Junior Rider Soon Makes Reputation As A Road Cyclist

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 279, 25 November 1941, Page 10

Junior Rider Soon Makes Reputation As A Road Cyclist

With twilight meetings each evening from Monday to Thursday local amateur cyclists are being given every opportunity of attaining top form for the big meetings next month.

The Northern Club's leading junior. 15-year-old T. J. Aldridge. was seen in action on the Ellerslie Domain grass track last week, when he won the junior mile from N. F. Mathieson. He has already a fine reputation as a road rider. Competing against seniors at the first scratch race meeting of this season he won the five miles points race from L. Lynam and B. Christopher, two much older and experienced track riders.

O. H. Cunningham was -he best of tha Northern Club seniors on the evening. This fast rider won the sprint event from Lj-nam. who Is another expert on low gears. Cunningham came second tn the thrae-miler to Bishop (Manukau Club), who worked hard at malting a strong enough pace to ward off the back-markers. With the exception of sprint ace R. T. Tavlor. the Papatoetoe Club has all of its prominent track riders in action again and competition In the A grade is very even. On his high gear W. Ferguson won the mile, but was extended by J. E. Ludlam and M. P. Mitchell. All three proved themselves strong road riders In all distance races during the winter months. Ferguson ha* had three wins on the Papatoetoe banked track alnc4 his club started operations. E. K. Vost. who celebrate* his nineteenth birthday this week, won the lour miles event from Mitchell and Ludlam. Vost has raced consistently since 1938. A Consistent Rider D. Vemer seems to be as much at home on the banking as on a grass track, and he added further to his wins by winning both B grade races. At Papakura he has rarely been unplaced In any of his races this season. Scratch rider D. S. Aullck and R. D. Herrick have accustomed themselves to the Onehunga srass track better than most, for each secured his third win this season last Wednesday. A. E. McEwen won both A grade races at Otahuhu on Thursday. In the half-mile J. 8 Brown, young brother of the Empire Games representative. Improved on his previous week's effort by winning. A. A. Johnson (Papatoetoe) won both the half and two miles in his division and he should soon qualify for the A grade for he Is definitely a strong rider. Next month open meetings will be held at Onehunga on December 6 and at Ellerslle Domain on December 13. while the second scratch race meeting has been fixed for Papatoetoe on December 20 Morrlnsville Club's meeting on Boxing Day Is the only holiday gathering.