SPORT OF CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21068, 30 December 1931, Page 13

SPORT OF CYCLING.

EVENTS HELD AT DOMAIN. CASEY RIDING IN FINE FORM. ANNUAL HOLIDAY MEETINGS. Keen competition was witnessed at the Auckland Domain grass track last Wednesday evening, when members of the two amateur clubs, tho Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club and the Manuka u Amateur Cycling Club, contested half-mile handicaps promoted by their respective clubs. A complete surprise was sprung by 11. Webb, 35yds., who won the Auckland Club's event by a clear length from the scratch rider, H. O. Browne. From the gun Browne put in a great effort to collect his field at the conclusion of the initial lap of the required two. Webb, practically unnoticed, stuck to Browne's wheel and when the scratch rider swung the field into the finishing straight Webb came past with a well-timed last-minute burst, giving Browne no chance of further accelerating his pace in the short run to the liiie. Webb's time was lm 12 l-ss. In the Manukau Club's junior event the two scratch riders, 11. V. Gordon and J. H. McLachlan, again figured prominently. Sharing the pace they soon caught the;).' field of 11 starters and from then on chief interest centred on them. On this occasion Gordon led out the sprint and went rapidly away trom his immediate rival to win by two lengths. Four junior events have been decided this season. McLachlan has won three races and Gordon one. F. J. Casey, 25yds., who is now enjoying his eighth successive season of track racing, eclipsed all his previous efforts when he won the senior half-mile in the fast, time, for a grass t rack, ol lm 10 3-ss. Casey won his heat and in tho final met H. R. Dwight, 10yds, the virtual scratch ridciv With half a lap to go tho lastnamed pair wero well placed in the field of eight finalists, and on the home bend Casey went into tho lead. Dwight challenged strongly, but could not make any impression upon Casey, who went over the lino with a length's advantage. Casey was ono of Auckland's representatives at the 1927 Dominion championship meeting, and on his present form lie may again have the honour of representing his province when this season s championships are decided on the Auckland Domain on March 11 and 12 next. Several of the Auckland cyclists competed at the Boxing Day carnival conducted by tho newly-formed Rotorua Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club. Success attended the efforts of 11. R. Dwight, who won the mile event and G. P. Clark, who accounted for the two miles. The popular annual meeting of the Whatawhata Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club will he held at Whatawhata, about 7 miles out of Hamilton, on Friday. The biggest team of cyclists to leave Auckland for a country meeting will attend the. carnival and competition promises to be exceptionally keen, as both Auckland and Manukau Club members will be contesting the events, besides the local talent. DEATH OF SPORTSMEN. THE LATE MR. J. A. McMILLAN. GOOD ALL-ROUND ATHLETE. The late Mr. James Alexander McMillan, who died in Auckland last week, was born in this city 62 years ago and in his day was one. of the best all-round athletes in Auckland. Ho first became prominent when playing for the Ponsonby second Ruglfv team. When the district scheme came into force he. joined up with Grafton seniors and was one of (heir stalwart forwards until 1895, when the team won the cup. He represented Auckland in 1892, 1893, 1895 and 1896. He also was a Thames representative in 1896. 11l 1894 he was m the Taranaki team when that province had the crack team of the Dominion and beat Auckland at Potter's Paddock by 16 points to 0. Returning to Auckland he worked in tho mines at Iluntly, W.iitekauri and Coromandel. playing football for each. Mr. McMillan was a member of tho Waitemata Rowing Club and rowed in the. whalebo.it crew. He also was a member of the Auckland Swimming Club and won many races in the old Albert Street baths. On one occasion he saved the life, of a man who fell over the breastwork in Quay Street by diving, fully clothed, even to oilskins, and after a terrible struggle he succeeded in getting his man ashore. For that deed he was presented with a watch nucha unique testimonial. Mr. McMillan was also a heavy-weight lifter of repute and once in the press he challenged all-comers to a contest, but found no takers. Of a quiet and unassuming nature, Mr. McMillan will be missed by a large circle of. friends. He is survived by three sisters, Mrs. M. Jorgenson, Newton; Mrs. D. Stewart, Papakura; Mrs. J. Beagley, Pukekohe; and two brothers. Messrs. W. G. McMillan, Kingsland, and S. McMillan, Auckland. LATE MR. P. SHEAHAN. BOXER, WRESTLER, FOOTBALLER. The late Mr. Patrick Sheahan, who died of heart trouble at Wanganui last week and was buried in Wnikumeto Cemetery, Auckland, on Boxing Day, was one of the best-known sportsmen in Auckland in recent years. In his younger clays he gained fame as a boxer and wrestler and won quite a number of fights in open competition, and also the hcavv-weight championship of the transport taking his Reinforcement to England. An epic final was his defeat in His Majesty's Theatre, of T. Wilkes, then of the University Football Club, and subsequently Major Wilkes, Director of Aviation in New Zealand. The late Mr. Sheahan was always associated with the Marist Club, being ono of tho founders in 1908, when the colours of the two blues were first seen in the Rugby Union competitions. He represented his club until 1915, when lie left as an infantryman in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1916, seeing service until the Armistice. Ho played for a number of Army teams with the forces, and was the next forward for selection in the team to South Africa. He rejoined the New Zealand Railways on his return, and was transferred to Matamata in 1920, to Otahuhu in 1926 and to Wanganui in 1929. In Matamata and Otahuhu he rendered yeoman service to the game, both as administrator and coach. Mr. Sheahan is survived by a wife and three young children. ADVICE FOR SWIMMERS. VIEWS OF ENGLISH CRITIC. Instruction in the science of swimming is treated in a concise and authoritative manner by Mr. R. C. Venner, a prominent English critic on the sport, in his book "Swimming for All," which has just been published by G. Bell and Sons, Limited, London. All the most popular methods of propulsion in the water, including tho American free, style and backstroke crawls, the breaststroke and the trudgcon, are discussed and illustrated by means of action diagrams, while there is a special chapter for bathers who,find most enjoyment on the diving-boards. The work reveals the author as a student of swimming of unusual competence, and the advice contained in if should prove equally as in valuable 'to beginners and those who indulge in swimming merely for the benefit of their health as it should to competitive swimmers.