CYCLING HANDICAPS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1911, Page 5

CYCLING HANDICAPS.

[to the editor.] Sir,—l would like to say a few words in reference to cycle race handicapping on the Coast, especially road events. In the first instance take L. Nees’ race of last December. I am going to refer to the chances the committees or handicappers, who undertake this important subject, give to a scratch man or rather a backntarker, as he should be called, as there are really no scratch riders on the Coast. The lad* that won the above race got home a few seconds less than his handicap from the scratch man, who secured unplaced fastest time. This man (the winner) was put out on you might say the limit, the ‘handieapper taking the chances of him being good or bad, with, I suppose a “no-performance” list. Again at the Paroa sports the starter had to handicap vo his own liking, as the official figures showed something like seven minutes in nine miles. Where I come from handicappers like to see, for their own sake, a back marker win, but it appears opinions on the oCast are much to the contrary. Take the Hibernian snorts last year. In the Three Mile Handicap a certain competitor received 500 yards start, the handicupper, I suppose, taking a no-perform-ance list, the man being a novice rider, instead of placing that man on a middle mark until he (the 'handieapper) found out irally what that individual could do. Luckily'for the rest of the field this lad did not start. Had he done so the public would have witnessed one of the greatest runaway races ever seen on Victoria Park, tl,i 3 being a thing that sports do not like to see, a's close finishes always make sports meetings more interesting. Take, still further, the race at the State Col-, dicries recently. Four and a-half minutes was the limit in eight miles. This is an average of nearly nineteen seconds to the half mile. An ordinary rider should leave behind at least 200 yards in these seconds. These figures show that the scratch has to catch 200 yards in every half mile, this being almost an impossibility amongst our class of riders. Of course, I admit there arc riders who don costumes and start off these marks, who want, and perhaps would do no good of 30 minutes. Will the handicappers take care and not get these two classes of riders mixed. In conclusion, with reference to a scratch man on the Coast, if that individual, who generoily finds himself on that mark, goes to Christchurch to race, he receives 30 yards in even half a mile. Why .should he not receive the same over here, and leave that scratch mark for the real scratch man who does not come. This term “scratch man” is a great disadvantage to these Coast hoys entering for events in Australia and other parts of New Zealand. When they are not scratch men, but really middle riders. Hoping that for the future handicappers will not break the heart of the generally “also started” a week before the races take place, both on the road and tracks, if they are fit to be called by that name. I think Barrytown bush tracks would be a better term for some of them. Yours etc.. — T.C.G. Runanga, November 30, 1911.