PACERS IN CYCLE RACES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 240, 11 July 1928, Page 6

PACERS IN CYCLE RACES

WELLINGTON SUPPORTS When a notice of motion from the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association dealing with the alteration of the rules to allow pacers in scratch and championship cycle raws whs before tho Wellington Centre,, some discussion took place upon the proposed alteration. Mr. D. Paris said that the proposalwotfld brighten up the rachs, and if the pacing system did not prove a'suCcess they Could go back to the “sleepy system.” , Mr. Ruse declared that .the proposal was contrary to the gpiirt of sport. They might just as well have pacers in the foot races, and these were not permitted. Mr. Thomson said that under the present system the man who made the, pace was “killed.” ' , Mr. Kitto stated that he did not know any place where pacers had made much difference. The proposed system would bring about a good deal of trduble, and a strong referee, who had the courage to make the riders follow the pacers, would be needed.

Mr. G. S. Bright, the centre’s representative on the council, said that at the first Standen and Gray meeting at Wanganui the time was 2mln. 26sec. for ji one-mile scratch race unpaced; at the second race, a handicap event, was ridden in 2inln. 3 2-ssec.,‘ and the third race, with pacers, the time was 2min. flsec. In the 10-mile Australian championship race, which was ridden with pacers, only, four men finished, the time being a. record. Cecil Burness, who was known in New Zealand as a hard rider, was one of those who had dropped out. He (Mr. Bright) admitted that a strong referee would be needed. Mr. F. S. Hill considered that the centre had the matter tn its own hands. The time limit was quite sufficient. Mr. Wells complained that when a man was called out to take the second to last lap, he had to sprint two laps, and if two men were equal, the man who hnd been resting would have the advantage. On being put to the meeting a- motion to support the recommendation tias carried. ,