SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22465, 8 July 1936, Page 22

SPORT OF CYCLING

EOAI) COMPETITIONS LARGER ENTRIES RECEIVED STRENUOUS.. SENIOR EVENT Four seasons ago tlie Auckland Centre of tho New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association commenced its open road races, when a field of 49 riders started in an event of 22 miles. So popular have the events become since then, that the entries have more than doubled. Of the 10(3 entries received for last Saturday's event, 62 were for tho senior race and 44 for tho junior contest. Tho senior race was over tho fairlj strenuous course extending from Point Chevalier to Kunnyi and back. This route includes tho long climbs of tho Waikumete and Lincoln Highway hills, ns well as tho shorter, but far more severe, climb of the Brigham's Creek hill. A strong westerly wind was a hindrance on the run out to Kumeu, while loose metal for 24 miles of the total distance of 35 miles made for cautious riding over several sections. Great determination was displayed by tho Manukau rider, D. W. Lawson, Bm, who won in sensational fashion by over 150 yds. He caught the limit men, A. W. Grigg, G. Harrison and T. Moore, before they reached the turning point at half-way. He then shared the lead with 10 others, but, by dint of strong riding, managed to wear down the group to such an extent that he was able to make a successful breakaway movement with four miles to go.

VERSATILE PERFORMER FASTEST TIME TO R. TRINER R. S. Triner, Manukau Club, a considerable amount of surprise by finishing second and making tho fastest time of lh 40m 425. The surprise was hardly warranted, however, as Triner was an outstanding rider on the road last year, when he won the open race over the gruelling "round the harbour" course of 44 miles. Triner also proved himself a versatile rider by winning the Manukau Club's unpaced kilometre track championship last summer, and ho also finished second to his cousin, A. G. Patrick, in the ten miles paced championship at the same meeting. L. Farrant rode with remarkable consistency to finish third, a length behind Triner. In the June race over the same course, Farrant clocked 104 m 4s, and took only 9s longer on Saturday, when conditions were decidedly slower. He is one of the most improved of thp Lynndale Club riders. The Beach Haven rider, A. Elia, who won the Juno race off 7in, finished fifth off 4m, and clipped over 2m off his previous time. His club's weekly races are over hilly courses, and naturally he finds no difficulties in the Kumeu course. Had the five scratch men combined better in their pacing efforts on the return journey, they would not have lost time honours, for at the half-way mark they were 55s faster than Triner, Elia, Warded and Willis, the 4m group. The scratch division comprised C. P. Cochrane, holder of the record for the course, C. R. Gooder, E. L. G. Hughes, M. T. Gamble and D. T. Riddell. The five finished together, for Gooder to win in the sprint from Gamble and Riddell. i JUNIOR CONTEST PAPATOETOE CLUB'S SUCCESS The junior race of 13J miles was practically monopolised by the Papatoetoe Club's riders, who filled the three placings a*nd accounted for the fastest time. C. A. Carter, who finished third in the June event over tho same course, showed distinct improvement by winning easily by 40yds. from I. A. White, while D. E. Knight, third to finish, cut 7s off R. C. Chappell's course record to make fastest time in 35m 275. The seven scratch riders, Chappell, Wilson, Langridge, Picknell, Smith, Webb and Haw'ke, sprinted over the line in the order named, but they were 2s slower than Knight. The senior event was the second for the clubs' team shield contest, and resulted in a victory for the Lynndale Club, whose three fastest men, Gooder, Farrant and Hughes, returned a collective total riding time of 303 m 565, to beat the Manukau Club's trio, Triner, Lawson and Riddell, by 2m 435. With two events decided, the Lynndale Club has a lead of 1m 49s over the Manukau Club. The 25 miles race for the teams' championship of the six local clubs will be decided next Saturday. The junior championship will also be run on tho same day. J. H. Gillbanks won tho title last year over a 13J miles course, but the race will be over 25 miles on this occasion and under unpaced conditions.