ROAD CYCLING

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 3 (Supplement)

ROAD CYCLING

Season Increasing in Interest DISAPPOINTMENT LAST WEEK

l By

Go Fast.)

Last .Saturday was file most disappointing day the Wellington clubs have experienced tliirs season. The Wellington cycling centre had to postpone its race which was to have been a contest between the Masterton Cycling Club and the three Wellington combined _ clubs. This race is over two courses during the road season, one at Masterton, and I lie other at Wellington, the respective distances being 42 and 25 miles. The programme has been so constructed that it is very doubtful whether the contest will take place this road season. The road programme in Wellington will become more important every Saturday from now on. There are two contests for the Hope Gibbons Shield yet to be held, and the Poneke time trial over the Johnsonville-Ohariu Valley-Makara Hill course of 26 miles, the provincial championship of 50 miles on September 11, the New Zealand 100-mile championship at Christchurch on October 16. and the Palmerston North-Wellington North Island championship on October 23. Training Rides. Last Sunday was a good day lor training and many riders were seen along the road as far as Levin. Disley, Franklyn, Amoy, Sinclair, Huxford, J. Morris, R. Button and others were out. Drastic Handicapping. The_.principle of handicapping in Australia is very much more drastic than the methods used in Wellington. Riders numbering up to 8-1 take part, and the handicapping is arranged at intervals of 20sec. and 40scc. breaks, and “Go Fast” is one who would like to see these methods adopted in Wellington. To-day’s Races. To-day’s races are confined to the Port Nicholson club, who will conduct a sealed handicap time trial over the Island Bay course of 33 miles for seniors, and 11 miles for juniors, starting at 2 o’clock. The Poneke club will hold a 40-niile race for the Aldridge Cup and a 23-niile race for juniors. The first race for the Brown Shield, 25 miles, will be held by the Petone club, starting at 2.30 p.m., at the Heretaunga Boating Club's shed. Next Saturday. Next Saturday's race will be the second contest for the Hope Gibbons Shield. It will start at the Petone Esplanade at 2.15 p.m., and finish at the starting point. Competitors are warned that no rider will be allowed to start in the Hope Gibbons Shield event unless wearing the regulation jersey. Machines will be inspected by the local officer, and if in the latter's opinion the rider is not fully equipped, he will be disqualified and thus perhaps spoil the chances of the rest of his team. This contest must be more interesting than previous ones. The Poneke A team have a lead from the Port Nicholson A team of 70 seconds, and 4min. 24sec. from the Petone A team. The Port Nicholson team will have to team even better than in the last contest, Poneke A being a very dangerous team.