AMATEUR CYCLING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 41, 18 February 1944, Page 7

AMATEUR CYCLING

SIX EVENTS AT THE STADIUM Fine weather was responsible for a. full muster of riders and a lair crowd of onlookers at the I Western Springs Stadium last night. Big fields were prevalent and good racing was witnessed. : Including heats and finals, six races were stagedrj The half milo was the first race, with two! heats necessary. In the first heat A. Keith pulled I his wheel over, and quite a few of the riders were under the impression that it was a false start, but no whistle was blown and White won easily from Wilson, O'Shaughnessy and Flinkenberg, half-wheels only separating the last three riders. Time, 60s. The second heat was won in good style by B. Rattray. Rattray got off the mark well, and at the bell was near the front. In the back straight the four leaders singled themselves out, with Rattray doing well to come away and win by half a wheel from Whitlc-y, Judd and Hornell. Time, 59 2-ss. In the final Rattray again got away well and was in front over the last lap. Leading out down the back, this rider produced a well-timed sprint to beat Flinkenberg by a length, with Judd just cutting Hornell out of third place. Time, 60s. The A grade handicap mile was won by F. Tredrea after a good ride. Hughes cleared away from the other back men at one stage, but 6lowed up on catching the front bunch, tlius allowing his co-markers to get up again. In the sprint Tredrea, riding strongly, beat Hughes by half a wheel, with Hill and Ash ton similar distances back. Time, 2.5 3-5. Tho B grade mile saw the whole field bunched with the exception of Garrod and Wallace, Off virtual scratch, with a lap to go. These two riders had a forlorn chase, as the front-markers wore caught early by the middle men, and the combined efforts were too much. Horneil came off the banking in the home stretch to win from Whitley, who was finishing very fast but was still half a length away at the judge. Rattray came with a late burst to take third place ahead of Shilton. Time, 2.0. The A grade five mile paced was again won by Hughes, who is making a habit of winning the longer races. Ashton attempted a break, and a bad pick-up with the pacer' spoiled his effort. Tredrea was again the front man, and his position was not a pleasant one, as he had some bad pick-ups. At the bell only four .riders were left, and Ashton was the first to lead out, from Tredrea and Green, with Hughes coming very fast round the top of the track. Into the straight Hughes was three lengths clear, and he won comfortably from Tredrea, with Green and Ashton finishing in that order. Time, 10.16 3-5.