CYCLING

Grey River Argus, 16 February 1946, Page 6

CYCLING

Arrangements have been made with the Brunner Sports Club to a series of road races in the Brunner district. The first will be held on Saturday, March 2nd and will be from Taylorville to Kaiata and return, a distance of approximately miles. The next will probably be from Wallsend to Greymouth and return and the third from Taylorville to Ngahere and return. Cyc mg was a popular sport in the district several ’-ears ago and it is to be hoped that the Brunner Sports Club’s efforts to revive the sport in their area will be as successful as anticipated. <t> <?> <s> <s> <t> Sunday’s road race at Runanga provided a bunch finish, . all the starters except one finishing close up. Jack Cooper and H. Pratt both rode splendid races and after a hard ride caught the limit men as they approached the hill leading into Runanga. Cooper gained first and fastest lime, his first for the season, while Pratt was placed second with E. F’atterson third. Some of the limit riders did not ride as well as usual but the hilly course and the tough head wind home may have been responsible for this. <♦> w 4> •s■<♦■ <•>

Wednesday evening’s three mile race was one of the most exciting seen on the park this year. V. Goodall, G. Dalzell and later A. Bergamini sorted themselves out from the . rest of the front and middle men and established a fair break on the field. Cooper, off 120 yards, assisted by Pratt, made a great effort to make up the gap and in the finish was close enough to be placed third. 4- <«> 4> V. Goodall has been heading for a win for some time and his first place in this race was a popular win with the crowd. A Bergamini also deserves credit for his performance as he had a hard unpaced ride to catch the front men in the early stages of the race. Dalzell was unlucky to finish out of a place as he had worked hard during the race but his lack of fitness told over the last few yards. <t> <s> <s> <s• <i> <?> Jack Gardner upheld his reputation as an exceptional half miler when he won the first race. His speed off the mark helps him considerably and he has also developed a fair sprint and it is only a lack of staying power which stops him in the longer races. 4 T <•> <t> 4> <*> H. Pratt, second in the half is another good sprinter and has the added advantage of plenty of stamina for hard races. He has not reach top form but should be fit for the more serious racing next month. <♦> <♦> <•> <♦> <•> <♦> Bad luck dogged the two scratch markers in the junior race on Wednesday evening. As E. Patterson started' off his chain came off and his co-marker, J. Gardner, came off his machine about 300 yards from the finishing line. <♦> <♦> <♦> <♦> <s> <s> ‘ The following will be handicapped for the 10 mile road race to be held from Paroa to Gladstone, to South Beach and back to Paroa to-morrow morning:—J. Cooper, H. Pratt, E. Patterson, D. Clark, M. Bergamini, V. 'T. Malone. G. Dalzell, C. Carr, A. Bergamini, A. Bennett, M. Malone, E. Maguigan, W. Walker, W. Gardner, J. Gardner, O. Hinks, G. Hinks, J. Alexander, D. Eright, K. Lalor.