CYCLING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 10 March 1923, Page 5

CYCLING.

Cycling used to be a very popular' form of sport, and years ago Manaia and Hawera both had banked tracks, on which much good riding was seen.; The Hawera track went "out" many) years ago, but the Manaia peoole hung' on to theirs, and last week used it for the Hibernian sports and championship meeting. It should be recorded that originally the track was put down '< ii},metal and rolled. j Talking to a representative, Mr I\' O'Shea, the crack rider, said it wai' the best grass track he had been on.! He was surprised to see such a good" traclc at Manaia. 1^ could, however, | be widened and two of the corners im-' proved. Talking of riders, Mr O'Shea said that, generally speaking, New Zea-i landers could hold their own with Au<3- j tralians, though the greater number over the water and the much better! tracks save Australia a big handicap over New Zealand. Cycling was good, both in Sydney and Melbourne, but especially in the latter city. ; At the Hibernian sports, competitors were cordially welcomed by Mr J. J.; Meldon, chairman of the Town Board, who drew attention to the quality of the performers, especially in cycling. He recalled the many fine men who, in various branches of sport, had come from Manaia. and had made the name famous, making it a real sporting centre. He thanked tne champions for coming so far to help make the meeting a success, and said that Manaia al-

ways did what they could: to make the stay of the visitors most pleasant.