SPORT OF CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 15

SPORT OF CYCLING.

MANUKAU CLUB'S EVENTS.

CONDITIONS HAMPER RIDERS.

ROBERTS GAINS TIME HONOURS

The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club decided the second race of the season from Mangers Central to Papakura and back last Saturday. A south-westerly wind of gale force severely interrupted any attempt at fast pedalling after the first mile on tlie outward trip. From then on right to Papakura the 24 senior competitors were obliged to ride into the gale. Eiders were unlucky in having to pass through a hig herd of cattle on both fhe outward and homeward run. On the return, when many riders met the cattle at Win Bridge the chances of most of the back-markers were spoilt, and the race in consequence was robbed of considerable interest. The scratch men suffered the worst from the interruption.

The two limit men, W. Clarke and T. J. Farreliy, 10m, were never challenged, and kept a good lead ail the way out to the turn, 12* miles away, which they reached in 3Sm 20s, as against 33m 35s by the three scratch men, Wade, Whitten and H_ R. Dwight The last-named fell

heavily at the turn, but quickly remounted, pursued, and caught his fellowmarkers, only to retire later.

An Improved Eider

Tiio winner, W. Clarke, 10m, is a brother of C. A. Clarke, wlio has performed prominently in the championship " fifties "of past seasons. Clarke rode beyond expectations on Saturday. His riding showed vast improvement over any of his previous performances. Although he rode away from his co-marker after the Papakura turn he wast able, riding unassisted, to keep off ail opposition and to

win by 60yds. from a fast-overhauling pack. It was his eleventh start this season and his first success, which was very popular among his fellow-members. His last placing, and only other one during the past two seasons, was a third u5 7m 30s, in a 17 miles race in May. 1928. L. B. Roberts, Im, second, and winnnr of fastest time honours in 67m 51s, rode conspicuously. At the Papakura turn his time was only 10s slower than that of the scratch trio. Li company with D. Fleuher, Im, who finished a close third, he paced splendidly, and with four miles ■to go had caught ali but the winner. Robert's performance marks him as a strong contender for honours in the 50 miles Auckland provincial amateur championship to be held nest Saturday over the same course as last year's event—from Market Road to Clevedon and back. Two firsts, two seconds, a third and three fastest times constitute Robert's winnings this season.

Close Junior Contest,

The junior race, of 5A miles, was not as well supported as usual. Still, a good race resulted between tile 10 competitors. The race was for Mrs. C. Paul's trophy, and the best and closest finish of the season resulted. The final issue was between E. J. McKenzie and L. Oogan. both on 2m 50s. The former sustained his sprint better, and crossed the line with a length t® spare to record his first victory in a cycle race. it was his beventh race. Previously he had a third off 2m 30s to his credit. L. Cogan, whom he beat by a length, was the winner of the previous week's race off am 255. Fastest lime honours went to G. M. Let ha by, oft 30s, virtual scratch, in 15m 525. Judging by his ride on Saturday he appears to be well worthy of the scratch mark in junior races now that C. T. Yu3e has been transferred to the senior ranks.

The fourth annual 50 miles Auckland championship amateur road race will be decided next Saturday. A considerable amount of interest will bo lent to the event bv the fact that A. Mackie, the well-known scratch r.dcr of the Papanui Amateur Cycling Club. Christchurch, will be competing. On the scratch mark he will "meet J. Whitten, "he present, bolder of thp title, H. R. Dwight, the Mannkau Club champion, who" has been winning consistently of late. J. EL Wade, the winner of two 50 miles championships in succession in 1927, the Auckland and the New Zealand titles, and L. B. Boberts, whose latest success was recorded last week. The event will start punctually at two o'clock, and will finish at, the starting point about 4.15.

LUCRE IX ENGLAND

FINE SCORE OF 155 NOT OUT

A RECORD FOR THE GROUND

Auckland enthusiasts will be pleased to hear C. C. Dacre, the ex-Anekland and New Zealand representative, is still trainins distinction on the cricket field in Eucl&nd. Latest advice to hand stales he played a great innings in a match _at Folegate, and established a record for that ground. An English critic, referring to the match, says:—

" A cricket record was made at Polepate in the whole day match between Haves' eleven and a very strong touring club, the Bristol Wayfarers. Included in the latter team was C. C. Dacre. the New Zealand test match player, _ who is now qualifying for Gloucestershire. Dacre, with a score of 156 not out, established ;i record for the Folegate. ground, and included in his score were six sixes, one of which cleared the pavilion into the road, and 20 fours. This is the first century ever recorded on the Recreation ground. Dacre also distinguished himself by his brilliant fielding, and his catch which dismissed the local skipper was brilliant in the extreme. '

DISTRICT CRICKET.

POSITION IN CH RI ST CHURCH

The question of reverting to district cricket has been occupying the minds of those governing the game in Ghristchurch for some time past- The Canterbury Cricket Association recently decided that t,he district scheme should be adopted m 1950-31, but a meeting of delegates on Saturday evening rescinded that resolution hv 34 votes to 14.

What underlies the whole position is t hat there is a danger of the High School Old Boys' Club becoming over-powerful, both from a playing point of view and numerically. It has been playing under the Canterbury Association for the past two seasons and has won the senior championship each year. It has also been successful in other grades. Old Collegians, on the other hand, is not nearly such a strong club, due to the players scattering after they leave school. A speaker at a club's annual meeting in Christchurch last week expressed the opinion that the present system was all that was to be desired. Wcnk cricket did not come from lack of form, but from lack of practice. A change from the present' system world not make a great deal of difference. It was the spirit of the cricketer that needed to lie chanced. He attributed the present weak state of cricket in the province, if it was weak, to the fact that the province was pnssing through a lean period. Soon the wheel would spring back. To place the onus on two clubs" was ridiculous. One would think all cricketers came from the Bovs' High School. The. sport would lose all its attributes as a sport if they were going to legislate to keep players from playing in the company they -liked. The position now is that a sub-commit-tee has been set np to devise ways nnd means of reducing the present number of senior clubs from eight to sis.