SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21411, 8 February 1933, Page 15

SPORT OF CYCLING

MEETING AT PAPATOETOE BYRNES BREAKS TRACK RECORD Big fields, fast racing and close and exciting finishes characterised the racing on the hanked track at the Papatoetoe .Stadium last Saturday, when the Papatoetoe Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club conducted its third carnival of the season. The hest supported race on the programme was the one mile handicap, in which 32 started, a record field for the season. The event was won by M. P. Byrnes after a thrilling sprint over the final lap -.vith the other scratch man, H. R. Dwight. Byrnes judged his finish splendidly to win with a wheel to spare from Dwight, who came up fast in the straight. Byrnes won the one mile championship title last season, while Dwight won the half-mile title. The present form of these two outstanding wheelmen indicates some exciting racing for the titles at the Domain grass track on Saturday week. In addition to establishing a track record for the mile of 2ni 11 4-ss, when he ivon his heat, M. P. Byrnes also successfully challenged I>. 11. Dwight's lap record of 13 3 s:f With apparent effortless action Byrnes sped around the oval of 293 1 3yds. in 18 l-ss, averaging almost 33 miles per hour. His latest effort «vtablishes Byrnes as the fastest cyclist in Auckland at the present time. I. C. Bellini, of the Papatoetoe Cinb, has had a deservedly successful season and in winning the two miles A grade race off 50yds. he registered his seventh win of the season.

In O. White the Papatoetoe Club has another strong pedaller. He has had three wins 111 bis club's races. His latest was in the two miles B grade event off scratch last Saturday, while in the five miles handicap held at last week's evening meeting lie rode a great race to win by 20 yards when riding off limit, 280 yds. His five miles' time was 12m 275. E. Harrison, scratch rider of the Tamaki Club, rode impressively to win his heat and the final of the half mile maiden race off 35yds in lm 4 2-ss. This event, the first of its kind to be held locally, was well supported with 21 starters.

The Auckland Club rider, R. Craig, 110 yds, secured a runaway victory in the one" mile and a-half consolation race. He won by 2Cyds. in 3m. 275. Craig won the opening event of this track season, the half mile off 75yds at the Domain on Labour Day. Although they did not secure a win both R. G. Foubister and H. V. Gordon rode well to figure in the minor placings Foubister was most unfortunate (o foul another's rider's rear wheel in the two miles in which he was placed second. He fell just as he was two lengths from the line, but with his momentum slid across the line strapped to his pedals. He was severely cut about the arms and back and witnessed the remainder of the racing swathed in bandage#.