WITH THE RIDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 179, 30 July 1940, Page 12

WITH THE RIDERS.

PROMISING NOVICES.

SOKOLICH AND STEPHENS.

lADS OF SIXTEEN GO FAST. With half the road season expired, and three more months of intense competition before them, local cyclists likely to feature high In future races have already revealed the requisite ability. L'sing its large circu:t of just over five miles to the lap, in the right-hand direction, the Manukau Club decided its first race for the Ken. Pickneil Memorial Cup. The live laps (264 miles) was quite sufficient in severity to bring to light the hardy type, even though weather condition:! were favourable. M. C. Johnson and V. V. Thomas teamed well from scratch, hut Thomas , gear refused to snift from j the low ratio of 74 inches, and it was a Hushed faced Thomas who had to retire on completion ot lap three. Johnson rode even faster after losing Thomas, and his was comprised of laps of 14.4. 14.215. 14.46, 14.14 and 14...5. Both should be fighting fit for the nlly harbour race next Saturday. The wonderful stamina of N. I. Sokolich and \V. Stephens, two lads of only JU years, was evident after half-way, when they took the lead, and. assisted by Hex ganders. kont m> a constant nn.l fast pace. SokolKh did not commence racing until this season. will]* Stephens had only hud two months ~r competitive work. Wiry H. F. FlinkenIhtb came to liu'lit with a great dash over the final nv mil.s. and was actually the fa-itest junior in the event, for he ueat I). S. Aulick by 1 Is. lion Wilson, Alan Ktonox nnri Frank Tγ.;-dre-i were a perfect combination off 4.0, and finished in that order. Trcdrea put in some remarkable pedalling on his <2 pear and small "wagon wheels." as his cluo mates term his 26-inch road wheels. Fine Effort by O'Gonnan. History was created in the NorthernPapatoet'oe Clubs' combined senior race to Ilnwick and back when Fred O'Uorman established fastr*t time from scratch in .">!».4<i, to be the first rider to cover this fairly undulating course of 22J miles in under the hour, l.'p to 25 miles OGorman has proved himself the most reliable and speediest of the Northern men. Long markers J. McFetridge and C. S. Grant, 7.4."i, worked so well together that they were able to hold off n big bunch over the final six miles for the I'apatoctoe recruit, Mcl-Vtridgp. to win. with (irant (who Is now studying for an Air Force pilot examination and has little opportunity for training), second. The only North Shore senior to accept I On- Invitation to ridr over the Lyniidale C'luh's hilly course was L. Taylor, who could not prevent Lynndale riders accounting for all tin , placings. In previous races V. A. Heady had shown promise wirh two seconds, and his win was gained onlv aftsr a hard finish with sturdily-built E. j. Dimmock. A Runaway Victory. I The junior contest snw U North Shore j lad* in competition and M. Can care handled I the course perfectly for a runaway victory from Cursenven. The absence or Stan Brown. Shuro ace. detracted interest from tho fastest tiino issue, but 1,. Hawke proj the"h,,nours PI ' iSe bi ' U,Jfoatin -' K - Het * 'or Next Saturday tlio annual race for the Malvorn Star fup will be decided among the seniors of the Auckland chilis over the strenuous round-the-harbour course. Cup

winner last year was It. F. Mynott. with \. Thomas fastest in 2h 2m 475.' .1. Urown holds course record at lh .-,9 m 3.15, and with 1 nomas (who was 2s slower in the 1!)3S event) holds the unique record of being two hours " tO C ° Ver the " course inside The junior 2.1 miles championship will be decided next Saturday over a sealed court-e S. Brown ha s had considerable experience of unpaced work this year, but hie absence troin thp open events of the past two months has prevented any indication of how- he may compare with such promising '»«1« ,«S I-. Hawke, K. Herk. K. Vost V Smith , Ti,^ VPr r i M - Hart »n<l "nd A. X » i I,Vo 1 1 , ,' ,n /" SIX •>»»'"■•» have entered and an interval ot ono minute will l>e oh s .. r vcd between departure of each rider, with the n m "Fri',""! " Ut T '" S <lifficu,t 'rial at 2 both were members of the Tnkapuna Club