AMATEUR CYCLING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 65, 17 March 1945, Page 16

AMATEUR CYCLING

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hill and Garrod Enhance Their Season's Performances

Competition for the Lynndale and Northern Clubs' championship titles last Saturday was the keenest of the war series. The duels between .1. H. G. Hill and E. L. G. Hughes dominated the Lynndale events. Hill won all three titles, the kilo, sprint and paced 10 miles, with Hughe's runner-up in each. Hill's time of 1.19 against a gusty wind was an excellent effort, for Hughes, a past master at unpaced riding, recorded 1.21. In the sprint heats and match races Hill was unbeatable, although Hughes ran him to inches in the first match. It was in the 10 miles that Hill really excelled. Just before riding five miles he cleared away from the field with the help of the strong pace set by A. W. Stonex, who swung him round for a lap at 30 m.p.h. Hill has now won five c-lub titles —thfi 10 miies for the past three seasons—and three Auckland titles, on the track. Grass track racing develops strength in pedalling action, as R. Buchan, Northern, demonstrated when he shot over the kilo, in 1.23 to be best man in his club. However, G. Webb, who has made a splendid return to competition, ran him a close second In 1.23 2-5. Webb was always a strong road rider. He won the first open road race .in 1937 over 25 miles and the massed start handicap over (54 miles in September, 1938, when heavy rain fell throughout.' * J. Garrod has had more experience of banked track racing this year than any of his Northern Club mates. This , fact was well evident when he won the sprint title with comparative ease from R. Partridge, brother of J. Partridge, the noted road rider. In each match race Garrod let Partridge lead out. and then went past him up the straight, doing his fastest furlong in 14s. Eight started in the paced five miles, which was run at an easy pace in 11.46. Garrod claimed his second title when he led R. Buchan and G. Webb In after 'a very confident, ride. Garrod has now had six wins this season, and has never been riding better. The incentive created by his two title victories has been evident in his racing this week. He gave Stonex a close call in a half mile handicap and followed Hill, scr, over the line in both races on Thursday evening. Handicap Kvcnts One of Manukau's foremost road men, V. A. Hills, scored a popular win in the half on Tuesday off 40yds in 625. with G. Webb, 70yds, and G. Smith, 100 yds. right handy. It was Hill's first banked track win this year, but well overdue. Aft a club worker he is a tower of strength to Manukau. With 17 starters, the three miles provided a blanket finish, with J. H. G. Hill, scr, the winner by inches only from J. I. Walker, lOuyds, who made n great run high up the track, almr% snatching victory from Hill, who was watching V. A. Hills, 100 yds, at •<? bottom of the track. Hills was third. The time was 510w—6.38. Pedalling a low gear. N. V. Coles, Northern, off 180 yds, led home a field of 19 on Thursday, clocking 2.5 4-5. G. Webb, 180 yds, was a few inches back in second place, while Hill, scr, was coming up fast for third with a late run. Coles is a fine grass track exponent and hails from Matamata, where the big Easter Saturday meeting has attracted many Auckland entries. Although lone scratch rider Hill caught his field of 19 riders in the two miles on Thursday he ddi not move to the front early enough to stall off the fast run from * the front made by F. Willis and R. W. deal. Gleal eventually passed Willis to win in 4.26 3-5, one of the fastest times of the year. Cleal had only 30yds start and helped to pace Hill up to the leaders. A. W. Stonex was responsible for two fast half mile wins from scratch during the week. His first he won in 60 3-5s and his next in 59 2-ss. At this rate, he is quite capable of reducing several local track records. He and -Hill are keen to make an attempt on Foubister s mile record, of 2.11 3-5 when conditions permit. ■• ■