WITH THE WHEELMEN

Evening Star, Issue 22595, 12 March 1937, Page 4

WITH THE WHEELMEN

[By Pistol.]

LAST WEEK'S RAGING During the last three sports meetings it has been evident that the frontmarkers are now showing better form, the majority of the placings being filled by riders on handicap marks. The number of riders competing has been lessened by the withdrawal from competition of many riders who finished their season at the championships. At the Athletic Centre championships three races were held K. Denton being the best performer by winning the half-mile and coming second in the three-mile. J. Hornal. and W. Sivertsen showed a return to form by being second and third respectively in the half-mile event. The one-mile race was won by W.- Chalmers off a short mark from Homer and Sivertsen, the scratch men. E. (Boyd showed a reproduction of his form at the championships by beating Denton in the three-mile, while Seoles sprinted Tate in for third place. The Walker and Hall A grade cup series was commenced last week, the quarter-mile event being put on first. W. Sivertsen off 25yds secured the five points for a first place. His brother Bob, off the scratch mark, beat the rest of the field into second place, Homer being third. The President’s Cup race again resulted in a win for the front-markers, Denton beating Tate, while Umbers, who had his first ride for some time, was third. The one and a-half mile race resulted in a win for the scratch man, R. Sivertsen, with two front-markers, M'Connell and Denton, in second and third place respectively. The racing last Saturday at the sports meeting for the visiting Japanese athlete was of a high grade, all events being well contested and the times well up to standard.. The time _ for the quarter-mile handicap made it practically impossible for the back men to be in the placings. Umbers bad no difficulty in winning off his mark of 45yds in 31 2-ssec. W. Black, who had his first ride for some months, was off the same mark, and collected second place, while Denton again sprinted Tate in for third place. W. Chalmers had no difficulty in winning the one-mile event after catching the field in two laps. A. Fletober showed a return to form by coming second, Umbers beating Denton for third place. Tate had the misfortune to fall in the final «f the mile after riding well in his heat. In the twomile event Denton made a good jump down the back straight;, and broke up the field, only Sivertsen going with him. The latter had no difficulty in passing Denton in the straight. Chalmers made a late sprint _ from the back of the field to take third place. NOTES While training on the " Cale ” on Sunday morning R. Sivertsen and J. M'Connell bad a spill caused by the thoughtless action of two people in walking across the track while those training were coming along the track nearby. Sivertsen is in the Hospital, and it is not yet known whether his injuries are serious, while M'Connell is suffering from abrasions and shock. . All local sports will wish them a speedy recovery. The following are the points for the various cups after last Saturday :—President’s Cup: R. Sivertsen 22 points, G. Homer, K. Denton 17, A. Tate 9, J. Hornal 7, J. M'Connell 6, R. Quigley, C. Ralston 5, W. Chalmers 4, W. Sivertsen, R.. Fullerton 3, A. Umbers 1. Dewar and Scott Cups: G. Homer 30} points, R. Sivertsen 25}, W. Chalmers 22, K. Denton 15, A. Tate, J. Hornal, E. Boyd 8. Hay Cup: R. Sivertsen 77 points, G. Homer 63, W. Chalmers 41, K. Denton 39. Last Sunday week several of' the members of the local club went for a ride to Hooper’s Inlet, where an enjoyable afternoon was experienced. _ There are now four riders attacking the world’s year’s mileage record set up by W. W. Greaves, of England ; in 1936, his figures being 45,383 miles. The attempted record-breakers are “ Ossie ” Nicholson, the Australian; who previously held tbo record; Rem Menzies, 48-year-old French professional rider; B. Bennett, an 18-year-old Birmingham (England) amateur; and James Stewart, a Scotsman. All have been doing well, averaging over 130 miles per day, and it will be interesting to see whether they can all last it and win this novel race.