SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22619, 6 January 1937, Page 16

SPORT OF CYCLING

MEETING AT HAMILTON FINE RIDING BY C. McONIE After three clays of almost incessant light rain, which" caused the postponement of the sports at Whatawhata. Te Aroha and Morrinsville. the Hamilton Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club held its meeting on Saturday in delightful summer weather. Considering the rain of the previous days, the grass quar-ter-mile track was exceptionally fast. The circular shape of the track was rather confusing to the visiting riders, who are accustomed to tracks with a long finishing straight. Twenty riders competed, among whom were 1). Evans, of the Poncke Club, Wellington, F. N. Wardell and G. S. Webster, of the Papatoetoe Club, and W. Crocker, of the Manukau Club. The local riders gave a good account ot themselves on their home track, especially C. McOnic, who was placed in all three handicaps. From 30yds he was third in the half-mile event after a hsrd race. In the mile he ran Webster to a great finish only to he beaten by inches. McOnic displayed fine determination in the three miles race, in which the field hunched early into two sections, the long markers and the back division. When his group broke up McOnie continued to overhaul the six leaders and won after an excitinji sprint with F. N. Wardell. In the half-mile race H. Liddington. of Te Awaniutu, rode so strongly from the limit mark of 75vds that he never left any doubt about his ability as a short distance exponent, winning both heat and final by 20 yards. Pie made the excellent time of 65 l-5s in the final. G. S. Webster won the mile after a great sprint with McOnie, who was on the outside. Webster also raced at ltotorua, but without success.

Although his cycle was equipped with the heavv steel type of road wheels and road t.vres, K. N. Wardell gave a good exhibition in the three miles rare, localising that the back division's pace was too slow, he shot away and bridged the gap of 100 yds in two fast laps, easing up after attaining his objective. This latter move permitted McOnie also to overhaul the leaders. AVardell led at the bell, but commenced his sprint apparently too early, for over the last 50 yards he did not accelerate his pace and McOnie shot past to win by a clear length. In the one mile heat G. J. Middlemiss and J. Rodgers fell heavily when sprinting for the finish, while A\ardcll, by a swift manoeuvre, managed to swing wide of the fallen riders. Rodg»rs and his father rode in the 100 miles race in 1935. The postponed meetings will now be hold as follows:—Te Aroha, to-dav; Morrinsville, next Saturday; Whatawhata Amateur Athletic Club, Easter Saturdav. The Hamilton Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club will hold another carnival on January 10 at the banked cinder track at Morrinsville. The Morrinsville track has a particularly fast surface.