ROAD CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 83, 9 April 1937, Page 11

ROAD CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS. 2l ; ' ■ / THE OPENING RACES. NORTHERN CLUB'S EVENT. The Northern Amateur Cycle Club opened its 1937 road season at their Te i'apapa circuit last Saturday. The road surfaces in places were on the rough side, but in others fairly good. The elements were decidedly against fast times—but records are nbt expected at the commencement of the road season. Several juniors and seniors of other clubs came along and helped to make the day more successful, also there were one or two members of the centre present, including Mr. L. Wilson (centre secretary). The juniors started off first with a field of 15 riders in a five-mile event. The junior section of the club promises well, as there are several new members—one particularly that may be very prominent this season, and that is Jack O'Gorman, younger brother . of Freddie, the latter having ridden most consistently during the summer on the grass track. \ oung O'Gorman collected first place and fastest time in his first cycle race— a good performance for a beginner. The field. finished in the following order:—J. O'Gorman (2.0), 14.51 (fastest time), 1; E. Crawford (M.) (2.0), 14.51, 2; A. Vost (P.) (2.0), 14.54, 3. Quite a few riders punctured, as did some of the seniors, of which 17 riders faced the starter in a 15.6 miles event. One or two found the pace too strenous, probably lack of training. Mai : Byrnes collected fastest timfe, doing the journey in 44.2, and, also ran into second place, Sprinting Logan Laloli, who came third, and Sam McLellan being fourth. This was Graham Webb's first event in the senior ranks, and he did well to get fifth

place and third fastest time, 45.20, and this only off three minutes. The scratch riders, Merv Gamble and Jack Price, were unfortunate in both puncturing, Merv in the first lap and Jack in the fourth of a six-lap event. In fact, I several of the back-markers suffered this! way. Ihe prospects, in both senior and i junior sections of the club are distinctly ! promising for the 1937 road season. It should be emphasised that city by-laws in regard to cyclists, must sbe strictly adhered to, namely, that all I cycles must be registered and must bear I the "registration number on the machine. The rule governing free wheels will also be enforced, i.e., two brakes, if a free; wheel, and all cycles must carry an efficient bell. For the benefit of all riders the centre's team championship and junior unpaced championship is set down for July 17 next.

PAPATOETOE CLUB. t

The last track meeting of the season was. held last Saturday at Manurewa. All three cycle races were won by Papatoetoe members and the placings may give :an indication of etirly form for the road season. Charlie Cochrane, winner of the itiiss-and-:Out and second in the two-gtiiler, seems to find the • grass tracks much to his liking, for he also had wins at Papakura and Hunua earlier in the season. Bill Renwick won the half mile easily from Ron (Bill) Ferguson. Renwick is riding very well now. Ferguson has also been showing fine form and should have a good road season. Bill Bayley has had much misfortune this season, so his win in the two-miler was decidedly popular. Bay ley's major win in the road spoTt was the Tradesmen's Cup in 1935. Des. Knight and Jim Middleton were second and third in the fliiss-and-out. Knight, winner of the 50-mile club race last year, should be on the virtual scratch in senior races this year, and Middleton will be a scratch junior. •«' > The following is a list tot winners of points trophies for this last track season:— 1930 Half Season.—Under two miles: R. Taylor 45%, C. Carter 33, A, ilclnnarney 31. A grade two miles and over: A.- McInnarney 20, R. Taylor 19, J. Archer 18. B grade: T. Heraa 21, C. Carter 20, W. Ferguson 13. C grade: A. Vost 19, D. Arvidson 19, K. Ferguson 13. 1937 Half Season.—A grade under two miles: R. Taylor 27, A. Mclnnarney 21, E. Johnson I®. Two miles and over: C. W. Allan 22, A. Mclnnarney 21, R. Taylor 19%. B grade under two miles: W. Ferguson 25, N. Gamble 22, W. Renwick 19. Two miles and over: N. Gamble 28, W. Ferguson 19, J. Middleton 18. C grade unfler two miles: T. Moore 27, A. Vost 22. Two miles and over: D. Arvidson 23, T. Taylor 19. Emoleum Cup: R. T. Taylor 111, A. Mclnnarney 92, D. Arvidson 82. Tobee prize (B- grade): C. Carter 68, W. Ferguson 65, N. Gamble 59. Special trophy (C gradie): D. Arvidson 63, G. White 55, A. Vost 53. At the half season general meeting it was resolved to have guaranteed trophy orders for placing* in the coming road season. The winner of senior race# will receive an order for £1 and for junior events 15/. Proportionate amounts are fixed for second, third, fastest and second fastest placings. This is an excellent payout. Several new members were enrolled. This meeting took place in the clubrooms on Tuesday, April 6. Among those who should be backmarkers the coirfSg season are C. Coch- ' rane, N. Wardell, R. Beehre, R. Waterman, C. W. Allan, R. Taylor, D. Knight, all of whom have spoken as being regular starters. The club is also very strong in numbers, with 69 riders. The road season opens on April 17 and a run over the i course will be held next Sunday, April | 11, leaving the- Papatoetoe Stadium at ; 10.30 a.m. !

TAKAPUNA GLUB.

The above club opened its sixth road racing season last Saturday with a threelap. (Lake circuit) combined «eiiior-juhior event. The weather was fine, with a -slowing wind. The distance was 11% miles and the race resulted as follows: — L. Pratt (2.15), 33.41, 1; A. Bramley (1.30), 32.57, 2; G. Merson (1.30), 32.58, 3. D. Boweie, ser, gained fastest time in 32.47. f A pleasing feature of the racing was the keen int- est taken by the new' riders J and the vell-trained condition in which

they faced the starter, the flret four placings being claimed by juniors taking part i'n a race for the first time. The winner, L. Pratt, produced a beautiful sprint on entering the finishing straight which gave him the advantage of A. Bramley, who, in turn, was successful in stalling off his co-marker, G. Mereon, to finish second by half a wheel. The limit rider was the diminutive G. Hinton, who went off alone from the 4.0 mark and held his lead for IV4 laps before being overhauled by F. Murphy (3.0), another small but solidly-built youngster who pedalled steadily into fourth place. The scratch men were D. Bowsie and E. Langridge, who gave away 30b to L. Oredin and 1). Laurence. These four men were soon together and worked nicely as a team in an unsuccessful endeavour to come up to the leaders. 1), Bowsie drew away in a fast sprint down the finish to nailowly claim time and fifth position. Club Captain E. Langridge and his team m a tes are to lje . commended on their splendid efforts in recruiting new members for the club, which was unfortunate iast season in its poor fields. The rapidlv increasing enrolment of new riding members augurs well for the 1937 season. Another pleasing feature is* the return to pedalling of R. Eagles aud O. McKee. •these men have both been responsible for good work and fast.times. O. McKee was one of the clubs first juniors, as he joined to ride in the first race ever held by the lakapuna Club. l,^.? atU r lay the club will hold a JourJap (14% miles) event on the Lake course.

SURREY CLUB,

on ft.JF \5 ? ,ub held tbeir race "V he Manukau course laet Saturday, t \ g °° a "eudance of both riders and spectators. Ihe course was considerably better than when Jast raced on, the rough portion which caused the punctures, having been repaired. The distance was 20 miles (eight laps), which proved tough breeze We 6tron K south-westerly •"The limit rider, Don Ross (10.0) was responsible for considerable excitement when he came dashing in four minutes late and rushed right into the race w:th the six-minute men, but after heroically keeping up with them for three laps found the going too tough and retired. brieves, a beginner to cycling, caused considerable surprise when he came home the winner, to also clock fastest time off the tight mark of 2.0. This rider should make a good ankler with some training, and, by the way he finished, should make a good sprinter. Vic Maguire. off the 4.0 mark, gave a good showing to get second place. This rider was unlucky to puncture in both wheels in his first race, and more should be heard of this steady rider. Athol Warnock, giving away starts up to 8.0, had a hard lone ride from scratch, and did well to get to third place and second fastest time. He gave a good performance considering he had a cold, and his time was only 10r slower than Grieves. C. Goffin, a young and promising junior, off the 6.0 mark, came in fourth. This rider, with W. L. McCormick, who crashed on the fourth lap, should be soon heard of. Jack Goffin, had trouble with his cycle and dropped out. Len Morrison found 20 miles too far and decided to call it a day after five laps. A combined junior and senior race of 14 miles will be held on Saturday next over a new course, all riders and intending members meeting at Surrey Crescent at 2 p.m. Any new member intending to race will be handicapped at the starting post. The following handicaps have been declared bv Mr. N. Helliwell:—A. Warnick, D. Grieves, scr; H. Webb, J. H. Collins. V. Magtiire, 2.50; W. L. McCormick, C. Goffin, X. Helliwell. 3.30; J. F. Goffin, C. Caddy, 4.0: A. Cantell, H. Brady. .T. Coulson, 5.0; L. Morrison, D. Ross, 8.0.