CYCLING

Southland Times, Issue 21949, 25 February 1933, Page 14

CYCLING

(By

“Plugger.”)

Fixtures. To-day : Final Elsa Shield Race. Drummond Evening Sports. March 4.—Otago Track Championships.

The Southland track championships of 1933 had many disappointing features and one could pick out a dozen reasons for the small attendance at the meeting. It was realized some weeks before that a record crowd could not be expected as there were many counter attractions on the same day; the biggest one being the Clifden races on the Southland racecourse. Five picnics held at various suburbs out of town also accounted for several more enthusiasts. When it was learnt there would be no sprinters or cyclists down from Dunedin to take part keen disappointment was felt locally and the small attendance can also be attributed to this fact. Entries for the cycle events were easily the poorest received at any time throughout the season, only five-riders competing in the championship events compared with 18 and 21 last year. The mile was quite an interesting race to watch, being done in good time. The track was a little heavy. Four club riders competed, namely. L. Johnson, J. Flynn, L. Bloy

and T. Ward; the other competitor was W. Frame, of Wyndham. Frame took the first lap, Johnson the second, and Ward the third. During this lap Flynn and Bloy moved up and were riding alongside Ward. As the bell went for the final round Bloy moved to the front but was soon passed again by Ward; going down the back Johnson made a good break to pass the field and get the inside running coming round the bend into the straight. Ward put in another challenge, but Johnson had enough left to win by a length from Ward, with Bloy two lengths back third. The time for the race was 2 min. 49 1-5 secs, compared with J. Fogarty’s time of 2 min. 42 1-5 last year, the Southland standard being 2 min. 45 secs.

The three mile race saw only five starters, the same as competed in the mile. Some of the laps were a farce, one rider taking 52 secs and 53 secs for two of his laps, which was slower than the runner E. Fish took to cover the same distance in the 440 running cliimpionship. It can well be imagined how interesting this race was to watch. The whole distance took 9 mins. 19 1-5 secs, compared with 9 mins. 8 secs, last year, but that race was also run at a snail’s pace; the Southland standard is 8 mins. 30 secs., which was equalled by K. Booth in 1931. The best lap was taken by L. Johnson, 43 secs in the fourth lap. Most of the laps ran out at 48 secs, but the last two were done exceptionally fast, and after witnessing some slow motion the crowd present got worked up to a high pitch of excitement and were cheering the contestants lustily during the last lap, which was done in 34 secs. The early part of the race was very quiet each rider taking his lap in rotation, all waiting for the sprint. Coming into the straight in the 11th lap Ward showed a remarkable burst of speed and was leading by a good 15 yards going round the top bend. Flynn and Johnson were not long in chasing him, a slight westerly breeze slowed him up considerably, and the latter two soon made up the leeway. Flynn was gradually leaving Johnson and caught Ward about twenty yards from the post, passing him to win by a length, while Johnson caught him ten yards to go and succeeded in getting into second place by a tyre. Ward made his break too soon and could not last the pace set by himself. He was going very slow on the last 50 yards. The other two competitors finished well back.

Championship races would be made more interesting for the public if pacemakers were put on or else a time limit set for the race, and officials controlling these events would find it well worth while to give either of these suggestions a trial next year. Six riders started in the two mile handicap. R. Dick’s foot came out of a pedal soon after the start and he tailed the field home. R. Broad, making his first appearance, rode exceptionally well and proved to be the winner by a narrow margin of half a wheel from W. Pickford, with Insall a length back third. With a little training which has been lacking of late with several riders, Insall could have quite easily had his third win in succession of this particular race.

At a special meeting held early in the week it was decided to send two riders, L. Johnson and J. Flynn, to Dunedin to compete in the Otago cycling championships a week to-day. These two riders are to be congratulated on being picked to represent Southland and both deserve the honour bestowed upon them. L. Johnson has been a consistent rider and familiar figure in both road and track racing during the past two seasons, being scratch man on all occasions on the road and with the exception of Drummond has always been a scratch man on the track. All good fortunes which came his way have always been thoroughly deserved, and well earned. J. Flynn just made his debut late in the last road season and first came into prominence when he dead-heated for first place with M. Wilson in the Southland 56 mile championship late in October of last year. On the track he started practically a limit man, but has improved by leaps and bounds, being easily the most improved amateur rider in Southland this year, and is now a scratch man. Although all are hopeful, it is improbable either rider will win a championship riding on a banked asphalt track against riders who have been riding on them for years. The club is to be congratulated to be in a. position to send them as they are sure to secure some placings. If not they will profit a good deal by their experience and will find the trip well worth while. The reason for no competition from Otago cyclists at our championships this year was the presence of Frank Grose, New Zealand road and track champion, in Dunedin. Grose is shortly leaving for Australia where he has obtained employment and was paying a farewell visit before leaving New Zealand. An afternoon sports gathering was held in Dunedin last Saturday and an evening meeting on Monday, when all the champions of that city were competing against him. At Saturday’s meeting the only placing Gorse rode into was third place in the 3 mile lap race which resulted—C. Hansen 1, 40 points; A. Hay 2, 27 points; F. Gorse 3, 25 points. Points were given for placings at the end of each lap and tallied up after the finish. The Wyndham Club held their final sports meeting for the season last Tuesday, and an interesting programme was witnessed. Over twenty athletes, cyclists and supporters went out by bus, but competition from local cyclists was very disappointing, only three riders competing. Four riders competed in the half mile ■which provided the spectators with a good thrill and resulted in a dead-heat between Johnson (scr.) and Frame (15yds), Johnson coming up very fast over the last 100 yards. Had the distance been another five yards he would have collected first place. The mile event saw five riders on the track, W. Pickford of the local club rode very well and was not pushed to beat Johnson for first place. Pickford, a young rider, has the makings of a champion providing he does not overdo himself at present. He has a very fine style, perhaps the best in Southland, and when sprinting seems to use no effort, sitting as steady as a rock. He should improve considerably with experience and next season a lot may be expected of him. The 1J miles event attracted six starters. Again Pickford showed out well anad after being passed by Insall in the last round, he came again on the outside and succeeded in defeating the former by a very narrow margin of about six inches. This race was run in darkness, the riders not being distinguishable once they went out "of the straight each round. J. Flynn’s Fourth Success.

After going to quite a lot of trouble, special meetings, etc., the local club decided to hold an Elsa Shield race at Wyndham at this meeting, but the response from local riders made the race a failure from the public point of view; Johnson and Flynn the only two riders who had a chance of winning the shield outright being the starters. Both rode from scratch but did not make a race of it over the first three laps—Johnson took the first and third laps, Flynn the second and fourth. About 200 yards from the tape in the final round both riders sprinted strongly, Flynn being in the lead. He maintained it to win by a length, the time being 3 mins. 6 secs. After the race Mr E. Smith presented the shield, congratuating him on his win, Flynn being greeted with a hearty round of applause from the spectators, Winning this race gave Flynn his fourth win in succession of the shield and as there is only one more race to be run he has won it outright, as no matter who wins the final race the position

will be unchanged as he has won four races of the six.

■ After the sports the visitors attended a smoke concert as a windup to a successful season. The toast of the Invercargill Amateur Cycling Club was proposed by Mr Marsh and responded to by Mr H. Insall.

The final Elsa Shield race will be held this afternoon over a course of three miles. It has been decided to hold this race on the road and it will be handicapped by yards, the same as a track race. The race will take place on the East road, will be over a st,’-aight course, starting three miles out will finish at the corners of Mary street and Tay street, timed to start at 2.30' p.m. An evening will be held after the race, as a windup for the season and the Elsa Shield will be presented to J. Flynn by the donor, Mr H. P. Campbell. The Drummond club will hold their final meeting for the season this evening. This meeting was to be held a fortnight ago but was postponed on account of the rough weather. J. Flynn, who is in the running for the cup for aggregate points throughout the season, intends going out to compete and it is probable other club riders will be competing.