LOCAL RIDERS BEATEN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1931, Page 14

LOCAL RIDERS BEATEN

BURTON INVINCIBLE

"Squib" Burton, the star English broadsider, ■who has shown wherever he has appeared iv New.Zealand that.the disadvantage of appearing on strange tracks is not sufficient to prevent his beating the best riders matched against him, marked his second appearance at the Kilbirnie Stadium by another run of successes on Saturday night. He had four starts, and on each occasion he was the first to finish, his times being consistently good. In the match races, in which the three leading Wellington riders, Kilmister, Tonks, and Harvie, met Burton and Greenwood, of England, and Spinks, of Australia, Burton defeated Harvie, Tonks, aud Kilmister in turn, and wound up with a decisive victory over Spinks and Kilmister in the specal match race. Burton's times were eloquent enough and read as follows:— 7Ssee, 78 2-ssec, 79 3-ssee, and 80 l-ssec. The best that a Wellington rider has done on the track so far, in the course of a race, is 80sec. The evening's proceedings commenced with an attack by Barton on the record of 76see for four laps, from a flying start, established by the Australian, Frank Pearce, last season. After a couple of rounds to warm up his machine, Burton got away at full speed and completed the first lap in 19sec. The second round occupied 19 2-ssec, but the third was cut out in 18 4-ssec, which equalled the record put up by Burton last Thursday night. The final lap took 19 3-ssec, giving a time for the mile of 76 4-ssec. In the match races held to date in which the Wellington riders have raced as teams against, visiting riders, victory has rested with the local men, but the Burton-Greenwood-Spinks combination was a formidable one, and when the points were added up at the conclusion of the last race, Wellington had scored only 16 points as against 41 by their opponents. Wellington scored only two wins in nine races, Tonks beating Greenwood after a fine contest, .and Kilmister showing something like his usual forni to lead Spinks home after covering the mile in Slsec. Though not approaching Burton's class, Greenwood was in good form, but the two old rivals of last season, Spinks and Kilmister, were companions in misfortune in that both, had trouble with their machines, and were consequently prevented from giving of their best. Engine trouble was prevalent at one stage of the meeting, and there was a period when attempts were made in vain to start several ■ races. Later, however, the officials got the situation in hand and ran the remaining events through smoothly, with the result that the meeting was concluded on time. Despite the threatening weather there was an excellent attendance. The most successful of the local riders at the meeting was C. Tonks, who, in addition to his win over Greenwood, won his heat and 'semi-final in the first division handicap, and was second to A. W. Hunger in the final. Hunger has been riding very consistent!)' lately, and his win was well deserved. DETAILED RESULTS. Tlio results in detail were as follow:— INTERNATIONAL MATCH RACE.—ENGLAND -AUSTRALIA, V WELLINGTON, of £40 10s; four laps; from rolling start; first in oach match to receive £3; second £1 10s. The teams were:—Visitors: G. Greenwood (England), "Squib" Burton (England), and C. Spinks -(Australia)/ Wellington, W. Kilmister. C. Tonks, aud W. Harvie. First race: Burton, beat Tonks. Burton started on the inside, and led all the way to win by about 50 yards. Burton gave a finished display of the British style of cinder track racing and equalled his record for the track. Times, 7Ssec,,Bo 4-ssec. Second match: Greenwood beat Kilmister. This race was one of the most exciting of the evening, but finished In disappointing fashion. The pair were away to a perfect start, but Greenwood sprang a surprise by leading Kilmister round the first bend, the local man having started from the inside position. Until towards the end of the third lap Greenwood was about two lengths in front, but Kilmister then passed him and led round the northern bend in tho last lap. Greenwood's machine failed halfway round the course, and Kilmister looked a certain winner, but his machine then failed, 'and Greenwood finished on his own. Time, S7 2-ssec. Third match: Spinks beat Harvie, After leading all tho way Spinks finished alone, Harvie having fallen on the southern bend in tho third lap. Time, S9 2-ssec. Fourth match: Greenwood beat Harvie. Greenwood led all the way and Harvie was put out of the race when he fell in the third lap. Tinle, 87sec. Fifth match: Burton beat Kilmister. Kilmister, although starting on tho outside, was in front for most of the first lan, but his borrowed mount was not ,fast enough, and Burton passed' him before the lap was finished. Burton steadily drew further ahead, and was tho only one to finish, Kilmister falling in the last lap. Time, 78 2-ssec. Sixth match: Tonks beat Greenwood. After a series of delays and postponements, this- race came as a welcome change. Starting from the outside position. Greenwood took the lead on the first bend, and was still in front with more than half the distance covered. Towards the end of tlie third lap, however, Tonks managed to cut through on the inside and take the lead. Pursuing his customary tactics of hugging the while line, Tonks warded off every attempt made by Greenwood to pass him, and w,on by two lengths. Times, 81 2-ssec, 81 3-ssec. Seventh match: Burton beat Harvie. Burton again won unopposed, Harvie falling in the third lap, when well behind. Time, 79 3-ssec. Eighth race: Spinks beat Tonks. This was another* good race. Spinks had the inside running, and the pair raced round tho first bend together, Tonks then getting a slight lead. Spinks passed him before the lap was finished, and maintained his position to win by two lengths. Times, S2sec, S2 3-ssec. Ninth match: Kilmister beat Spinks. After several attempts to start this race had failed, the pair eventually got away in fine style. Kilmister had tho Inside running, and made the most of It to take the lead on the first bend. He kept In front all the way, and won by about 60 yards. Times, 81 1-5 see, 83 3-Ssee. INTERNATIONAL STABS SPECIAL INVITATION SCRATCH RACE, of £18; four laps; from a rolling start. "Squib" Burton (England) .....»-«...... 1 W. Kilmister (Wellington) 2 C. Spinks (Australia) .3 With Kilmister and Spinks both riding other than their favourite machines, this race, billed as the star Item of tho evening, looked a foregone conclusion for Burton, and so It proved. Once again lucky in the draw for positions, ho started on the inside, with Kilmlstor in the middle, and the order round the first bend was Burton, Kilmister, and Spinks. At the end of the first lap there was 15yds between each of the riders, and at the finish the gaps had widened to 60 yards botween first and second, and 80 yards betweon second and third. Times, 80 l-ssec, 82 2-ssec. GRAND ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP, of £30, four laps; from a standing start. First heat: P. Phillips (ssec), 1; E. Naylor (3sec), 2. Also started: C. Pillow (7sec) and V. Grovo (7sec). Grove fell in the first lap and Pillow lost ground through engine trouble. Won easily. Time, 92sec. Second heat: W. Vigagrs (laec), 1; A. Hunger (3sec), 2. Also started: G. Greenwood (scr), and D. Roberts (7sec). Roberts fell in the second lap when leading, and Greenwood was left well behind through getting a poor start. Won by 10 yards. Times: 89 2-ssec, S9scc. Third heat: B. F. Appleyard ("sec), 1; W. Harvie (3sec), 2. Also started: A. Pratt (osec), and J. W. Spencer (7sec). Apployard led all the way,, and Harvie passed Pratt coming down tho straight to take second place. Times, 93sec, OOsec. Fourth heat: C. Tonks (scr), 1; H. Luchessi (ssec), 2. Also started: V. Mangham (osec) and D. Higgins (7scc). A great finish saw Tonks snatch the victory by half a wheel. Lucchessi was in

front until the final straight in the course' of which TonliS came up fast to beat him. Maugham's machine failed in the Hrst lap. Times, 87 2-Ssec, 92 3-saec. First semi-final: Phillips, 1 ; Hunger, 2. Also started : Naylor aiid Viggars. Phillips led all the way and won easily. A'igEnrs fell on the southern bend in tho first lap. Times, 91 l-ssec, 93 3-ssec. Second seml-flnal: TonUs, 1; Harrie, 2. Also started: Lucchossi and Appleyard. Tonhs rodo particularly well In this race ■to overhaul the handicap men one by oue, and win by about ten yards from Harvle, whom he passod In the last lap. Times, 86 1-Dsec, 90 sec. Final. A. Hunger (Norton), 3sec 1 C. Tanks (Rudgc) scr 2 P. Phillips (Rudge), ssec 3 Also started: \V. Hanie (Douglas), Ssec. llarvlo rodo oft the track in tho first lap, which ended with Hunger leading Phillips, and Tonks well back. Hunger and Phillips had an exciting duel over tho first three laps, and at tho start of tho fourth, Hunger was just in front. ' Tonks then came up fast and passed Phillips, but failed to catch Hunger by about 10 yards. Times, 87sec, 85sec.