Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 978, 22 May 1930, Page 17

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

"CYCLOS. "

THE AMATEURS Weather conditions were unfavourable last Saturday afternoon for the holding of cycle races under the jurisdiction of the Alanukau Cycling Club. Quite a number were on hand to contest the event. As no sanction had been granted for the use of the Alangere circuit, a new route had to be adopted. When the course had been traversed by all present, a number of the riders decided to take on the journey. The majority, however stood down. The two nine minute markers filled the major places. The winner was a junior, A. Grigg. This lad put up a fine performance and more should he beard of him during the road season. R. Baston, also a newcomer to the sport, was second. I-lis lone effort to overtake his co-markers was the feature of his ride. Had he started from his correct mark no doubt he would have made things merry for tho winner. Two thirds in two starts on the road is the record of G. Whiteliouse. In downing the strong field of middlemarkers on Saturday, Whitehouse showed that he is to be reckoned with in the final sprint. J. Whitten won the coveted honour of gaining fastest time. Strenuous races of this description suit “Jerry’s” pedalling and it is little wonder he dropped his co-marker so early in tho running. The decision by the Alanukau County Council to allow both the Alanukau and Auckland Clubs to compete under certain restrictions is welcome news to all wheelmen. This is the outcome of the deputation from the above clubs to the council. The representatives of the cyclists pointed out that the racing was not the dangerous sport some considered it was. It was also shown that in other centres and other countries the game was allowed to take place on the main highways. After lengthy debate the above decision was arrived at. Thanks of all interested in tho present controversy from the rider’s point of view are due to Alessrs. S. Rickard and S. House. These two members of the council have taken a keen interest in the welfare of the boys. No doubt some mistakes have been made which will not occur in the future as regards the controlling of tho races by the separate bodies. One of the main conditions attaching to the decision is that on no occasion will two races be in progress at the same time. This will mean that the clubs will have alternate weekends for an early race. This seems to be the most satisfactory way out

of the difficulty. With the goodwill that exists between the amateurs and professionals, no hitch should be recorded. Arising out of the recent visit .of four Wellington riders to this city, an invitation has been forwarded from the Port Nicholson Club, Wellington, to Auckland to send down a team to the capital to compete in a “time-trial" inter-provincial contest. This race will be over a distance of 25 miles. With a local rider having his name against the record for 1.000 metres under unpaced conditions, this city should have a good chance of bringing back the trophy. The record was established on Wednesday. February 2G, at a carnival promoted by the then newlyformed Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Union of Cyclists. The re-cord-holder is J. Whitten. If he is able to get together a solid team to accompany him, then the Alanukau Club will have every reason to expect success. * * * The race next week will be over 11 miles for senior and junior riders As the events will be run off early all are asked to be on hand right up to time. The juniors will be dispatched at 2 p.m. sharp. THE CASH RIDERS No races were held by the Auckland Cycle Club last Saturday owing to the greasy nature of the new track. When one of the riders tried to negotiate the course, the mud choked his wheels, causing him to dismount and carry his cycle back again. Now that a settlement has been reached in the recent trouble, the programme will be continued as originally intended. The membership of the club still continues to mount steadily. Last week saw three more names added to the roll. These were C. Harris, C. Wilcox and L. Green. If Harris can only reproduce the form he displayed at the Lynndale carnival while riding as a member of the Alanukau Club, he will be an acquisition to the pro. ranks. Green has recently arrived from Whakatane, where he was one of that club’s best pedallers, while C. Wilcox comes from Christchurch, where so many of the best C3 r clists in New Zealand compete. Riders are asked to „be ready to start their race at the usual time, 2.45 p.m. The event will be over a distance of 19.4 miles, the same course over which the opening race was held. It will be interesting to see if Alex Ritchie can put up the record of gaining first and fastest time from the scratch mark two races oil end.

MANUKAU CLUB'S RACES The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club will recommence its road racing season at Alangere Central next Saturday with an eleven miles handicap for the junior and the senior division. The junior race will commence sharp at 1.50 p.m., and tho senior race at 2.30 p.m. Air. G. W. Cleaver has declared the following handicaps for the events: 11 Miles Junior Race.—A. H. Grigg, S. Pinfold. T J. Culman, R. L. Francis, scr; A. \V Robinson, G. A. Thompson, lm ss. L. Oxton, K. G. Hellier. C. C. Best, lm 50s: K. 11. Ingram. Budge. L. Cogan, W. Webb, S. Sargent. 3m: C. Campbell. 4m. 11 Miles Senior Race. —J. Whitten, A. Alackie, J. 11. Wade. H. R. Dwight. L B. Roberts, scr: A. W. Pinker, E. A. Cleaver, L. H. Dwight. X. B. Casey, J. Leather, lm; G. P. Clark. S. Baird. C. Francis. E. J Avery, M. It. Carter, R. K. Watson, lm 20s; G. J. Whitehouse. E. I>. Andrews. W Tomlinson. E. Mullane. lm 40s, C. I. Gainsborough. C. A. Clarke. A. G. Baird. H. Russell, H. Borland. 2m; A V. Reed. W. R. Thompson. S. R Gatland. C. Hansen. R. Baston, 2m 30s: J. Hitchen. D. Baird. O. A. Hughes. O. E. Rae. J. Murphy, 3m 20s; J. C. Lawrie, T. FI. Cheeseman, A. K. Cook. D. Foster, W Borland. W. Clarke. A. J. Danks. 4m 20s. THE AUCKLAND CLUB Members of the Auckland Cycle Club will assemble at the old starting point. Mangere Bridge, on Saturday at 2.30 p.m. to receive instructions as to future road events over the circuit. A 19.4 miles handicap will be held, for which the following handicaps have been declared: — S. Hayes, A. Ritchie. L. Lindop. scr; A. White. D. Fletcher. K. Mathieson, S. Gooch, lm 15s; W. Francis. G. Hall, lm 30s; L. Pinfold, L. Green, C. Galbraith. 2m 10m; D. Storey, F. Taylor, 2m 20s; N Healey, S. Litchfield. C. Harris. 2m 40s; J. McDonald. C. Yule, R. Clarke. F. Potter. 2m 50s: G Rollerson, A. Rose, W Mntliieson, 3m 15s: F. Lowndes, K. Rae, W. Archer N Whyte. C. Willcox. 3m 40s: J. Henderson, W. Hills, A. Sereombe. M Pelham, 4m; R. Gardiner, C. Slack. E. Clarke, 11 Green, L. Tomkins, 4m 30s; W. Guy, C. Wood. F. White. H. Clay. 5m 10s; S. Arnott J. Smithson, H. King, 6m; A. Freeman. L Hall, 6m 455.