Speed-Cycling on Road and Track]

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 84, 30 June 1927, Page 10

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track]

FIXTURES SATURDAY, JULY 2. Auckland A. and C.C.— 3O-mile open road race, Mangere course, 2.30 p.m. Manukau A.C.C. —25-mile race, Papakura and back; s£-mile junior race, Alangere course. DEAKIN SCORES HIS FIRST WIN THIS SEASON MANUKAU CLUB EVENTS One of the best fields at Mangere this season, in the M.A.C.C. colours was seen on Saturday. Thirty-one riders faced Starter Tolley in the 28-mile open event, turned out to be a very interesting race. The limit riders, as per usual, made the pace, and a merry pace it was. Half the journey completed, the middle markers looked to have a good chance of winning, but entering the last lap, the back markers, Galbraith, Dwight and Wilson, were within striking distance, and seemed to have a mortgage on the prize money. With roughly 80sec to the good, and with five miles to go, the limit bunch, which included the three placed riders, crammed on the pace. Pacing each other well, they just lasted long enough to win, with very little to spare from the fast finishing back markers in the following order; H. Deakin, 6m, 1; P. Platt, 7m 2- A. W. Pinker, 6m, 3; won by inches only. The time for the race was 75m 21s and the fastest time rider was G. Galbraith (lm), who rode the distance in lh 16m 11s. The winner, H. Deakin, has been a very consistent performer. He thoroughly deserved his win, which was his first this season. P. Platt and A. V. Pinker, the second and third riders to finish, were responsible for more than their share of the pacing during the running of the race. They will win again shortly. G. Galbraith, winner of Saturday’s fastest time prize, just managed to beat H. Dwight, by 1-5 of a second, in a ding-dong finish. With M. P. Byrnes not starting in the last two races, Galbraith has had a mortgage on fastest time prizes. However, Dwight had him hard at it over the last 100yds on Saturday. “A DARK HORSE” The junior event attracted a field of 13 starters. W. Smithson who was evidently a “dark horse,” and who was No. 13 right on the limit, put up a remarkably good performance, by keeping away from the rest of the field, and winning easily by 100yds. F. E. Pinker (lm), and D. Hope (lm 30s), fought out a desperate finish for second place. ’The former winning by a lenth. The time, 14m 255, was fast, considering the conditions. Both D. Hope and W. Smithson are new riders, and are a welcome addition to «*the M.A.C.C. ranks. A. Sercombe, scratch, secured fastest time prize, riding the 5£ miles in 15m 7is. He carries too many guns for the other scratch boys. “FATTY” LAMB LOSES Fatty Lamb has finally lost the half mile Victorian championship, which was awarded to him at the Exhibition track in Melbourne, on Eight-Hour Day. C. Mineham, who won the race, had a protest against him by Lamb, on the ground that he “switched” Lamb coming into the straight. The officials upheld Lamb’s protest, but Mineham appealed to the Victorian Amateur Cyclists’ Union, the governing body of amateur cycling in Victoria, with the above result. ROAD RACING IN SYDNEY There were no open events held on Saturday, but both amateur and professional clubs held races. It was estimated that well over 1,000 riders participated. This road racing season has eclipsed all records as far as the number of competitors are concerned in Australia.

By “VELOS”

ENTRIES FOR CYCLE ROAD RACK TOP HALF CENTURY LAST WEEK’S RACING That the sport of cycle racing is appealing to the rising generation of athletes in Auckland, is proved by the fact that 58 riders competed in the three road races held at Mangere on Saturday. The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club held a oi-mile junior and a 28-mile senior event, while the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club held a 25mile open handicap. The racing was full of interest, owing to the backmarkers in both the longer distances putting up Stirling performances. Weather conditions were most unfavourable, the afternoon being cold and showery. A ditch, cut across the road near the Black Bridge, requires the attention of a surfaceman as it is positively dangerous. WHITE RIDES WELL The Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club’s 25-mile road race was won by P. White, who was making his first appearance on the scratch mark. He proved by his win on Saturday that no cash rider is in the form he is at the present time. The scratch division in this race was the hottest to be found in Auckland, being composed of Slater Hayes (last year’s scratch man), J. Henderson, P. White and A. Sutherland. The last-named pulled out alter covering a few miles, leaving Hayes, Henderson and White to put up one of the best rides seen in ’ Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club events. Entering the last lap, it was seen that the scratch men would win, but speculation was divided as to whether White could beat Hayes in the final sprint. Over the Mangere Hill, 300yds. from the finish, they raced together, but 100yds. from the line White rose to the occasion, and drawing away, won by two lengths. Hayes beat Henderson by two lengths for second place. The time lhr. 3min 30sec was good, considering the day. NOTES AND COMMENTS

“Putty” White scor€;d his second win on Saturday In his x present form he will take some beating for the “Pardy” Cup. Slater Hayes rode a great race, considering he has had very little training. Be on Slater when he gets into condition.

Jim Henderson will insist on doing most of the pacing, thereby ruining his chances at the finish. He is due for a win any day, and what a popular one it will be.

Owing to being indisposed, several riders, including Frank Prior, G. Mathieson, A. Brennan, G. Reid and A. Bolton, were missing from the cash ranks on Saturday. W. Hill also was an absentee. This was Hill’s first miss this season.

The Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club’s officials, Messrs. Oakes, Marriott and Tonkin, are keenly interested in the racing every Saturday. The club’s best thanks are due to these gentlemen, who, wet or fine, are there to see the boys off. If sometimes they miss a train, and delay the start a few minutes, no one, not even the waiting riders would think of finding them guilty for this offence.

Harris Horder, who successfully raced in New Zealand, is one of the favourites for this year’s American national championship. Fit and well, Horder, who has tons of speed, will be a hard man to beat. Being small in stature, as compared with Willie Spencer (last year’s champion), R. Walker (runner-up), and Art Spencer, he is at a disadvantage. The old saying, “A good big man will beat a good little man,” holds good, particularly in cycling.