Attack On Two-Mile Cycling Record

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 21

Attack On Two-Mile Cycling Record

Provided weather conditions are suitable, either A. O’Hagan or J. H. Cleary should break O’Hagan’s New Zealand two-mile cash cycling track record in the Hope Gibbons handicap race at English Park this evening.

Riding off scratch last year, O’Hagen won this race to lower the record to 3min 53.9 sec. He and Cleary will be riding from the scratch mark tonight. O’Hagen produced his best form of the season last Wednesday to win the Williams Cup. Cleary was not quite as assertive as usual but he was

probably holding something in reserve for this evening. Cleary was a New Zealand amateur representative last year and his early season form has shown that he has lost nothing in ability since he made the change. The consistent B. W. Yaxley and the formidable Dunedin rider, C. McNaught, who came to Christchurch especially for this event, will ensure that the pace is fast. McNaught rode at English Park last week but never pushed himself. A much better performance can be expected from him. There is a good chance that the new lights for cycling at English Park will be fully operational this evening. Four were in use last week at the finish line and they brightened the park considerably.