CYCLING

Southland Times, Issue 22770, 21 December 1935, Page 19

CYCLING

(By

“Pedal.”)

COMING EVENTS. December 21.—Oteramika, 6.30 p.m,, Track. December 25.—Drummond. December 26.—Limehills. Riders are becoming keener now and some good riding can be expected from now on. The Invercargill riders have been competing with success at other clubs’ meetings this season. At Winton on Monday night some 12 riders journeyed out to compete at the opening meeting. C. W. Robinson was the winner of the one mile event, C. Nicolson putting in some good work and finishing second. This rider is improving with every race, although he has not been first yet. This club intends holding another meeting after New Year, and by the support shown on the opening night next meeting will no doubt be a good one. It has .a very good track this year, mainly due to ardent supporters and officials spending much time and labour top-dressing and rolling it. Another season and this will be one of the best tracks in Southland. On Wednesday night, in conjunction with the Rugby Park Club’s meeting, two cycle events were staged, one mile and three miles. The three mile

race was more of a preliminary for the A grade riders before the championships. Although the scratch riders never caught the limit men they put up a good showing. L. Bloy, J. Robinson and C. W. Robinson were the only scratch riders. J. Robinson dropped out at half way and this left a hard ride for the remaining two. H. Patton (280yds) proved the winner in this event with C. Nicolson (160yds) second and D. Patton (220yds) third. The scratch riders were not far away. The one mile was won by C. W. Robinson, who came from the rear 6f the field in the back straight and finishing with a strong sprint, beat R. Dixon by a length. C. A. Robinson, who is improving with every race, was close up third. J. Robinson is taking things easy this year. He will have to put more heart into the sport if he is going to defend his three mile championship title. L. Bloy and C. W. Robinson are the most successful riders so far this season with three wins each. On Wednesday night brothers were in the limelight in each event. In the one mile C. W. Robinson was first with C. A. Robinson third, and the three miles H. Patton was first and D. Patton third. A. Drury has stated that he will not be a starter until the New Year. The Oteramika club is holding its official opening of the track to-night, and will be well supported by the Invercargill riders as 12 intend to compete. The trouble last year with this club was that its riders were “shy” when the town riders were present but this will not lead to success as the town riders go out to encourage these riders and do not want the track to themselves. The best experience is to start at every opportunity you can get with more experienced riders than yourself. The Southland track championships are to be staged at Rugby Park on January 25. A cyclist recently rode on the rollers in England for 12 hours with a 69 gear and covered 227 miles. He consumed 13 pints of milk and six eggs. DRUMMOND JOTTINGS. (By “Wheelman.”) On December 25, 1934, the first annual local sports meeting was held and proved a success. Some £lB was collected at the gate. The fixture was last year staged by the Drummond Amateur Cycling Club, but for this year’s fixture, also on December 25, the newlyformed amateur athletic branch will co-operate with the cycling club. The local meeting is the largest country amateur meeting in Southland and also the most popular. Excellent entries have been received and first class competition is assured. T. Egan rode a well-judged race at Winton on Monday evening, securing a win in the two-mile event. D. Chilton who was second in the same event, is regaining some of his form of a season ago and should compete to advantage at the annual fixture. H. Reynolds, the third rider to finish, has been among the missing at recent fixtures and it is pleasing to see him appear once again.

It is a pity that M. Thornbury cannot do more training, for at Rugby Park on Wednesday evening he gave a good account of himself, just lacking that necessary dash which wins races.