SPORT OF CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 15

SPORT OF CYCLING.

MANUKAU AMATEUR CLUB.

INTERESTING TRACK RACE. E. A. CLEAVER IN GOOD FORM. Mainly with the object of sustaining the enthusiasm of amateur cyclists in Auckland for tho track sport tho Munukau Amateur Cycling Club, last Wednesday evening, commenced its mid-weekly competitions. Theso proved most popular last season when tho scheme was introduced, and 25 track races with an average entry of 13 were decided. J - Besides maintaining enthusiasm the club wishes to give members an opportunity to keep themselves fit in preparation for tho forthcoming track meetings, the first of which is to be hold by tho Lynndalo Amateur Athletic, and Cycle Club on December 7 at its pipe-clay surfaced track at New Lynn. This track last season, when the Lynndalo Club commenced activities and held two very well patronised meetings, raised serious and adverse comment from tho competing cyclists, several of whom fell through the treacherous nature of the sharp bends, made doubly difficult to negotiate as the day went 011 by the increasing dust 011 the surface. Track Greatly Improved. Tho track has been almost entirely reconstructed and a visit to it last week-end by several of Auckland's leading wheelmen convinced them that it will now hold racing speeds with a good margin of safety. Tho radius of tho two bends trouble has been increased and the banking treated in a similar manner. The officials of the Lynndale Club must be complimented for going to so much trouble to redesign the track and the appreciation of amateur cyclists is- sure to bo reflected in the entry for the initial meeting of the season. An excellent entry of 22, the largest number to start in a track race promoted by the Manukau Club, competed in the two miles race at the Auckland Domain grass track last Wednesday evening. The event was decided in one straight-out issue, and the big field of 22 presented a fine sight to the many enthusiasts who witnessed it. Bunching early, the front and middle markers maintained a fast pace, and consequently the scratch men, J. H. Wade and A. Maekie, the latter the well-known scratch rider of the Papanui Amateur Club, of Christchurch, now resident in Auckland, had a very difficult Task in closing up with the field. The scratch pair reeled off the first mile in the excellent time of 2m. 2bs. With two laps to go, Maekie gave up the pursuit, leaving Wade and Dwight, 60yds., the scratch men's nearest opponent, whom they caught at the half distance, to uphold the back markers' reputation. A splendid effort by the latter pair over the last lap and a-half saw them rapidly wipe out the gap separating them from the field, the tail end of which they just caught in the finishing straight. It was a brilliant and praiseworthy effort, and they did well to get past several of tho competitors and finish 20yds. behind the winner, E. A. Cleaver, 150 yds., whose time was sm. 2s. This , was an improvement of 14s. on.the best time registered on the same track on the previous Monday—two days before—at the Labour Day sports, when L. Aldred won his heat off 200vds. in sm. 16s. Winner's Excellent Finisn. E. A. Cleaver gave a glimpse of promising form at the Labour Day sports when he won his heat of the two miles race off 240 yds., came third in his heat of the mile off 100 yds. and was similarly placed in the final of the latter. In the race under review he found little difficulty in overcoming the 90vds. handicap, and was with the leaders with five laps of the eight to go. The fact that no spill occurred reflects well 011 the riding capabilities of the contestants.

W. McCoilum, 290 yds., had the leading, position at the bell, but Cleaver was right alongside and soon shot to the front, which position he held for the whole of the lap. In a very close finish, in which the three placed men crossed the line almost breast, ('leaver won by half a wheel. Cleaver has every possibility of making good on the tracks this season, for the fashion in which he won proves him to bo a strong and heady rider who can take the lead at a lap to go, hold it, and then have sufficient in reserve to increase the pace in the finishing straight. The mid-weekly meetings at the Domain will be continued this evening with a three miles handicap over 12 lap 3, which will start at 5.45 p.m.