ON THE GRASS TRACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 282, 29 November 1938, Page 18

ON THE GRASS TRACK.

CYCLING AT HAMILTON.

COUNTRY MEN "SCOOP POOL."

HAMPSHIRE A PROMISING RIDER

It was evident from the racing at Hinemoii Paik, H.iniiltun, last Saturday afternoon that the country riders can hold their own on grass tracks. All five rates were won by them, anil the only city rider to give any tihow ot brilliance \v;iis M. T. Gamble, of the Manukau Club, second in the threc-miler.

K. Hampshire, of tlic Morrinevillc Club, pro-inieee to become the i-hninpion junior in the \Yaikato thi<- season. He won both the junior events, iincl hi« ()7 '2-oa tor the half was a. wonderfully Hue effort tor a junior. Knthiisiaistu- .T. Wooller from Taulanga mnilc hi* 71 miles trip I cully worth while by winning two open events. His milt , in -.17 4-."> "ill rank among the swiftest jffJ!*S truck mile*, of the season, for seldom in 2.20 broken on jrrass. lteinstated la«t year, W. Policy, ot Tauranxa, completed the day for the Tauranga team by winning the three miles. Five Miles Points Races. The bi-weekly meeting at Wcster.i Spiings are gradually receiving fuller supl.iort and, as the events lire open to all amateur*, a change from tlie tiresome handicap fypi' ot racing will be made this week with « five mi lew points race. This method of racing piovides wonderful training for sprinters and those wishing to graduate to the latter (lass. The big throe of the junior division. H. I!. Baldwin, N. ]•'. Harvey ami K. E. t.laik, were again in tlie limelight in the junior mile. Baldwin was in better form and ran away on the finish in it straight, winning clearly with two lengths to spare, while Harvey just heKdi'd (lark. K. I'icknell need* to develop a freer style before he can hope to extend any of the placed trio. 1 In the three miler. with half the distiime covered, the H riders were bunched. but the pace remained willing. Harvey nnd Gamble had a handy position at the bell and although Haivey did his best to ho'd the lead down the back straight he had to let Gamble pa<w entering the home banking. Harvey'n early le.ul out save Gamble just the oppoi tunity he desired, for ho ha« always been slow to reach •sprinting speed. The mile race was too swift for Cornier and Gillbanks. scratch men. Winner 11. (i. Whitlev and K. Tt. Johnson can claim honours for making it -n. Daxliins off 'he home banking Whitley won by a length. Versatile Performer. H. F. Hawkc was also to the fore and pic/ved hunseii mont vcisatile. Mawke it lueseut holder ot the Dominion 100 mill's unpaced record, and has a great list oi succ(*ser> on the load, including the prouncial 100 miles title of 1938. Kain caused the Xoithcrn and I'apakm.i Llub.s to cancel their meeting**, but i'apatoetoe, Mauurcwd and Otaliuliu were more foitunate. iiig entiies necassitatcil ilie starting of a thud grade at Papatoctoc. K. T. Taylor shot over the hah mile in 61 3-58, proving again, it such pi oof were neceesaty, that he i« out on his own as a hlioi t-dmlaiue sprinter. Although he has not the titinging sprint hi Taylor, M. (' Johnson is developing .nto a fine banked track exponent. His ..wo wins were against tstrolijj opposition. In the tive milt* he worked throughout with W. Kenwick and W. Feiguson, and iho combination never slackened for the JO laps. Kesult, the scratch nien never appeared impressive. Johnson's winning .imc 11.4j, allows little loom for improve.nent. (.'. A. Orter'e three miles' win was the highlight of the evenin.% lor he eimply romped away on the Knal lap, pedalling his 91-gear with the eatse of a coming champion. I. Vost was a poor second, but his younger brother was better placed in tli- U grade when he ran the scratch rider, K. Homewood, to an inchee finish over two miles. Homewood was definitely the more experienced, for he let Yost take most of the pace and then flashed out with half a lap, about l.iO yards, to go. Critics predict a future for the younger Vost.

T. Crawford had a shot at banked track work again to finish third in the open two miles. Now that he has come down from tiie Waikato and is working in the city, Ciawford will have an excellent chance of improving liis riding on the faster ovals.

Next Saturday the Auckland Club will stage its meet at the Domain grows track, while the following Saturday the first soratch race meeting will be held at Panatoetoe at 2.30 p.m.

Rotoma on Boxing Day and Hamilton on New Year's Day should be well-sup-ported meetings.

THE AUCKLAND CLUB

Handicaps dpclared by the Auckland Cycle Club for Wednesday evening's halfmHe race:—l , . Bicknell. C. Knight. W. Pratney. .1. Wade, scr: K. Chappell. 10yds: K. Knlßht. P. Sheehan. 30yds: J. Birknell. 1.. Barr. W. Hansen. 35yds: W. Willis. R. Ahsnlum. 40yds; C. Kellett. T. Shoohan. 45yds: T. Horner. S. Hayrs. W. White. 50yd*: L. Sowby. tJ. Cochrane. «syds : .1. Pelham, 70yds: VI". Klliott, S. sankoy. M. Hodßini". 80yds: K. Kdklns. J. P. Sheehan. 90yd*: W. Bicknell. 300 yds. A and B grade nre-mile scratch races will also be held.