£1000 for Cyclists: Derby Series in Australia

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 45, 17 November 1936, Page 14

£1000 for Cyclists: Derby Series in Australia

A USTRALIA’S fastest cyclists and Nino Borsari, the Italian Ace, straining every nerve as they pedal round and round the Wayville shell-grit trotting track on a 50-kilometre grind—that will be the great attraction for sportsmen in Adelaide on Christmas Day (writes Robert Allan in “The Sporting Globe. 1 Riders will be chosen only after they have survived stiff tests in three country centres. The reward for cyclists at the South Australian Centenary carnivals will be more than £lOOO. Biggest prizes, of course, will, go to the champions. But there will b.e for other riders prize-money well worth collecting. It is certain, then, that when entries close most of the outstanding cyclists will have nominated. Borsari, who is reported to have improved immensely since he last raced in Victoria, will arrive in Adelaide on Saturday week. He will start training immediately. and when the first of the Derby series is held at Mount Gambier on December 5 he should be in fine fettle. Already entries have been received from Bill Moritz, Clinton Beasley and J. L. Jones (Victoria), Harry Watson, L, G. Fleming 'and W. Good (New Zealand), Tom Norris (Kalgoorlie). Keith Thurcood and Ron Hempel (Broken Hili), Keith. Webb (Tasmania.), and Dean Tose-

land, Doug. Wittenburg and Clarrie Haupt (South Australia). Inquirie.s from other riders indicate that the South Australian Derby series will be the means of bringing together the best riders in the land. And, who knows, one of the lesser lights may have a meteoric rise and on the final day may be hailed as champion of Australia’s track speedmen 1

The Derby will be ruu on Continental lines. Each series will consist of four heats. The first, second and third Derbys —at Mount Gambier (December 5); Kapunda (December 12), and Port Pirio (December 19), will be conducted in three heats. There will be 10 riders in each heat and 12 in the final, four from each heat.

The Derby final will be held at Wayville showgrounds on Christmas Day, when the 30 selected riders will meet over 50 kilometres (about 31 miles). Riders who desire to compete will have their nominations classified by a committee. Applications are to be accompanied with a nomination fee of 30/- for the four Derbys. The money will be returned if the applicant is not invited to take part in the race. Derby prize-money will be: First heat, Mount Gambier, £75; second heat, Kapunda, £55; third heat, Port Pirie. £75; fourth and final heat, Wayyille, £l5O.