TRACK CYCLING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 62, 6 December 1930, Page 11

TRACK CYCLING

Last Evening’s Races TWO INTERESTING EVENTS Two unusual events which turned into extremely interesting contests were included on the programme of track cycling races staged at the Basin Reserve last evening by the Port Nicholson Amateur Road Cycling Club (Inc.), affiliated to the New Zealand Union of Cyclists. These were the special 440 yards invitation scratch race, between J. A. Foote and L. Roberts, which’ resulted in a win for Foote, and the two mile A-grade points race, in which four leading riders started from the scratch mark.

The quarter-mile invitation between Foote and Roberts was the first of a series of three match events run under Continental rules. The other two will be decided on succeeding Fridays. Spectators last evening had the opportunity of seeing two first-class riders in a quartermile event almost at a standstill 15 yards after the start. Competitors are allowed to idle or dawdle as they like —not, indeed, that much dawdling is done—and the race turns into a match of wits as well as of speed. Taking his opponent off -his guard, Roberts was the first to make a break. Then at the half-way mark they afain slowed down and began a push forward almost simultaneously. Foote won, however, with a great burst of speed. The two-miles points race, in which points are,awarded for each lap, was al: a successful and unusual contest The four riders, Foote, Roberts, D. Evans and G. Staveley, kept together over the first six laps, but at the beginning of the seventh Foote and. Robepts broke away from the other pair, and the race turned into two duels. Foote won this event also. He was in great form last evening. Three junior events and two other handicaps were on the programme, and the times were far better than they were at the meeting held the previous week. Finishes on the whole were good, and the comparatively small crowd, which attended was rewarded by some interesting racing. Ulmer, Pennington, Rhodes, Dickey and Blackett stood out as capable performers in the ranks. The track was in good order, and there was practically no wind, although conditions for scantily-clad competitors were far from warm. Detailed results are as follow: — Half-mile Open Handicap.—First heat: J. Foote (scr.), 1; Rhodes (uOyds.), 2; Blackett (60yds.), 3. Time, Imin. 10 l-ssec. Second heat: L. Roberts (scr.), 1; Ulmer (30yds.), 2; Holmes (60yds.), 3. Time, Imin. 7sec. Third heat: G. Staveley (30yds.), 1: D. Evans (20yds.), 2; Lawrence (40yds.), 3. Time, Imin. 7 3-osec. Final: Foote, 1; Roberts, 2; Staveley, 3. Time, Imin. Bsec. With half the concluding lap gone, Roberts broke from the bunch-and Foote chased after him. The pace was good and a great fight for position ensued, Foote beating Roberts by an inch or two, with Staveley half a length behind. , . One Mlle B Grade Handicap.—First heat: Ulmer (scr.), 1; Holmes (50yds.), 2; A. White (scr.) and Blackett (40yds.), deadbeat, 3. Time, 2min. 34sec. Second heat: Lawrence (10yds.), 1; A. Pennington (scr.), 2; A. Dickey (60yds.), 3. Final: Pennington, 1; Blackett, 2; Dickey, 3. Time, 2min. 35sec. (White and Ulmer did not start in the final.) The early laps were' characterised by “slttlng-in,’ and It was not until the bell that Pennington broke away from the bunch. Dickey came up, however, in good style and passed him, but in the straight Pennington sprinted well and won by two and a half lengths. Dickey was half a wheel behind Blackett. SPECIAL EVENTS. Special Invitation 440 Yards Scratch Race.—J. Foote, 1; L. Roberts, 2. Time, 48sec. Thia race was run under Continental rules. Foote led away for a few yards, and after two pauses Roberts broke from him at good speed. Foote caught up, however, and there was another few yards of idling at the half-way mark. They both stepped at the same moment, but Foote got a break of two lengths with a great spurt, and Roberts set out to catch him. He could not, however, and Foote raced across the line two-thirds of a length ahead. Two Mlles, A Grade, Points Race.—J. Foote, 1; G. Staveley, 2; L. Roberts, 3; D. Evans, 4. The only competitors, all of whom rode from the scratch mark. To the winner of each lap one point was awarded, and in the final placings three'points were awarded for first, two for second, and one for third. Foote won the first lap, Evans the second, Staveley the third, Evans the fourth, Staveley the fifht, and Roberts the sixth. Near the beginning of the seventh lap Roberts and Foote sprinted, leaving the others behind. Foote went on to win the seventh lap, at which stage Roberts seemed to be tiring, and from a lead of four lengths Foote sprinted magnificently to win by 30 yards. Roberts, who was dawdling, was overtaken by Staveley and beaten by a wheel. Evans was half a length behind. Time, Smin. 23 2-ssec. Points were won on the race as follow:— Foote, 5 points; Staveley, 4 points; Roberts, 2 points; Evans, 2 points. Junior Events. Half-mile Junior Handicap.—C. Walker (syds.), 1; P. Grant (lOydsl), 2; C. Ryan (SUyds.j, 3. Time, Imin. 18 4-ssee. The winner rode strongly and reached the line eight or nine lengths ahead of Grant. Ryan was another two lengths behind. Half-mile Junior Scratch Race. —Udall, 1; Barnes, 2; G. Pennington, 3. Time, 1 min. 23 2-ssec.

Messenger Boys’ Race (440 Yards). —D. Sheppard (150yds.), 1; G. Pennington (20 yds.), 2; Barnes (20yds.), 3. Time, 35 2-5 see. Sheppard, who weighed, perhaps, rather less than the machine he rode, was given an absurd start and won easily.