RIVALRY KEEN AMONG AMATEUR CYCLING CLUBS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 16

RIVALRY KEEN AMONG AMATEUR CYCLING CLUBS

Competition among the members of the local clubs has now reached an interesting stage. With a month's racing concluded, it is fairly obvious that keen club rivalry will mark the open events this season. Last Saturday 60 riders were in action.

Seldom does a scratch man go right through the field, yet V. A. Hills accomplished this feat in the Manukau Club's 20-mile event of eight laps. Hills is rather a temperamental rider, in that he can at times produce a really brilliant effort after riding many mediocre races. He was accompanied from scratch by A. W. Stonex and C. W. Shilton, and remained with them for five laps, when Shilton slowed. On the seventh round he hopped away from Stonex and entered the final laps of two and a half miles about 140 yards behind the leaders. He soon overhauled the leaders, and in the final sprint came away to secure a twolength victory. His time of 53.59 was good for the day.

Second was D. H. D. Weber, 3.30, whose teaming with G. A. Grant was a feature of the event. D. White and W: J. S. Nash gave another exhibition of good team work. On the "break" mark of 2.0, J. I. Walker, proved the fittest, although A. Darrington stayed with him for 15 miles, while M. Gamble was "off colour," for he eased on the first lap. Shilton, second fastest in 55.18, will noc be long before he is the Shilton of two seasons and" more ago. Stonex was outridden chiefly because of Hills' jumping tactics on the long incline at the back of the circuit. Juniors Finish Well A splendid finish was staged by scratch juniors M. Tetley and R. W. Cleai in their race of 10 miles. Tetley pedalled an 81 gear, and, in the wind-assisted finish Cleal was obviously outpedalled. Tetley clocked 28.55 for the 30 miles. He will join the senior ranks on May 12, and appears as if he will be a second R<?binson, who transferred into senior contests with immediate success. The junior winner, B. J. Howlett, 2.0, had fine co-markers in L. B. Kent, second, and F. W. Willis. This trio caught the leaders, Carroll, Browne and Haszard, on the final lap as a result of unselfish pacing.

For proof of individual merit the time trial method has no equal. This system of racing against the watch and unassisted was employed by the Northern Club for its 20-mile event of eight laps. Fifteen started, including D. P. Pullan. up on leave from the R.N.Z.A.F., Christchurch.

J. R. Walker was again the best rider, with a time of 57.35. This rider's marked ability can better be realised when compared with the second best, J. Garrod, who took 60.17. Veteran clubman, S. Thompson, produced a surprise effort, taking 60.45. N. V. Coles was next fastest in 61.8, then followed S. Sargent 61.50, L. Pyke 61.53, G. Cunningham 62.0, E. A. Smith 65.5 and Rt Clark 71.25.

The handicap winner was L. Pyke, a junior, with 7.30 allowance, which allowed him victory by 12s from Walker. Pyke will have his final race as a junior to-day. Interest at Papatoetoe A far better response is being made by Papatoetoe riders this year, and the 183-mile event created intense interest. V. Lowe and J. E. Ludlam, off 1.0, teamed so well that the lone scratch rider, F. T. Tredrea, gained very little on them. Lowe won by a length from Ludlam, with T. Corner, 2.0. a close third. Both Lowe and Corner cover close on 20 miles dailv and are therefore fit early. Ludlam had a fairly strenuous track season. Tredrea competed by invitation while on leave from Papakura. I redrea was fastest in 53.18, finishing 48s after the winner. While in Dunedin Tredrea raced with outstanding success at the Caledonian track from scratch. Appleton Riding AVell With three wins on the track last season G. Appleton is shaping well as a road rider. He won the Lynndale Club's 18-mile race by half a minute from the rapidly improving junior R. G. Hughes, 6.30. Appleton had 5.30 start and was with the leaders on the second round. A fall caused E. L. G. Hughes to retire, but the other scratch man. D. Anstice, continued alone, clocking 53.45, his third fastest time win this year.