TRACK DOINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 19

TRACK DOINGS

GANE IN HAWKES . BAY NEWS AND NOTES

■M. Ganc will not be a competitor at the Dewar Shield meeting at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon. Ue is working in the Hawkes Bay district at present. Gane, however, will be makisg the trip with the team going to Jtlotuoka at Easter. Other cyclists who •will be in the party will be G. Clark (Petone) and A. Mexted (Porirua). Teams taking part in the scratch cycle events at the Shield meeting on Saturday are as follows: — ■Wellington: L. Labone, G. I'uiuiti,-'G. Orr. -: ■ : Athletic: P. -W Robinson, F. Christensen, E. Xyster. Petone: T. Hoe, G. Clark, JJ Morris. In addition to the scratch races, there are two handicap events. Dwight's Record Kide. Tho fifth annual flvo miles handicap lace for the House Cup, held by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club, at the Western Springs Stadium track, Auckland, was undoubtedly (he most exciting race' that has been held for the trophy. Over ]7. circuits of Hie big flUiyd's oval hail to be covered. Tlie three scratch riders, 11. I>. Dwighl, A. Mackie, and J. H. Wade, were conceding starts up to 490 yds, and their nearest ryicr was F. J. Casey, on 200 yds. Throughout the race the front and (middle markers, 14 in all, who bunched jearly, made tho-pace willing, but in spito of their combined efforts the scratch men were up at four laps to go. Even then a good speed was maintained, but over the last lap tho scratch trio' fought out the issue among themgclves. The winner, H. E. Dwight, clocked pie record figures of llmin sscc. The previous best time for the five miles was llmin 13 2-sscc. Over a distance i)wight has:often proved himself a cyclist well above the average. He has fceeri placed in evory five miles race decided on the Stadium track, and last , Ecasort'ho won.the ton miles championship event ''in '21mm 29sec. •Mackie. finished a close second, and :fT. H. Wade,, who is not riding as well •as:he did/last year, was. third.' iN.Z.U.C. Meetings. The-New" Zealand Uniou oC Cyclists 3ias obtained surprisingly good terms from, tho Wellington Winter Show AsBociation"for two meetings at tho association's now sports ground, one on Saturday afternoon and the other during the Easter holidays. At tho meeting of the Show Association on Tuesday evening, when the arrangements -■were announced, the manager of tho association (Mr. G. Mitchell) was reported to have said . at he doubted ■whether such terms as those that had ■been agreed \upon could bo obtained i'rom any other body. With that opinion the..writer 'agrees entirely. Far the meeting on Saturday, which 5s styled the Wellington cycling, championship meeting, the, Show Association has agreed to meet all expenses, estimated at £83, and take all gate receipts, the Now Zealand Union of Cyclists to run the meeting and supply the officials. That is to say, tho Show Association will pay for everything— advertising' and other incidental cxjiansoa,. as well as provide the money for ijffpphy orders. The meeting will cost' She N.Z.U.C. nothing, and in re-turn-.•■f.or its generous assistance the Show. "Association is to have tho Rate receipts. The; chairman (Mr. C. J. B. Norivpod) at the Show Association meeting Baid.'ihat the association could not afford1 -to lose any source of revenue, ■but -it■'■'■ seems hardly likely that the if.erm'^'at has entered into with the Iv.Z.U.Ci- officials will assist materially in this direction. Gate takings, rt the inthletie meetings in Wellington, except jn tlie case of the meeting at which (the Americans and Carlton competed on 21st February) have not been large, hn'd"with counter-attractions on Saturday the prospects of the Show Association getting even its £S3 back do not Appear particularly rosy. The N.Z.U.C. Eecms to be on a win! [Professional Move.. According to an appeal published in « Melbourne sporting paper a very ■ibright picture .of the establishment of professional cycling in Wellington is painted .by" Mr. W. A. Thomson, who as associated with that section of ityclists which broke away from tho

main body in Now Zealand. His letter to the' Melbourne paper states:—"A iiiew cycling track at the Wellington j Winter Show Grounds has just been completed,, and. the opening meeting.is expected to take place at Easter. The ground is one of the best designed tracks-in the world. All tho Australian cyclists, who have scon tho track agree on this point. The track is four and a half laps to the mile. Two straights arc each 20ft wide, and the corners are 25ft, banked 12ft. "The prizes for the professional riders will bo at least £300. The prize money would be increased provided we could get six first-class riders from Australia. Races between these riders and New Zealand riders would be arranged. The majority of the races would bo from scratch, over quarter, half, one, two, and live miles. Valuable prizes will bo given to winners of heats, and for laps and fastest laps in races over one mile. Team races (two riders) for one hour will be held. Besides tho four days meeting at Easter, meetings will be held at Auckland, New Plymouth, and Christchurch, and then again on the Winter Show Ground.' I am writing this letter to you knowing that you will be pleased to give the sport in New Zealand a helping hand. "