SPORT OF CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19675, 29 June 1927, Page 16

SPORT OF CYCLING.

RACING AT MANGERE. CONDITIONS UNFAVOURABLE. WHITE'S CONSISTENT RIDING. Weather conditions were again against fast times at Mangere on Saturday, when both the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club and the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club held races. The 27 miles event conducted by the Auckland body provided c spectacular finish, the three scratch men filling the places. P. White, who has cotne to the front in a sensational manner, and who was starting from scratch for the first time, again rode brilliantly, and won his second important event in two weeks. It was generally recognised among the riders that the winner would come from the backmarkers, 'on account of the hard nature of the course. The limit men eased up a little at tho Ibad patches, especially approaching Black Bridge, while the scratch men rode rapidly throughout and soon passed the middle-markers and then the handicap men. Strong Scratch Combination.

White, Hayes and Henderson worked very well together and had the measure of the field entering the last lap. Four miles from the finish they were in front. In a spirited finish, White stayed hest to beat Hayes by two lengths, with Henderson another length back. Slater Hayes rode a sterling race for second place. He has not been in constant training aud his performance was tho more impressive on that account. Hayes was scratch man for Auckland in the principal races last season. An early repetition oi that form will make him a dangerous competitor in the near future. J. Henderson took more than his share of pacing on Saturday and could not make a finishing effort over the concluding' stages of tho race. He is, however, in excellent form, and should win races during the season. A. Sutherland withdrew from the race after riding a few miles, lie was showing the effects of his strenuous ride to Wellington. Canterbury's Koad Champion. Clarrie Austin, Canterbury's road champion, established a record for the 30 miles, when he won the coveted blue ribbon recently at Brookside. He covered the 30 miles in lh 4m 365. This means that Austin averaged 2m 9s to the mile, or on 28 miles an hour for the journey. The roads were in splendid condition for racing which, combined with little or no wind, enabled the riders to put up remarkable times.

The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club held two road races, a miles junior event, and a 28 miles open handicap, at Mangere on Saturday. Both were well supported by the riders, and were good races to watch. The finish of the 28 miles was a close one, inches only separating the placed men. In this race there were 31 starters. Entering the last lap the back-markers appeared to have a chance of filling the places, but the limit division never slackened its speed, and lasted long enough to supply the winner with very little to spare*, from the fastfinishing back-markers. H. Deakin, 6m, who won the chief event, rode a very hard race, and was one of those responsible for the fast pace set by the limit riders. Ho has been placed once or twico during the season, but last Saturday's win was his first of anv importance. P. Piatt, 7m. secured second place by inches from A. W. Pinker, 6m. Both these riders deserve their success, as they are two of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club's most consistent performers. The fastest time prize wns won by Cr. Galbraith, who rode the 28 miles in lh 16m lis.

Promising Junior Eiders. The 5£ miles junior race drew a field of 13 starters, the limit being 2m 455. The two limit boys went off at a good speed, and when joined by the 2m and 2m 30s boys, the pace was made very fast. W. Smithson, 2m 455, was too strong a rider over the last 2£- miles, and going s.way from his field he was never headed, winning by 100 yards. There was a splendid race for second place, six riders finishing in a bunch. F. E. Pinker, lm, defeating D. Hope, lm 30s, by half a length. W. Smithson, off the limit mark, rode the best junior race seen on the Mangere course. He appears to be an exceptionally good rider, and possesses a strong finishing effort. F. Pinker placed another second to his credit on Saturday, making four this season. He had bad luck in meeting a rider of W. Smithsor.'s calibre. D. Hope, who finished third, is a newcomer on the prize-list. He is one of the latest additions to the amateur club's ranks, and promises to make a good rider.

On a recent Saturday in Sydney, where no open races were held, it was calculated that in club races more than 1000 riders competed. The open events in Sydney attract very large entries. *R. W. ("Fatty") Lamb signalised his return to road racing recently by winning the Malvern Cycling Club's 20 miles event in Melbourne from scratch, also gainine fastest- time. The spell seems to have done Lamb good, as he had a heavv season last year. In the event of Lamb competing at the Olvmpic Games at Amsterdam next year, he should have good prospects either on the road or on the track. LAST MATCH EOT? CLUB. LEAGUE PLAYER'S GOOD FORM In making his final appearance for the Hornby Club in Christchurch, L. Mason, who has accepted an offer from the Wigan League Club, gave a great exhibition of football against Sydenham. Equally versatile on attack and defence, his weight and speed were a big factor in the success of the Hornby back-line. Time and again he burst through the Sydenham defence by sheer determination, and it was only by concentrating its players on him that Sydenham kept the score as low as it did. NEW SOUTH WALES RUGBY. MANAGER OF ENGLISH TOUR. A bombshell was thrown into the New South Wales Rugby Union meeting when the selection committee (Messrs. D. Maughan, K.C., J. R. Henderson, J. Ord, R. 0. Martin and Dr. Warren) announced that they had reduced the applicants for the managership of the English tour to Messrs. A. L. C. Irving, L. W. S. Seaborn, and E. Gordon Shaw. The omission of the name of Mr. T. IT. Bosward was a surprise, as he was looked on by mosfc people as almost certain to be appointed. The decision was not accepted without demur. Mr. C. L. Brown gave notice that he would move at the next council meeting that tho resolution appointing the committee be rescinded. So emphatic did lie become that Mr. Maughan and Dr. Warren were compelled to defend the action of the committee. Later, Mr. Brown decided not to persist in his attempt to npset the recommendation, although it was plain that he would have had material support, in spite of a very sporting speech by Mr. Bosward, who said they should bow to the will of the five men who carried out the work. Mr. Bosward is well known in New Zealand, having managed Now South Wales teams on tours through tho Dominion,