ON THE WHEEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1940, Page 10

ON THE WHEEL.

BIG PAEROA MEETING.

POTTER TAKES A DOUBLE.

trotter also wins twice.

Although the Paeroa Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club has only been operating for just over a year it can claim to be on a par with the strongest clubs in the South Auckland athletic area. Quite an extensive programme was arranged for the club's second annual meeting last Saturday and in epite of the heavy rain midway through the programme the last event was run to schedule. The track was tricky owing to the rain.

The fittest rider appeared to be E. < Potter (Matamata). He was certainly I liberally treated with 140 yards in the j mile, and 280 in the two miles. He headed A. S. MiKee, 140yde, with a splendidly- ! judged sprint in the mile; but he was 1 rather lucky in winning the two miles, for j •his clubniate T. Williams. 300 yds, had a' 00yds brqpk when he skidded and fell just j as he entered the finishing straight. It j is hardly likely that Potter can jump into | championship class 1 after two such easy | victories, but he definitely proved that he I has the necessary judgment if not the pace. His time in the longer .race of 3.36 j was slow, because the track was soaked, | while heavy rain prevailed during the race, which was only run after a meeting of the riders and officials. Nineteen started and only two fell. Of the Paeroa riders, N. D. Bishop, A. G. C'l idge and H. J. Wilton rode promisingly, with Bishop slightly the faster in the sprints. Bishop won tiie half and was second in the big event. The Waikato clubs 'have a fine type of junior rider, and the half mile and mile terminated with two exciting finishes between G. Trotter (L'aeroa) and L. Tanning (Matamata), the (owner winning twice. i The Waikato championships are to be decided ou the track on February 10, but ! tie racing Inst Saturday gave little indica- j tion as to who the title winners may be. I Wooller won all titles last season on his home track at Tauranga, but the l'aeroa track/is much faster and should suit Jack Robertson, of Te Awamutu, and T. C. Crawford, of Hamilton, while •J. Mcarns, I'. It. and N. Coker have been consistent throughout the present sun-aon. Gooder Turns Tables On Baldwin. C. K. (iooder was able to reverse the decisions of the previous week, when he met H. K. Baldwin in the half-mile at the j Western Springs. After a hard run down the long finishing straight Gooder won in ,".S 1 -ss. time which indicates Ifooder to I be exceptionally tit. j In J. White, the Northern Club have a ! strong contender for the junior track titles I this year. White has been consistently suecissful since his two wins on Labour! Day. and lie had a win and a second at Otaliuhu last week. Wliire has until next May to race as a junior, and competition among the seniors has given him plenty ; of opportunity to gain track craft and ex- I perience in sprinting. j Coming Events. I For its championship meeting next Wednesday week the Manukau Club has received splendid support for the open handi- | caps. The two-mile ra L'e for the Pascoe 1 Cup will necessitate two heats -is the limit field for Western Springs is 'Jo riders, and the half-mile three heats. The meeting is to be run by the combined Manukau and Auckland Clubs, and in all over twenty events will be decided during the evening. Anniversary week-end is to be a liig one for the Te Awamutu Club, which has a twoday meeting arranged for the Saturday and Monday. Visiting rid.irs will find some worthy opponents in J. A. Robertson, B. Irwin and the Luddington and Dalzael ; brothers. | The recently-formedtOnefcung-i -Club lias a meeting arranged for Tanuary 27, with three open cycle races included ou a varied programme. | Next Saturday the second scratch race meeting will be decided at Papatoetoe, and this meet should create intense interest for the Northern, Papatoetoe, Manukau and Lynndale Clubs are all close on points after the initial meet. Then again, a fortnight later, the Auckland track title meeting will be decided and the scratch racing generally has some bearing on Use championship form of riders. Spills At Napier. After his victorious night at the Papatoetoe Stadium, Jack Walsh went down | .with Stewart and Clayton to race at Napier, and he fell in- the half-mile along with Stewart. Both riders were unable to race again at that meeting. Two days later when travelling by train to New .Plymouth "Walsh lapsed unconscious, and he had to be taken to hospital at Palmerston North. He was able to later journey to New Plymouth to take the role of a sixnitator. Two days afterwards he rode successfully at Wanganui. Both Walsh and Stewart are used to banked tracks, and naturally are at a big disadvantage on grass.