Fine Sports Centre Under Construction In Hornby

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29820, 12 May 1962, Page 9

Fine Sports Centre Under Construction In Hornby

'THE construction of what will probably be the finest cycling track in New Zealand will be completed in the spring at Denton Park, Hornby, as part of the Paparua County Council's £25.000 scheme to build an all-sports centre at the park. The 440yards cycle track will enclose a grass oval which will be Surrounded by a grass athletic track, of four laps and a half to the mile.

The kerbing and channelling surrounding the cycle track at both the top and bottom have been completed and it is expected that the final sealing of bitumen will be put down in the spring. The earth banking, which will form the track, has been in place for some time and is at present being cleared and levelled of broom and rubble for the laying of crushed metal. Night Meetings The Hornby Cash Cycle Club, which has been active in the district for 17 years, will conduct mid-week twilight meetings for its members as soon as the track is finished, and is keen to stage an opening day meeting at the track with the intention of inviting New Zealand's leading cash riders and possibly some from Australia, to take part. Built to international specifications, the track’s banking at the northern and southern corners has slopes of 30 degrees to the horizontal, which are considerably steeper than

those at English Park. This should make for fast racing as the steepness of the track will carry the riders through the corners without the riders having to lean into them, and there will be no danger of pedals striking the track. Seating At present there is a wide earth embankment on the western and back straight of the track and the sealing of this, to provide spectator accommodation, is still under consideration. The lighting of the track and the building of a grandstand on the eastern side is not included in the present scheme of development but may also be considered if the demand is warranted. The grass oval in the centre will be made available next winter to the Hornby Rugby, Rugby League and Hockey Clubs and the Neerlandia Soccer Club for major fixtures. No one sport will have the sole right to the ground and clubs will have to apply in advance to the council for the use of the ground. Track On the completion of the cycle track work will begin on the preparation of a grass athletic track. Although there is no athletic club in Hornby at present, several local residents are regular Saturday competitors, including the Canterbury 440 and 880 yards record holder, G. F. Hack, and they are Interested in forming a club with headquarters at Denton Park. In 1954 Mr S. D. Denton, a former Hornby businessman, provided the district with a

substantial and centrallysituated area for a park, and the gift was gratefully accepted by the Hornby County Town committee and the council, which at the time were endeavouring to obtain land for playing fields. Additional park frontage was purchased by the council at a cost of about £lOOO and Denton Park now com-

prises 18 acres. The clearing of broom and levelling of the ground was carried out at a cost of about £7500 and the park frontage has been sown down in playing fields. The Hornby Rugby Club has two fields in the area and the hockey club has made use of another. During the summer cricket and softball are played at the park.