CYCLING AND RUNNING

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1933, Page 10

CYCLING AND RUNNING

NEW PLYMOUTH PROFESSIONALS.

Activities with the New Plymouth Cycle and Athletic League are at present very quiet, this being the “off” part of the season. The country sports meetings are keeping the- members very interested.

Though professional running proved slightly disapointing in New Plymouth this season as regards club races, the number of professional runners in Taranaki is very good, and 49 entries were received for the “pro.” running at Midhirst this week.

H. E. Hook has turned to the professional ranks, and makes his first appearance at Midhirst this week. Hook won the N.P.B.H.S. all-round championship a few years back, and should prove a successful pro. runner.

R. L. Reed, Taranaki amateur cycle champion turned "pro.” for the past Inglewood sports. He did not meet .with any success, but he appeared to lack the necessary grass track- training. Reed is a welcome addition to the “pro.” cycling ranks, and with a little training with the faster local riders he should undoubtedly develop into a good strong rider.

C. Parker is riding as well as ever, and appears to be the hardest man to beat for the New Zealand championships to be held at Waitara on Saturday week. There will be strong opposition, and Parker will need to secure the best of positions in the last lap to be sure of a win.

The strongest of opposition for Parker may be Lamberton and Hill, of Christchurch, Whitton, Pratney and Cooney, of Auckland, Weir, of Waitara, and J. Foote, of Wellington, and C. Burke, Inglewood, so it can be seen that with most of the named riders present keen competition must result. G. Tuffery has to have a change from cycling for a month or two and will take on distance running. The writer expects him to do well over a mile. It is rumoured that Des George will retire from the position of secretary to the New Plymouth Cycle and Athletic Club, a position he has held for nine years, owing to lack of time to do the job full justice. • This season New 1 Plymouth "pro.” riders have had a very lean season on the track at sports meetings so far, but while the number of “pro.” runners is small, this branch has been very successful in the running events. At the first Inglewood meeting Fox, the,only New Plymouth runner, gained two seconds.

At the second Inglewood meeting, Fox, Aubrey and Freethy represented New Plymouth, and they won all the events, gaining all the second money as well.

At Pukengahu, the next meeting, Aubrey and Fox had wins, Fox also gaining a second. Midhirst to-day is the next meeting, and H. Hook and G. Tuffery are New Plymouth representatives. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth dub will be held early in May,