CYCLING GOOD PERFORMANCES AT CLUBS’ WEEKLY MEETING

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27824, 24 November 1955, Page 7

CYCLING GOOD PERFORMANCES AT CLUBS’ WEEKLY MEETING

The high standard of riding set last week was maintained when the combined cycling clubs held their weekly track meeting at English Park last evening. The weather just before the start of the meeting was threatening, but it cleared and the wind dropped and conditions became perfect for cycling. Many close and thrilling finishes were seen.

V. Bond, who was making his first appearance, gave a great exhibition of speed in his heat and the final of the two-lap cash race. This season all cash races will be ridden over a given number of laps and not in miles. The track at English park is five yards over the quarter mile, and by racing under this system the scratch men will start from the scratch mark when riding to a distance.

Another rider who was having his first ride was R. Fowler and he showed excellent form. It was pleasing to see L. Lock, an Empire Games representative. showing some of his old form. A.* McLeod, riding in the Mairehau Novice handicap event, had the support of the crowd. He is a very small boy. Starting from the front mark in his heat and again in the final, he won both and received a great ovation. In the half mile Mairehau novice scratch race for selected riders the field was well bunched. With 350 yards to go B. Hazeldine led out. closely followed by T. Weir. In a brilliant finish Haze’dine held on to win by a length. These novice riders are showing excellent forjn and their times compare favourably with those of the fffore seasoned riders.

The, one mile A grade amateur scratch race was run at a very solid pace and over the final stages Lock moved through to win in a tight finish from J. Bland.

In the first two laps of the three mile scratch event, two riders tried to make a break, but as none of the others would go they soon fell back with the field. The field remained fairly tight and at the end of four laps there was only 13 lengths from the front to the back rider. With seven to go Fowler took a very fast lap and the riders started to string out, but as slower laps followed they were soon together again. The field remained tight and with two laps to go the pace slowed considerably. After the bell and with 220 yards to go S. Taylor made a break with Lock on his wheel. On entering the straight Lock went through to the front and carried on to win from Bland, with T. Cameron in third place.

In the eight lap cash scratch race Fergusson. after two laps, took the field along at a fast pace and this speed was maintained for the first four laps. At this stage three Timaru riders, C. Henderson. P. Barrett and W. Ryan, cleared out from the field and they were well out in front, but with two laps to go Bond caught the leaders. Then Fergusson and K. Giles made a great bid and took the other riders up to the leaders. In a desperate finish

Giles came through to snatch a victory in the last few yards from Bond, with Fergusson in third place. The results were:— CASH EVENTS Two-Lap Handicap.—First heat: H. Sutherland (60yds) 1, K. Sutherland (20yds) 2, K. Shadwell (40yds) 3, C. Fergusson (Aust.) (scr) 4. Time, 62.45ec. Second heat: R. Whitten (50yfls) 1, D. Anstice (50yds) 2. F. Chapman (30yds) 3, S. McCracken (scr) 4. Time, 61sec. Third heat: V. Bond (syds) 1. P. Barrett (40yds) 2 Time, 58sec. Final: Bond 1, Anstice 2. Fergusson 3. Time, 60.8 sec. Four-Lap Handicap.—First heat: L. Coe (30yds) 1, C. Henderson (30yds) 2, R. Whitten (100yds) 3, D. Anstice (100yds) 4. Time. 2min 9.6 sec. Second heat: S. McCracken (scr) 1, B. Woodgate (scr) 2, K. Sutherland (40yds) 3, P. Barrett (80yds) 4. Time, 2min lOsec. Final: Sutherland 1, Coe 2, McCracken 3. Time, 2min 10.2 sec. One-Lap Novice.—L. Seeker (30yds) 1. G. le Bretton (40yds) 2, N. Woodgate (scr) 3. Time, 32.65ec. Six-Lap Handicap.—C. Henderson (45 yds) 1. K. Sutherland (60yds) 2. P. Barrett (120yds) 3. Time, 3min 11.4 sec. Four-Lap B Grade Handicap.—D. Anstice (scr) 1, H. Sutherland (20yds) 2, R. Martlew (30yds) 3. Time, 2min 18sec. Eight-Lap Scratch Race.—K. Giles 1, V. Bond 2, C. Fergusson 3. Time, 4min 25.8 sec. Two-Lap Novice.—G. le Bretton (80yds) 1, N. Woodgate (scr) 2, T. Smith (15yds) 3 5 Time, Imin 7sec. AMATEUR EVENTS Half-Mile Handicap.—First heat: G. Murphy (65yds) 1, S. Taylor (25yds) 2, L. Lock (syds) 3, B. A'Court (40yds) 4, R. Porter (85yds) 5. Time, 59sec. Second heat: R. Fowler (15yds) 1, T. Cameron (10yds) 2. J. Bland (20yds) 3, M. Mathieson (55yds) 4, J. Beere (75yds) 5. Time, 59sec. Final: Fowler 1, Lock 2, Cameron 3 Time, 58.2 sec. Three-quarter-Mile Handicap. First heat: M. Mathieson (80yds) 1, L. Lambert (100yds) 2. D. Groves (125yds) 3, G. Murphy (115yds) 4, B. Lang (150yds) 5, T. Rondel (160yds) 6. Time, Imin 30.4 sec. Second heat: R. Fowler (25yds) 1. S. Taylor (35yds) 2, B. Brettell (90yds) 3. B. A’Court (55yds) 4, R. Porter (145yds) 5, R. Prince (120yds) 6. Time, Imin 32.65ec. Final: Mathieson 1, Porter 2, Brettell 3. Time. Imin 49sec. Three-quarter-Mile Mairehau Novice Handicap.—First heat: A. McLeod (20C yds) 1, T. Weir (10yds) 2, B. Yelland (40yds) 3, R. Kennaird (40yds) 4. Time. Imin 37sec. Second heat: J. Drinkwater (J2oyds) 1, B. Hazeldine (10yds) 2. C. Clark (140yds) 3, T. Sheppherd (10yds) •' Time, Imin 36sec. Final: McLeod 1 Hazeldine 2, Kennaird 3. Time, Imir 36 2sec. Half-Mile Mairehau Novice Scratch Race.—Selected riders: B. Hazeldine 1. T Weir 2. T. Sheppherd 3. Time, Imin 6.4 sec. One-Mile A Grade Scratch Race.—L Lock 1, J. Bland 2, S. Taylor 3. 2min 6.4 sec. One-and-a-half-Mile B Grade Scratch Race.—M. Mathieson 1, J. Beere 2, G. Murphy 3. Time, 3min 21.8 sec. Three-Mile Scratch Race.—L. Lock 1. -T. Bland 2, T. Cameron 3. Time, 6min 57sec. ATHLETICS 100 Yards Handicap.—First heat: A. Patterson (Bvds) 1. Merritt 2, G. Westall 3. Time, 10.2 sec. Second heat: P. Tongue (svds) 1. G. Reid (9yds) 2, I. Mclntyre (15yds) 3. Time, 9.Bsec. Final: Westall 1. Reid 2. Mclntvre 3. Time, lOsec. 440 Yards Handicap.—A. Patterson (26 yds) 1, G. Reid (25yds) 2, R. Collins (27yds) 3. Time, 51.2 sec.