SPORT OF CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20991, 30 September 1931, Page 15

SPORT OF CYCLING.

COTTER CUP TO MULLANE. CHAMPIONSHIP ON SATURDAYENDURANCE TEST RIDERS. Next in importance to the annual championship road race is the annual event for the Cotter Cup, which was decided by the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club on Saturday. Last week's event was the sixth race for the cup and a record field for the season patronised the event, 24 riders starting. The race was over six laps of the triangular and undulating course at Avondale South, and the nature of the course, combined with the severe westerly gale, made racing conditions very strenuous. In spite of tfie unfavourable conditions, some outstanding performances were recorded, principally that of the winner. E. Mullane. Mullane, with a start of 3m 455, from the initial lap displayed unusual speed. Over the first lap he was actually the fastest rider in 6m 425, the next fastest rider, Foubister, off scratch, taking seven seconds longer. Although Mullane did not maintain his initial burst of speed his slackening was hardly perceptible, and oyer the last two laps he went awav to win very easily by lm 6s. It was the most decisive victory in the history of the cup. Mullane has raced fairly consistently this year, but has had a long run of misfortune, puncturing in four events. It was his first placing of the season and was naturally a popular one.

R. G. Foubister, scratch, appears to be riding at his best at present, and on the initial lap of 2j miles disposed of his scratch partners, H. R. Dwight and G. J. Whitehouse. FoubiSter completed the 15 nnles m 42m 435. His time was only 11 seconds slower than hi 3 record, in spite of tie adverse conditions. Very rarely at his first attempt does a cyclist show to advantage on the road. A. Brass, who started off the limit of 6m in the junior 10 miles race, rode nnpaced from early in the first lap and completed the course 2m 29s before the second finisher, A. M. Keith, 4m 30s. The junior road champion. A. W. D. Robinson, scratch, sprinted strongly to beat H. V. Gordon, scratch, by a wheer and secure fastest time in 29m 6s. The "Around the Harbour" annual championship race will be conducted next Saturday ever a course extending from Devonport, via Birkenhead, Albany and Riverhead, to the Western Springs. On performances during the season Foubister should show to advantage. Among the 30 entrants are others who are expected to perform prominently, and no surprise will be occasioned if fastest time is recorded bv a rider starting from other than the scratch mark. A team of five riders will represent the Manukau Club in the Palmerston_ North to Wellington endurance test of 102 miles on October 10. C. A. Clarke, H. R,. Dwight, and G. P. Clark, who w ere first, second and ninth respectively last year, will be making the trip, along with R. G. Foubister and J. Leather.