AMATEUR CYCLING

Evening Star, Issue 21638, 6 February 1934, Page 5

AMATEUR CYCLING

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARD Except fur a very slight north-east breeze toward the finish of the programme, conditions were well-nigh perfect for the Otago amateur cycling championships at the Caledonian Ground last evening. The meeting, which will be concluded to-night, was successful from every point of view, a high standard of performance, coupled with some thrilling finishes, investing the racing with plenty of interest. The attendance was only fair. The competitive spirit was added to by the presence of several Invercargill and Milton riders, and three of the visitors were prominent, two qualifying for the semi-final of the quarter-mile, in which the other rode well to secure second place in his heats. For the first time in Dunedin a time trial was held, and though in the nature of an experiment-—each rider pedalling the distance alone—it was a successful innovation, for only two-fifths of a second separated the first and second riders’ times. In covering the distance in Imin 24sec Foster put up a splendid performance, and his win was well deserved, lor he rode with dash and judgment. Smith and Brown also showed good form. Several running events were also included on the programme, which, though a lengthy one, was put through with despatch by the following officials: —Referee, Mr A. Ockwell; superintendent, Mr J. A. Johnston; cycling judges—-Messrs G. Hetherington, H. M'Kenzie, H. Ockwell, and W. Templeton; timekeepers—Messrs C. A. Lucas, T. Gilchrist, and D. Craig; starter, Mr L. C. Ferguson. Results: — QUARTER-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP. —First Round. — First Heat.—o. G, Smith 1, C. G. Lucas 2, G. Foster 3. Time, 33 2-ssec. Second Heat.—C. T. Gilchrist 1, \V. Silversten 2, B. Oakes 3. Time, 34 4-ssec. Third Heat.—E. Fletcher 1, M. Smith (Invercargill) 2, H. Mussen 3. Time, 35sec. Fourth Heat. —J. Brown (Milton) 1, W. Frame (Invercargill) 2, J. Flynn (Invercargill) 3. Time, 34sec._ Fifth Heat.—J. Kewish 1, V. Laws 2, L. Schmeltz 3. Time, 35 l-ssec. —Second Round.— First Heat. —0. G. Smith 1, E. Fletcher 2, C. T. Gilchrist 3. Time, 34 4-ssec. Second Heat. —C. G. Lucas 1, M. Smith (Invercargill) 2, W. Silvertsen 3. Time, 34sec. , Third Heat. —L. Schmeltz 1, J. Flynn (Invercargill) 2, V. Laws 3. Time, 35 4-ssec. Fourth Heat.—G. Foster 1, B. Oakes 2, H. Mussen 3. Time, 33 l-ssec. Fifth Heat.—-W, Frame (Invercargill) 1, J. Brown (Invercargill) 2, J. Kewish 3. Time, 33sec. Showing excellent form, Frame caught the field up the straight, and with a well-judged spurt headed his Invercargill colleague to put up the fastest time. ONE KILOMETRE CHAMPIONSHIP. —Time Trial.— Instead of dividing the competitors into heats each rider completed the distance (1,094yd5) on his own—an innovation as far as Otago cycling is concerned, and, judging from performances, an entirely successful one. In putting up the fastest time (Imin 24sec) Foster rode with plenty of dash. His was a meritorious effort, although Smith’s time was only 2-ssec slower. The following were the competitors: •—\V. Silvertsen (Imin 30 2-ssec), .1. Flynn (Imin 33 2-ssec), B. Oakes (Imin 32 l-ssec), H. Musseit (Imin 34 4-sseo), G.' Foster (Imin 24sec), M. Paterson (limn 28 4-ssco), M. Smith (Imm 28sec), E. Fletcher (Imin 25 l-ssec), \V. Frame (Invercargill, Imin 27 2-ssee), G. Smith (Imin 24 2-ssee), J. Kewish (Imin 27 l-ssec), C. Lucas (Imin 27 4-ssec), J. Brown (Imin 24 4-oseo), L. Schmeltz (Imin 27 2-ssec), V. Laws (Imin 33 3-ssec), C. Gilchrist (Irnin 25 2-ssec). Fifteen started. G. Foster, Imin 24sec 1 G. Smith, Imin 24 2-ssec 2 J. Brown, Imin 24 4-ssec ..., 3 ONE MILE HANDICAP. W. Silvertsen, 125yds ... 1 V. Laws, 150yds 2 H. Mussen, 165yds 3 Ten starters. After setting a solid pace Silvertsen had a narrow lead over Laws and Mussen, with the-back markers 30yds back. Riding a good race Silvertsen sprinted over the last few yards to head Laws. Time, 2min 13 4-ssec. RUNNING EVENTS. 100 YARDS HANDICAP. First Heat.— E. M'Garry (9yds) 1, S. Longworth (6yds) 2, E- Ashby (7yds) 3. Five starters. Won by a yard. Time, 10 4-ssec. Second Heat,. —B. Spiers (31yds) J, H. A. Brown (6yds) 2, W._ J. Duff (9vds) 3. Six starters. Won by a yard, with inches separating second and third. Time, 'lO 3-ssec. —Final.— B. Spiers 1 E. M'Garry and W. J. Duff (equal) 2 A good finish. Won by inches, with the rest of the field close up. Time, 10 3-ssec. ONE MILE HANDICAP. S. Asher, 140yds 1 L. K. Donovan, 55yds 2 A. Kirkwood, 155yds 3 Four starters. At the bell Asher led Kirkwood by 10yds, with Donovan 15yds back. Won by Byds. Donovan improved his position going down the hack and finished syds ahead of Kirkwood. TO-NIGHT’S EVENTS. Some excellent racing should be witnessed this evening, when the semifinal and final of the quarter-mile and five-mile championships will he held. Two running events are also included on the programme. The following is the draw for the semi-final of the quarter-mile championship event;—First heat: J. Brown (Milton), O. G. Smith, and W. Frame (Invercargill). Second heat: C. T. Gilchrist, C. G. Lucas, and L. Schmeltz. Third heat; E. Fletcher, J. Kewish, and G. Foster.