Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 14, 7 April 1927, Page 7

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

(BY

"CHAINWHEEL.")

FIXTURES. April 9. —Manukau Club road races, Miimgere. Te Awamutu track races. April 16. —Auckland quarter-mile, halfmile and five-miles championships, Hamilton. April 18.—Track races, Ngahinepouri. April 23. —Manukau Club teams’ race, Mangere. April 30. —Manukau Club 23-miles “time trial” road race, Mangere. The road season was advanced a further stage last Saturday when the Manukau Club decided an open race of 17 miles, and a junior contest over 5J miles. As anticipated, G. Rose had little difficulty in winning the latter race oft' his liberal handicap of 2min., and it was also the general opinion that A. W. Pinker (smin.) would have a “walk-over” in the open race. But it remained for N. Fisher to create a surprise by defeating him by a wheel in the final sprint after he had given him 30sec. start. Another factor which contributed to make this race interesting was the record which M. P. Byrnes (scr.) put up for the first lap, despite the tact that he had to make his own pace for nearly the whole journey. In the junior race the first lad to be despatched was Tolley, a son of Mr. Tolley, the official timekeeper and starter. G. Rose, the ultimate winner, was soon on his way and he overtook the limit man in a short space of time. Having few fast riders to pace with him, he himself was soon caught by R. Foubister (lm. 155.) and A. C. Steen (lm. 155.). These three rode well together and were successful in keeping in front of the scratch men, J. H. Wade and A. Sercombe. Rose crossed the line a length to the good, while Foubister also had Steen well in hand. The best sprint for the lme, however, was made by J. H. Wade, who secured the fastest time, 15min. Bsec. A. Sercombe was some little distance further back. Subsequent to the race Wade admitted he was over age, being unaware of the exact rules governing the age limit for juniors. R. Foubister tliLis received the trophy for the fastest time honours, although in some quarters it was thought that A. Sercombe had established the fastest time. The winner’s actual riding time was 16min. ssec., while Foubister covered the same distance in 15min. 20 l-ssec. Punctually at three o’clock the big race was started. To send off 30 riders at very close intervals was a difficult undertaking for the starters, Messrs E. Tolley and A. J. Clarkson. Nevertheless everything was run off without a hitch, the scratch man being started five minutes behind the limit group and 30sec. in the rear of F. J. Casey and W. T. Bray. Naturally there was considerable speculation as to whether the scratch man, M. P. Byrnes, would catch up with Bray and Casey, who, it will be remembered, conjointly occupied the

scratch mark for a great part of last road-racing season. It has always been a difficult task to differentiate between the merits of these two performers, and once again they were put on the same mark. At the word “go” Casey literally jumped away, followed closely by Bray. A stiff pace was set and each rider took laps of a couple of hundred yards. A RECORD FOR THE COURSE So when Byrnes started, his rivals were a good distance ahead and going at a great pace. In fact the speed seemed to be in excess of that required for a 17-miles joqrney. At the Robertson Road corner, Byrnes had reduced the deficit by 100 yards, and by the time YValmsley Road was reached he made up another 80 yards. Along Walmstey Road there was a following wind, and taking advantage of this, j the champion approached to within 75 yards of Bray and Casey. On the main road about a mile from the starting point, he sprinted and was then up with the latter pair. Bray at once took the lead and made the pace a merry one. Half a mile further on Byrnes went to the front, and leading oyer the line he was officially timed to cover the first lap in 14min. 2Ssec. —a course record. The four limit riders filled the first four places, N. Fisher gaining first place by a wheel from Pinker, with H. Stewart a length further back. S. Baird, a novice, finished well in fourth place. Pinker appeared to accidentally bore Fisher off the road at the finish, but the winner’s superior sprinting powers stood him in good stead. The sprint for fifth place was no less exciting with such good riders as McElroy and Wade taking part. Wade, although he had competed in the junior race, had the honours with him. McElroy finished in sixth place, with Wright a short distance behind. As stated above, Galbraith was the first “home” out of the next group. The last men to arrive were the backmarkers. Bray, Baker and Byrnes rounded the bend in a line for the final dash with Mathieson hanging to the latter’s wheel. No one appeared eager to indulge in a long sprint, but in a flash Mathieson jumped to the front and Byrnes hooked his wheel immediately, Bray apparently being too weary to sprint. Mathieson, who was very fresh, showed Byrnes the way until 100 yards from the line, when Byrnes leaped away to win by about three lengths. Baker was third, while Bray finished about lOsec. behind Byrnes,

It was seen that the scratch man j had made the time, but every- i one was eager to near who had regis- j tered the second best. Some were of [ the opinion that Bray had done so, ' but others pointed out that Byrnes i had finished fully a minute behind j Galbraith (lm. 455.). Finally it was j given out that Galbraith was the re- j cipient of this honour, for he had tra- j versed the 17 miles in 48m. 95., while ! it had taken Bray 48m. 12s. The fast- ' est time was 47m. 325. C. Gains- ! boroughs’ time was only l-ssec. slower than Galbraith’s. NOTES AND COMMENTS At the beginning of last road season a field of 18 riders was to be regarded as satisfactory, the number gradually increasing to 30. Now, at the beginning of this season, the club has had 32 starters in the first open race and 31 in the second race —the latter number in spite of a junior race attracting an entry of 15. New members are continually joining up both in the junior and senior ranks Last Saturday saw the appearance of at least ten new riders, and one, R. Wright, finished seventh in the senior race, and another, W. Capp, fourth in the junior race. Those club members who brought along these new riders are commended for their enthusiasm and distinct effort to further the interests of this popular club. It may be stated here that the number of financial members of the club is now 77. It is hoped that the hundred mark will be attained shortly. No riders were injured in the spills which occurred on Saturday, but all should learn to treat the Robertson Road corner with respect. F. J. Casey would be well advised to refrain from racing for a fortnight. The strenuous road season which is ahead requires a rider to be absolutely fit. Byrnes established a precedent on Saturday by breaking a one-lap record during the progress of a threelap contest. He smashed by 14secs. the previous record which was held by F. J. Casey. His improved form is shown by the fact that in the first race of the season, one lap, Tiis time was 24secs. slower than on Saturday. Casey will not allow Byrnes to hold this record too long. C. G. Galbraith has evidently recovered the form which won for him several track races in succession. To record the second fastest time off a handicap is no mean performance, but in future he will be handicapped near the scratch mark. _ In the sprint he defeated such riders as E.. Grant, H. Dwight, House Cup winner, H. Brewin, the brilliant half-miler, and C. Gains- * borough. The latter is retaining the form which has enabled him to ride into several track places of late. H. Dwight made the mistake of commencing his sprint too early. The

shorter race next Saturday should be more to his liking. In the last five and a-half miles event he secured the third fastest time. It was incorrectly stated last week that J. V. Gore caused the spill on championship day through looking back. This smash resulted from Gore’s machine skidding from under him, and through no fault of his own. W. T. Bray did not ride up to expectations, but a rider connot always be at his best. Some comment was caused on Saturday through certain riders absolute-* ly refusing to take a fair share of the pace-making. This has the effect of slowing up the times, and of imposing upon the good nature of the other riders. A road race is not intended to be a match race, and the offenders should bear this in mind. A novice race is included on the programme for Saturday, a novice being defined as one who has not been placed in any class of race during the last five years. The race will be over one lap of the Mangere course, and ' should draw about 15 riders. Entries close to-night with Mr. Wilson, hon. secretary, or with Mr. P. Faithfull at his cycle shop, 309 Queen Street. Post entries will be taken till 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, half an hour before the start of the race. As well as this event, the club will also conduct a 51-miles junior race and an 11-miles open race. CHRISTCHURCH NEWS To record 2min. lsec. for a mile would be no mean performance for a pathman in his prime, but when this feat is done by a veteran of 40 years of age it is truly remarkable. Competing at English Park on the occasion of the St. Patrick’s Sports, Phil O’Shea set a new record for the mile, viz., 2min. lsec. The previous New Zealand record was 2min. 2 2-ssec., held jointly by O’Shea and Bert Campion. It is unlikely that O’Shea will be found racing much more, but he will leave behind him a wonderful record on both road and track. The event in which the record time was made was the St. Patrick’s wheel race, and O’Shea’s win marks the third time on which he has been successful in this race. In his two previous wins he won easily, but in this year’s race he had a hard ride from scratch in both heat and final. C. R. Parker won the two-miles points scratclf race, with O’Shea gaining the second highest number of points. The latter rode well, but left his run tog, la£%