ROAD CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 96, 26 April 1938, Page 20

ROAD CYCLING.

WINTRY CONDITIONS.

BRILLIANT HARVEY. BAYLY OUTSTANDING. Last Saturday real winter conditions prevailed, for heavy rain squalls and a strong wind made fur strenuous racing. Small fields naturally competed, but the I racing lost little of its interest as a conI sequence. I The Papaloetuc Club's junior race of O'-j miles was a triumph of handicapping for the first seven juniors in were only separated by .'i7s. J. Schoullcr. '.'.O. won after a hard finish with K. Hoiuewood. 3.30, while F. J. Smith, sir, was fastest, and nnis-hed within striking rantre of the: leaders to clock 20.40. Miilillcton started off with Smith, but found the winner of List year's 100-miler too fast <>n the day. The rough-surfaced W\ lie Koad circuit had to be traversed four limes by the seniors, and with \V. |l;«-|y and K. A. Beelue on scratch and the limit I ider. J. Edwards, on li.M). a (lose race was anticipated and resulted. Edwards set ;, strong pace and kept the lead throughout, limning to victory with a minute' to spare from Bayly, who had worn down all the other Itack-maikeiH and finished second and easily fastest in 40.20 for the n miles. Edwards is experiencing; his first year at the road sport. Hayly appeals as if he will be just as prominent on the road this season as he has been mi the tracks. Me is a strong, heavily-built athlete and just the type to stand up to such srucliilltt conditions as prevailed on Saturday. S:> rousdi was the surface of the course that S. McLellan. A. M. .1. Keith, K. ,\. Beehre and U. ('. (,'happcll retiied with punctures. However, with the exception of Keith all the others rode on the mil low .section hich-pres.suic tyres, which are prone t<l puncture on metal surf,ices iinle.-s inflated board hard. Thomas' Second Win. The Lynmhile Club invited riders from other clubs to race in its event on Saturday, and V. I). Thomas, of the Mannkan Club, with 5.30 start, ajain proved his ability by winning his second road race of 1938. Stockily built, this rider is fast developing into a first-class roadman. X. F. Harvey was fastest. This junior lad started last season in such an impressive manner that few are surprised at his already fine series of successes this year. Fastest in the Hn in ill on-To Kuiti road race and a win in the Mimukau Club's senior 20-miler. when he heat in a bunch of seven, including ex-amateur .1. (I. Wade, prove him to be someone above the average.

The Takapuna ("I it t> has a splendid junior membership, and \V. linker's win off 4.0 over a 13' i miles course was a fine effort on such a difficult ilav. lie l.attlr.i alone with (treat determinition against the howling head wind to stall off an equally Pennine ride liv \j. H. Pratt, second and fastest in 41..">4. PraH's improvement so far this season has been and at the rate he is progressing he must become one of his club's scratch men. Strenuous Practice. If the Beach Haven flub riders do not perform well in their chili's open race of 40 miles on the Klin's Birthday then it will not be for want of practice over strenuous courses. The chili has perhaps the hilliest course for its weekly events of any other Auckland club. C. I. French, who transferred from the Papatoetoe Club in 1930° was the winner of the senior race. but was run very close by K. F.lia off 30s. F.lia succeeded in making fastest time, nnd lie should be one of his club's strongest representatives in the bi^ r open races which start in Mar.

With ex-rider H. Skidmorc as secretary the Matamala Club has built up a stron; membership, and 22 raced in the club's opening race of the season on Saturday. The dull has a tine choice of fast level tar-scaled roads, and no surprise should be occasioned bv .1. Kvans' fastest time of 50..".0 for the 20-inile race Evan* was the winner of the I-lamilton-Te Kuiti race of 40 miles on Easter Saturday, when he proved himself a rider of unusual stamina for a junior.

Next Saturday entries close for the first open laces of the 10.1S season. The senior race will be over the well-known BndwoM and Lincoln highway course of 'J-"i miles. whil.- the juniors will lace at Tc AtatU and back. 13' i miles.