Keen Competition' At Scratch Cycle Race Meeting

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 303, 23 December 1941, Page 7

Keen Competition' At Scratch Cycle Race Meeting

The Auckland Centra'* MCoad aerateb rmc« meeting of this kuoo held laat Saturday at the Papatoetoe Stadium banked track- attracted an entry of St riders. The lover sradea were beet supported, for In theee trades the younger riders are "Prodded tie. The A grade has taea considerably weakened this year by the absence of such ztders as. C. R. Oooaer. a. T. Taylor and M. J. Green.

The A' trade riders on Saturday wen Aullck, Hughes, stones, Wooller and Lynam. Wooller. the ex-Tauranra rider, recently joined up with the Wort hero Club and iully justified his inclusion in the first division by being third to Hushes and Stone*, two outstai^FTfipawd trackSSwn the kilometre test against the watch. Wooller clocked 1.25, against Hughes' 1.21 U, but oir have done better but for his high gear. , The 10 mtlee points race saw Hughes, of the Lynndale Club, doing his utmost to outpoint the two Manuksn riders, Aullck and Stonex, and Lynam, of the Northern Club. So well did Hughes perform that he won six of the 30 sprints, against Aullck's seven, while Stonex won four and Lynam three sprints. Entering the final lap for double points, Aullck and Hughes were level with 37 points, but Aullck rushed Into the lead at the bell and this strong 19-year-old rider could not be displaced by even such old and experienced cyclists as Hughes and Stonex. Lynam gained 18 £olnts to Aullck's 43 to be fourth. It wss ynam s lsst ride this year, for he goes to Harewood this month. Race Marred by Collision -, Th ® ® grade five miles event was marred by M. Mitchell and B. Christopher colliding. Both had gained useful points at the time and their exclusion left J. Hill and J. McAnnalley to monopolise the points for the next two miles. Hill eventually won with 31 points, against McAnnaJley's is. By their riding Hill and Mitchell qualified for the A grade at the next meet. H. Edmondson was again to the fore and from • packed field of nine finalists won the haltmils event. He appears to be an excellent short i dlstanoe man and relies on a fast lead out. C. A. Scopes, of the Manukau Club, has been improving of late and his win in the three mile l event was gained after some hard sprints with J. Caudwell, of the Northern Club. Best points gainer was a w. Ashton. of the Manukau Club. Ashto.i won bdth D grade races, the mile and four miles. Of the eight sprint* j*" *«>" ®*5 by. making the field unawaree at one mile and a half when he rushed away after a sprint and although Bishop and Bartley made attempts to catch him both failed and Ashton won by 100 yards. Manukau'* Points Lead Club points were gained afe follow:—Manukau 33 tynndale 18. Papatoetoe 7 and Northern 5. With two meetings decided. Manukau lead with 40',i points to Lynndale's 35 and Northern's 84',i. ■ Advice has been received from the Morrlnsville Club that the entries were splendid for all cycle events, but travel restrictions alone caused the postponement of its meeting. Next open meetings will be at Papatoetoe on January 17 and at Paeroa on January 31.

During the holidays a party of Manukau riders Is leaving for a tour through to Rotorua and surrounding districts. They will leave on Boxing Daj morning.