SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 20

SPORT OF CYCLING

AUCKLAND CENTRE'S RACE FINE TEST FOR COMPETITORS SUCCESS OF JUNIOR RIDER The largest field to contest any of the Auckland Amateur Cycling Centre's open road races this season competed in the centre's fourth annual event over the now popular "harbour" course last Saturday. Eighty-two of the 97 entrants started in the 44 miles race. The course, which extends from Devonport via Birkenhead, Albany, Riverhead and Henderson to Point Chevalier, is recognised as a particularly fine test of road-racing ability, for all types of grades and surfaces are encountered. So hilly is the course that the greater portion of the riders fitted free-wheel clutches for the occasion, while six riders made use of change speed gears. GOOD DISTANCE RIDERS BEACH HAVEN MEMBERS The Beach Haven Club has two fine distance riders in D. J. H. Patten, who was second in the "harbour" race off 13m 30s, and S. G. Hilder, third, off 14m 30s. The pair teamed together well over the final half of the race and were only separated by half a length at the finish. The Auckland Club rider R. J. Cullen also rode creditably for a junior to finish fourth. TIME HONOURS A GREAT CONTEST A great contest for time honours was anticipated between J. Brown, of the Manukau Club, and M. T. Gamble, of the Auckland Club, after their efforts in the Hamilton Club's 50 miles event the previous week. Both riders performed to expectations and paced out a wonderful race to break the old course record by exactly one minute. Not quite a length separated them at the finish. Brown led out at a fast sprint to cross the line three-quarters of a length ahead of Gamble. In thoir respective clubs' competitions both riders have been outstanding during the past two seasons. Both are 19 years of age. STRONG QUINTET > • GOODER PERFORMS WELL Five strong road riders figured on the 2m 30s mark, that next to scratch. C. Gooder, L. H. Dwight, J. W. Clark, J. R. Hall and L. M. Nicholson comprised the group. The best performer of the five was C. Gooder, scratch rider of the Lynndale Club. Gooder, when caught by the scratch pair, continued with them to the finish, where he was only outsprinted by a length by Gamble. He was third fastest rider and clocked 2h 6m 13s. The Lynndale Club will hold its annual road championship over the course next Saturday, when a close contest is anticipated between Gooder and Hughes.

WOMAN GOLF CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN TITLE-HOLDER Mrs. J. B. Walker, of the British ladies' golf team, gave convincing proof of her quality by winning the Australian women's championship after a great final against Mrs. Sloan Morpeth. Up to the 24th hole, when the game was all square, Mrs. Morpeth put up a great fight, but afterwards she was steadily worn down by the British player. However, by sinking a 15ft. putt, Mrs. Morpeth kept the match alive at the 32nd, but Mrs. Walker won at the next.

Mrs. Walker won the Irish ladies' championship in 1930 and was runnerup in 1934. She won the Ayrshire ladies' championship in the latter year. She represented Ireland in international matches in 1931-32-33 and last year. She is rated at plus two in Britain. Referring to Mrs. Walker's play a Melbourne critic says:—"She is particularly solid and sure about her shots. She gives the ball a real thump when she attacks it. In addition she has a sporting personality and a rapid wit."

AMATEUR ATHLETICS WINTER SEASON CLOSES WESLEY TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS The 1935 cross-country season was concluded last Saturday, when large fields competed in the final club runs. In some cases the ordinary harrier run was dis[>ensed with and a series of track and field events were decided. Lynndale, the champion club of the season, held a series of events at the Avondale racecourse, all being keenly contested. Both the 100 yards and 220 yards were won by A. Anderson, while the mile scratch race was narrowly won in a good finish by 11. Crompton from W. Briggs. The Wesley Club held a series of track championships in the Mount Roskill school grounds and some close racing resulted. I). Payne was successful in the 100 yards from F. Mills and D. Ellison, who dead-heated, while the 440 yards was won by A. Rowe from J. Spooner and W. Chapplo. A. Graham won the high jump, while B. Verry showed a fine style in the 880 yards by defeating a good runner in M. Hewitson. There are a number of fine runners in the cross-country ranks who would do well on the track in the summer if they took the half-mile, mile or three miles events in the correct manner. Two clubs, University and Presbyterian, decided their final runs in the Waitakere Ranges. The latter club covered a hard trail around Titirangi, starting and finishing at Otitori Bay. University, whoso numbers were increased by several runners from other clubs, had a long run from Henderson to a tramping club's bach above Anawhata, where they stayed the night and returned the next day.