MOTOR CYCLING

Southland Times, Issue 21894, 21 December 1932, Page 8

MOTOR CYCLING

GRASS TRACK RACING MEETING AT RUGBY PARK CHECKETTS HOLDS SILVER SASH The Southland Motor Cycle Club held another grass, track meeting at Rugby Park last evening. There was a fair attendance of the public. The racing was interesting, but some of the principal events did not provide the competition anticipated and exciting finishes were few and far between. Following are the results:— CLUB HANDICAP. First heat: C. Robertson (lOsec) 1, J. Checketts (Isec) 2. Also started: J. G. Aspray (3sec), S. J. Fraser (6sec). Robertson led all the way and stalled off a great challenge by Checketts who failed to catch Robertson by two yards. Time, 3min 18sec. Checketts, who was the virtual scratch man, covered the distance in approximately 3min 9sec. Second heat: R. H. Dixon (3sec) 1, A. K. Ritchie (ssec) 2, G. J. Winton (2 sec) 3. Won comfortably. Time, 3min 16 2-ssec. Third heat: J. B. Rillstone (3sec) 1. Also started: W. Tattersfield and J. R. Donaldson. Donaldson’s machine broke down and Tattersfield crashed in the last lap. Time, 3min 17sec. Final. R. H. Dixon (3sec) 1 J. B. Rillstone (3sec) 2 C. Robertson (lOsec) 3 Also started: J. Checketts (lsec). Robertson led for two laps when he was overtaken by Dixon and Rillstone. Checketts crashed when making a forward move in the second round. For the remainder of the contest the spectators were treated to a thrilling duel between Dixon and Rillstone. The former held the inside running, however, and always managed to stall off Rillstone’s repeated challenges. The final round saw Rillstone catch Dixon 100 yards from the post, and a neck and neck finish resulted in Dixon prevailing by the barest of margins. It was an exciting race and delighted the crowd. Time, 3min lOsec. BRONZE SASH. J. G. Aspray 1 S. J. Fraser 2 A. K. Ritchie 3 W. G. Jones, the holder of the sash, was unable to compete owing to illness. It was a poor race run in slow time. Aspray went to the front from the start and was never headed. Time, 3min lOsec. SILVER SASH. (Holder: J. Checketts.) Elimination Heat: G. J. Winton 1, J. B Rillstone 2. Also started: W. Tattersfield. This was a good race with a close finish. Winton led all the way and won by a narrow margin from Rillstone, who was a couple of yards ahead of Tattersfield. Time, 3min 10 sec. Final. J. Checketts 1 G. J. Winton 2 Also started: J. B. Rillstone.. This race was robbed of all its interest owing to an accident just after the riders entered the second lap. After one false start the three riders were sent away to a bad start, Rillstone being yards behind Winton and Checketts when the signal to continue was given. Winton immediately crossed Checketts to take up the inside running and led all the way round from Checketts and Rillstone. Checketts challenged Winton entering the second lap, but Winton’s machine swerved and came down and was responsible for bringing Rillstone down. This left Checketts to romp away alone. He displayed a desire to pull up and wait on his challengers, but was advised by officials to carry on. Winton ultimately re-mounted and chased Checketts, but had little chance of overtaking him. The crowd was disappointed in the contest as the prospects of Winton defeating the holder (Checketts) were regarded as very bright. In his other races Winton had displayed greatly improved form. The time was posted as 3min lOsec. PARK HANDICAP. First Heat: A. K. Ritchie (ssec) 1, W. Tattersfield (2sec) 2. Also started: J. G. Aspray (3sec), G. J. Winton (2 sec). Time, 3min lOsec. Second Heat: S. J. Fraser (7sec) 1, R. H. Dixon (3sec) 2. Also started: J. B. Rillstone (2sec) and J. Checketts (lsec). Time: 3min lOsec. Final S. J. Fraser (7sec) 1 W. Tattersfield (2sec) 2 Alsa started: R. H. Dixon and A. K. Ritchie. Fraser led all the way and won comfortably from Tattersfield and Ritchie who were separated in a good finish by inches. Time, 3min 16sec. During the evening J. Checketts (holder of the silver sash) made an attempt on the mile track record of Imin 28 7-10 sec, but after completing half of the first lan he crashed badly and the attempt was abandoned.