WITH THE WHEELMEN

Evening Star, Issue 23727, 7 November 1940, Page 13

WITH THE WHEELMEN

hßy P.EDALLER.]

NEWS AND NOTES

The 1939-40 season will go down in the annals of the Dunedin Amateur Cycling Club as one of the most eventful since its inception in 1933. Although cycling, in line with all others which cater for the youth of the Dominion, has suffered to a great extent by the loss of its most prominent members through departure for service with the forces, the number of riders actually in active competition throughout the year has been most gratifying. Among the prominent riders engaged in the country’s service are C. Hanson, W. Chalmers, F. Muntz, G. E. Murray, J. Henry, and W. Sivertsen. The road season was very successful, and the fields were equal to those of normal years. For a time 32 members were actually on the road on Saturday afternoons. Needless to say, competition was greatly stimulated, and from the promise shown by all first-year riders it appears that in a year or two the club will occupy a proud place in the realm of cycling in New Zealand.

The highlight of the track season was the visit of the Australian riders, J. Walsh. H. Clayton, and K. Stewart, and the local riders greatly benefited by their hints and training methods. Walsh proved himself the outstanding performer of the trio, and the result of his challenge to Dune. Gray (former Olympic champion), is anxiously being awaited. Clayton was unfortunate to meet with a bad crash, and Stewart was off form, but there is no doubt that they, too, were both first-class riders.

The club made three trips during the rood season, two to Oamaru and one to Invercargill, all of which proved highly successful. The race from Palmerston to Oamaru for the D.A.C.C. Challenge Cup (which was presented by riders and officials of the Dunedin Club) proved very popular, and should be well contested in future years. The Gore-Invercargill race again attracted large entries. At the annual meeting Mr J. F. Boyd was elected president for the 1940-41 season in place of Mr H. W. Laws, who has so successfully filled the position during the past years.

0. Hanson showed great form by his sterling performance in taking the New Zealand road championship for 1939, and by creating a new Otago mile record cn the track in 2min 14 3-ssec.

W. S. Chalmers was probably the most consistent and successful rider on the track last season, and his three-mile record of 6min 5 l-ssec will no doubt stand for some considerable time. His third place in the New Zealand 10-mile track championship shows he ranks with .the Dominion’s best.

These riders capped their individual performances by winning the New Zealand teams race ‘along with J. M’Connell and 0. Drury (Invercargill). Among the scratch men on the track E. Boyd and J. M’Connell again showed their sprinting ability, the latter winning the president’s trophy. These riders are expected to do well in the coming track season, as competition will bo very keen and they will bo well extended. W. Haig, who took fastest time in the Gore-Invercargill event, proved to be the most successful roadman by winning both the Quirk and Leslie Cups. He possesses a great road knowledge, and further performances are expected of this rider,

C. Flowers was a consistent road performer and was always well up in the time placings. He took fastest time in the Palmerston-Oamaru race and second fastest in the Southland 25-mile time trial and Gore-Invercargill event. K. Denton again took the Otago 25-mile championship and proved that he is well suited for this distance. Apart from this, he did not ride up to expectations, but will no doubt show 1 better form this season.

C. Webb, who was first home in the Otago 25-mile event, gave his best performances to date this vear, and was one of the best of tho midrflo-markers. W’ebb filled the position of road captain and performed his duties very capably. A. Conn is a junior of outstanding merit and is sure to go a long way in the cycling gamp. Ho was the Otago 25 and 50-milc

junior champion, and was runner-up for the M’Connell Cup, riding very consistently throughout the road season. M. Bordsley is another promising junior who should do well in future years. Ho won the Palmerston-Oamaru race and was third homo in the Gore-Invprcargill event. Two other juniors who have done well on tho road are P. Munro, winner of the M’Connell Cup, and C. Brown, winner of the M’Lachlan Cup. The ever-popular Calder Mackay Cup series was well contested, and A. Boberg •mined most points, with A. Turner second and P. Munro third. The track season, which opens on November 25, is eagerly being looked forward to, and officials and riders expect another good season.