SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22193, 21 August 1935, Page 18

SPORT OF CYCLING

ADVERSE CONDITIONS time trial contest D. T. RIDDELL'S IMPROVEMENT The strong westerly wind which prevailed last Saturday made racing conditions extremely strenuous for competitors in the road events organised by the six local amateur cycling clubs. Light showers also added difficulties and made for unpleasant racing. Several riders raced with their machines equipped with light celluloid mudguards to prevent tho continuous spray of water from the revolving wheels from saturating them. Time trial events, in which the competitors aro required to ride solo against the watch, are now recognised by tho local clubs as events of distinct interest in which the individual merit of a rider can be gauged to a fine degree. Last week the Manukau Club held an event over its hilly circuit at Avondale South. Only two riders were successful in covering the 20 miles within tho hour. J. Brown, Unapproachable at unpaced work, was one, and tho other was D. T. liiddoll, whose riding this season has been consistently good. Brown» clocked 57m 16s, while Riddell, next fastest, took 59m 535. Last year Riddell was over 5m slower than Brown, but his improvement since then is obvious from his latest figures. The sealed handicap winner, L. M. Nicholson, took 60m 21s in a friendly duel vith his usual fellow-marker, T. L. Nixon, whom he beat by 47s after his best exhibition of solo riding Close Finish JJy gaining fastest time in the Papatoetoe Club's 20 miles event over the undulating Howick course, 0. B. White, scr. justified his inclusion on the mark of honour. He beat S. E. Pinfold, scr, by half a wheel in a desperate sprint for time hoitours. The time, 57m 555, can be recognised as excellent, for the return half was a hard ride into a powerful head wind. White is of medium height, but thick-set aud solid, and is a typical distance road rider in general build. The event was won by the junior rider \V. Bayly, off sm, after he made a surprise breakaway from a bunch of eight riders when they were riding fairly slowly in preparation for the final dash for the line. E. G. Moffitt and R. L. Francis chased hard, but Bayly's tactics won the race for him. After a short spell from competition, M. T. Gamble, scratch rider of the Auckland Club, rode in bis club's 17 miles race and again proved himself outstanding in recording fastest time in 50m 10s —almost 3m better than S. Thompson, who is gradually developing into a fine road rider. Next Saturday the club will conduct its annual championship race of 44 miles over the now popular "harbour" course, which extends from Devon port to Point Chevalier, via Riverhead, and Gamble is expected to be the strongest opponent to aspirants for the title. Byrnes Reappears Al. P. Byrnes made a reappearance after a long spell from competitive work and rode from scratch with Gamble. He took the race as a training ride and clocked 54m 30s. At Mangere during the 1926-7 and I9"J* road seasons Byrnes was a conspicuous performer and many will the Byrnes-Wade duels for fastest time. However, Byrnes has never taken road riding as seriously as track racing, at which ho is outstanding, but has had much misfortune in the way of spills. His last mishap was in the final of the sprint championship event at the Petone Oval. Wellington, during the last track season. With his characteristic "jump" he shot away from Wade and Giles on the final lap and looked to be a certain winner when a tyre rolled off the rim and he crashed heavily to injure his collar-bone and break three ribs.

RACES AT TAKAPUNA

LEADERS SURPRISED i'he l'akapuna Club held its annual open event over six laps of the fairly level circuit enclosing Lake Pupuke when a fairly representative field ot city riders competed. With an early all-out finishing effort D. Keating, 3m. of Takapuna, took the other five leading men, all visiting riders, by surprise and quickly gained a useful lead, which A. M. Keith, lm, of the Manukau Club, failed to close by a length. 11l addition tq making second place Keith was the fastest rider in 62m 31s for the 22£ miles course. Two experienced road riders. A. E. Davics and G K Cook, had a spirited sprint for the premier placing in the Lynndalo Club's 18 miles event. Davies winning by a length. Last season these riders won two events each and have been consistently well placed in races this year. C. Gooder, scr. again made the best time in 59m 375. After his latest run of successes Gooder must be recognised as his club's loading road rider.