SPORT OF CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19947, 16 May 1928, Page 16

SPORT OF CYCLING.

WHITTEN IN GREAT FORM. SOME FINE PERFORMANCES. Exceptionally keen racing was provided by competitors in the miles junior and 28 miles open handicap, held by the Manukau Amateur Cycle Club at Mangere on Satyrd.iv. From a spectacular point of view, the 28 miles' race was the finest road event yet decided over the Mangere circuit. Forty riders competed and live laps had to be covered. Several competitors retired during the progress of the race, as the pace was fast throughout, and only trained men could bo expected to withstand the strain. At the last lap the limit riders were only lm 7s ahead of the virtual scratch men, Dwight and Wlnttcn, the actual scratch rider, Wade, having retired on the second lap. Twenty riders turned into the home straight and a great race ensued over the last. 200 yds. Whitten rode hard to beat Dwight by two lengths. He also registered fastest time, 73m 7 3-ss, beating the existing record by a margin of 3m 4s. This is the second time this season Whitten has won first place and fastest time, and the third occasion on which he has registered fastest time. These are certainly exceptionally fine performances seeing that they have been registered in five races.

Whitten and Dwight gave a great exhibition of pacing and when Casey was caught he joined in and gave the pair every support. The fact that the winner caught the limit riders when only three miles from homo reflects credit on tho handicapping. H. Dwight rode his best handicap race to date. He registered fastest time in the 11 miles' novice rate, held last week Dwight had a victory over such rider 3 as Byrnes, Wade and Galbraith when ho won tho 22 miles' time trial, held last September. 11. Mcllroy rode a good race into third place, as he was riding for tho first time this season.

The 54 miles' juniodr race iu which 11 competed gave R. Frances his first win. lie rode from tho limit, 2m 455, and was never headed, winning by 150 yds. from a bunch who were finishing fast. He is only 13 years of ago and hails from Papakura. Ho rides from his residence to Mangere each Saturday. A. Rose, 20s, and H. McEntee, lm 455, had a spirited sprint and finished second and third respectively. D. Hope, scr, again won the fastest time award, covering tho distance in 15m 18s He had a hard test, boing set a difficult task riding alone.