. THOMAS AND WATSON WINNERS. The Auckland Cycle Club conducted Its second floodlight meeting at the Papatoetoe Stadium last evening under ideal racing conditions. The fields were large and some fine contests eventuated. Results :— Half-mile Junior.—First heat: F. Pearce, scr, 1; P. Collier, 70yds, 2; W. Bicknell, 25yds, 3. Time, 1.6 2-5. Second heat: D. Banks, 25yds, 1; B. Gavin, 15yds, 2; J. Bicknell, 15yds, 3. Time, 1.6 1-5. Final: B. Gavin 1, D. Banks 2, F. Pearce 3, J. Bicknell 4. Time, 1.7. Banks went to the front at the bell lap, but Gavin finished best to score by half a length, third man a length away. Half-mile Senior.—First heat: S. Hayes, 40yds, 1; L. Thomas, scr, 2; L. Barr, 50yds, 3. Time, 1.2 1-5. Second heat: W. Archer, 45yds, 1; W. Pratney, scr, 2 ; W. Bowers, 20yds, 3. Time, 1.1 4-5. Final: L. Thomas 1, W. Archer 2, S. Hayes 3, L. Barr 4. Time, 1.4. Archer shot out fast for the final lap, then Thomas came with a .great burst of speed to win going away by two lengths and a half, a length between second and third. One Mile and a Half Junior.—B. Collier, 290 yds, 1; L. Mitchell, 95yds, 2: P. Collier, 220 yds, 3; B. Sercombe, 220 yds, 4. Time, 3.29 1-5. The winner held the. lead throughout to score comfortably, 'with a length and a half between second and third. One Mile and a Half Senior —First heat: T) Haves. 220 yds, 1: K. Edkins, 260 yds, 2*• S. Ward, scr, 3. Time, 3.19 4-5. Second heat: R. Watson, 240 yds, 1: L. Barr. 210 vds, 2: N. Whiting, 260 yds, 3. Time, 323 1-5. Final: R. Watson 1, K. EdW" B 2. L. Barr 3, D. Hayes 4. Time, 3.23. . Barr held the lead down the back straight . in the closing stages, where Watson and , Edkins made a forward move, a good finish , seeing the winner score by a length, with half a length between second ;ana third, i Entries Tor tho club's - championships , close next Wednesday. -