SPORT OF CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19807, 30 November 1927, Page 16

SPORT OF CYCLING.

MANUKAU CLUB'S TWO RACES EVENTS AT THE DOMAIN. THE TRACK AT BLANDFORD PARK The Manuknu Amateur Cycling Club's road racing season was advanced another stage on Saturday, when twn events, a Sj-niiles junior race and a 28miles open handicap, were decided at Mangere. The Auckland Athletic arid Cycling Club held a one-milo handicap and a three miles open event at Blnndford Park Stadium. The racing at l>nth places %vas most interesting. Several falls occurred during the afternoon, but no rider was seriously injured.

The junior fij-miles event was almost abandoned owing to lack of acceptors. Finally three riders faced the starter. The small entry was very surprising, as in the past good fields have nearly always contested these events, ft is likely that riders have gone stale on the road racing and that, next Saturday will see its conclusion. With only three starters in the junior race, prospects pointed to the event licking the usual interest, but the reverse was the case. With W. Johnson, 4m, on the limit, F. G. Keen an, 2rn 30s, on the middle mark, and D. Hope, ser., a fine unpacecl race resulted, and the. individual times recorded were very good. The limit rider's time was 18m 42 1 -ss, that of (he middle-marker, 17m 4f>s, while "that, of the back marker was Jsm oOs. A Large Field. The 28miles event attracted a field of 21 starters, but many prominent racing men were missing, notably J. 11. Wade, H. G. Brewin, A. Baiid and C. J. Gainsborough. The front markers again filled the first three places. At no part of the race did the scratch division look like winners. S. J. Baird, the winner, put up a very fine performance. He was on a handy mark, 6m, and lost, no time in getting up among tho leaders. Over the concluding stages ho took no chances and finishing well won comfortably. Ho had one win to his credit early in the season, but had not been in the prize-money again until Saturday.

H. J. McLaren is a comparatively new rider. Ho rode a heady race on Saturday and was always vveli up with the leaders. His finishing sprint was a good 0110. It was his first appearance in the prize-list. The third rider to finish, G. Heron, is also new to the prize-list. He was a good pacemaker on Saturday, but was fully extended at tho finish to beat the fast-finishing I\. J. Malhieson. Two riders who put up sterling performances were K. J. Mathieson and L. Wilson. Starting off tho 2ru mark, they rode a great raco to gain fourth and fifth places, respectively, but they had no prospect of catching tho other placed riders. li. Dwight, who registered fastest time in the big event, haci a very hard rifle. The loss of Byrnes half-way through the lace was a severe one for him. lie put up good time considering the conditions, averaging over 19j miles an hour for the journey. Brewin for Sydney. H. G. Brewin, who has been showing good form in tho amateur races at tho Domain recently, will be leaving for Sydney shortly. Should Brewin decide to.compete in amateur events in Sydney lib can be depended on to give a good account o) himself. No amateur rider has shown such a marked improvement recently as Brewin. The Manukau Amateur Cycling Cfub held a hreo-miles open handicap in conjunction with tho Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club's meeting at the Domain on Wednesday evening. A feature of tho race was the riding of J. 11. Wade, the New Zealand road champion. Starting off 40yds (virtual scratch), as M. P. Byrnes, scr, did not, start, he put up the finest throe-miles ride seen there this season. Catching the middle bunch with five laps to go and having had practically no assistance —H. Dwight, his nearest opponent, having fallen in the second lap—it was seen tiiat he had blight prospects of winning. The pace was on over tho concluding laps. When Brewin wont to tho front at the bell, with Baird on his wheel, Wade, on the inside, appeared to bo hemmed in, but half-way down the back straight be got out and, leaving tho field at this stage, he won brilliantly by five lengths. The time, 7m 37 l-ss, was one of the fastest registered at the Domain. Some good racing was witnessed at Blandford Park Stadium on Saturday. The heats and final of the one-mile ojien event were very evenly contested, i'ho first heat saw the ex-amateur, J. V. Gore, 30yds, win easily, while in the .second hoat F. Lawler, 80yds, scored an easy win. The final was a great race, the result being in doubt until the last 100 yds., when Gore proved what a good rider he is over this distance by heating Lawler by two lengths, with Pelham six lengths away third. The three-miles event was spoilt by S. Hayes, scr, falling as the field came into the finishing straight. Hayes brought down Lawler and Rao and caused Lowdnes to go into the fenco. The ridel's all escaped luckily, with tho exception of H. Rao, who fell on a handle-bar and received a nasty wound.

An Easy Winner. J. V. Goro again rode well. He had 30yds. from S. Hayes, scr., in his heat, but did not look like being caught. In the final lie had a very good rider in H. Pelham on the mark with him, but ; he left him behind and, making his way through the field, was in charge at the bell. Go tig right on, ho won easily. H. Pelham, who won the three-miles event, rode belter over the longer distance. Ho had to fight for the last two lap's to hold the lead. First Lawler, then Lowdnes and, finally Hayes, challenged hirn, but he staved therri all off and was well clear of trouble when the fall occurred. F. Lawler, who ran second to Gore in the mile event, is improving with each race. W. Francis, who had given up hope in the three-miles race when the fall occured, camo on and secured second money. Tenders for repairing the cycle track at Bland ford Park Stadium closed last Monday. As soon as possible the work will be put in hand. It is hoped to have the track ready for both motor-cycle and cycle racing next month. W. Mackie met his match behind tho rollers at English Park Stadium 4ast week. Giving away 225 yds. to C. Austin in the three-miles race proved too big a handicap for him. Austin won by more than his handicap in the fast time of 5m 7s. Austin is one of Canterbury's fastest short-distance road riders. He holds the I 30-rniies Canterbury championship. The Sidey Cup races will be contested j on the Auckland Domain this evening by riders under tlm joint control of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club and the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club The races for which 'he cup is given—a half mile, one-mile and two-miles hwndicapwill bo contested on the points system. Five points will be allotted to the winner and three points and one point to the second and third rider respectively. In the final of each distance, the winner of the most number of points will win the cup outright. The Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club will hold a two-miles open handicap at Bland ford Park Stadium on Saturday, providing the track is available. The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club will hold a 22-miles time trial at Mangero. This race will close its road racing season, j