SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22603, 16 December 1936, Page 23

SPORT OF CYCLING

EVENTS LAST SATURDAY SCRATCH MEETINGS POPULAR FINE RIDING BY A. PATRICK Splendid weather conditions prevailed for the opening scratch race meeting of the season held by the Auckland Amateur Cycling Centre last Saturday. Since their inauguration two Beasons ago the scratch race meetings have become exceedingly popular with both the spectators and competitors. The events last Saturday were hold on the banked track at Papatoetoe. Four five-mile events were held and the new system of awarding points for each half-mile was largely responsible for the fast times recorded. Chief interest centred in the _ A grade division, in which A. G. Patrick, of the Manukau Club, rode impressively. Patrick gained a runaway win' in the five miles race after breaking away from the field of 11 riders with two miles to go. He won by over half a lap and clocked s l2m 42 2-ss. He gained 13 of the possible 34 points in this particular event. He also tied with R. F. Mclnnarney, of the Papatoetoe Club, in the unpaced kilometre, which both rode in. lm 21 2-ss. R. T. Taylor, the present provincial champion at the latter distance, appeared to find his big gear of 92in. a disadvantage, for he took lm 22 3-ss. The Papatoetoe Club's one-mile champion, A. J. Mclnnarney, shaped well in the two miles race. Ho took the lead entering the final lap, and, with the decided advantage of the inßide running, held off a strong challenge by G. W. Holland to win by a clear length in 4m 545. Ho f also rode fast to clock the kilometre in lm 225. E. L., G. Hughes, 1936 provincial road champion, and L. M. Nicholson} who w®h the same title in 1935, proved speedy stayers to finish second and third in the five miles. When Patrick broke away L. H. Dwight and R. S. lYiner, Dominion road champion, attempted to overhaul Patrick. Dwight was called off the track for riding inside the white polo lino, but Triner failed in his effort, although lie prevented his clubmate from gaining a complete lap on the rest of the field.

B GRADE SECTION REAPPEARANCE OF PINFOLD C. W. Allan, this season's most successful handicap rider, was the best of the B grade section. J- F. Archer held him to a close decision in the mile, while Allan defeated 0. B. White by half a length in the five miles event. S. E. Pinfold made a welcome reappearance at the meeting after almost a season of inactivity at competitive work. Ho scored points for the Papatoetoe Club over both the longer distances. As a sprinter J. F. Archer proved invincible and w,on both the heat, and final of tho two laps race. The Maori rider, T. Hema ; started the afternoon well by winning both the heat and final of tho C grade sprint decisively. In the mile ovent he received \a check at tho start, and, before ho could replace his pedal strap, lost 20 yards and subsequently retired. H. F. Hawke, besides winning the C grade five miles race, gained 13 points for the Lynndale Club. Tho meeting resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Papatoetoe Club, whose total of 87 points was more than double that of Lynndale, the next club. It was in the two lower grades that the Papatoetoe riders scored, for in the A grade the Manukau Club gained 29 to the Papatoetoe Club's 11. Although represented by only nine ridors, the Lynndale competitors were very successful and gained 34 points.