SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21951, 7 November 1934, Page 22

SPORT OF CYCLING

VARIOUS TRACK MEETINGS HUGHES' FINE RIDING Plenty of competition was provided for the local amateur track racing enthusiasts during the past week when two evening meetings and an afternoon taieeting were held. The Lvnndale Club's (poir.ts meeting on Saturday was favoured with fair weather, but a strong jwind on the track straight slowed the riders considerably. Slight improvements have been made to the track, a quarter-mile pipe-clay surfaced oval, jand it appeared much st.fer on Saturday, when only two riders, R. Camphell and H. Mason, skidded and fell lightly. In the three senior division events the scratch rider, E. L. G. Hughes, rode brilliantly to win the one-mile race and finish' second in the half and three miles. He was noticeably faster in acceleration from the mark than .the other scratch man, C. Gooder, on whom he gained almost 20 yards in the first lap of the two shorter races. The three miles provided the best finish of the day. All ten starters were bunched with a mile to go. Gooder rushed into the lead just before the commencement of the last lap. Hughes made a strong and determined effort for the whole 'of that final circuit to go past Gooder, but the latter proved master of the occasion, and won by a jvheel in 7m 52 3-ss. The half-mile and two iniles junior races were won by H. Mason, who is ia particularly solid type of rider for a junior. He won both events easily. In the two miles he finished 100 yards ahead of A. E. Davies, the scratch rider, who conceded him 75 yards. One of the smallest of Auckland's track riders, H. E. Davis, 50 yards, won the mile when he caught his opponents papping.

The Otahuhu Club is including a cycling race in its Thursday evening programmes, and the initial race held last week received good support. The event was held on the grass track at Sturges Park over a distance of 18 laps, and 18 riders competed. Tho field bunched at the half-distance and in a close sprinting finish D. N. Pinfold, 20 yards, beat L. Foubister, 20 yards, by a length. Pinfold won the scratch race at the Auckland Domain on Labour Day, and his present form indicates that he may exceed his successes of last year, when lie recorded many wins, both on banked tracks and grass, He. was one of the four Papatoetoe riders who won the teams road championship title last winter.