CYCLING

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21404, 21 February 1935, Page 17

CYCLING

POSITION OF NOVICE CLUBS AMATEUR CENTKE SEEKS DEFINITION Argument over the position of the Canterbury Novice Cycling Centre, its right to affiliation with the world controlling body, and its relation to the amateur sport occupied the Canterbury Amateur Cycling Centre for some time at its meeting last evening. Mr C. D. Doyle presided. Mr E A. McKaskell, secretary of the Canterbury Novice Cycling Centre, appeared before the centre to explain the constitution and operation of his centre and its clubs. He said that his centre worked for cyclists who had not yet registered either as cash or amateur riders, and for young cyclists who had competed in registered meetings and found themselves out of their depth. He considered he was working for the good of the amateur centre, and certainly was not working against it. The novice centre existed solely to provide sport for the riders. It might seem irregular, but novice riders considered themselves just as much entitled to affiliation with the New Zealand Cycling Federation and the Union C.vcliste Internationale as the amateur or cash centres. Help or Hindrance? Mr 11. G. Kilpatrick said, after Mr McKaskell had retired, that it was doubtful whether the novice centre would be a help to the amateur sport or a hindrance. Mr R. Hill said it was hard to see where the novices were going to stop, and they might cause a great deal of trouble. It would be interesting to see what, the federation's attitude would be. Mr T. Grose contended thai the novice centre in ghl be of great service to the amateur sport. In fact, if it came to a dispute it was quite likely that the novice centre would be more entitled to affiliation with the federation than a mixed body, such as the New Zealand Athletic, Cycling, and Axemen's Union. He thought Mr McKaskell was honestly working for (he good of the sport. Mr C. Hill supported Mr Grose's remarks. Mr A. C. Hands contended that Mr McKaskell was 'off-side" with the amateur centre. Problem of Affiliation The president said that the only trouble seemed to be the problem of affiliation for the novice cyclists with ihe Union Cycliste Internationale. The novice centre was really an outlaw body, and it would be difficult to give a definition of a novice. Mr Kilpatrick moved that Mr McKaskell should be asked whether he intended to identify himself with either the amateur or professional sport. The motion was carried.

The Hinds Amateur Cycling Club was granted permission to hold an open meeting on April 9, and the Waimate Amateur Athletic Club to hold open cycling events at its meeting on Easter Saturday. Permit Refused The New Brighton Amateur Cycling Club's application for an open permit to hold evening races up to five miles was refused. In accordance with his notice oi motion, Mr G. R. Giles moved that the delegates to the centre elect an executive to conduct the business of the centre. The motion was carried. Mr A. C. Hands complained that he had not been fairly treated by the president ai the recent Canterbury championships a! Timaru, and slated '•hat he wished to resign his office as timekeeper for the centre, in expression of his disapproval of the president's action. The president refused to accept the resignation until it was put in writing.