CYCLING AND RUNNING

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1935, Page 9

CYCLING AND RUNNING

PROFESSIONAL EVENTS PERFORMANCES IN TARANAKI.

(By

“Wheel.")

C. Parker is now working in the cycle trade at Te Aroha. He will be there approximately three months, and will train and ride at the principal meetings about Easter time.

Eddie Tolan’s Race. At a professional running sports meeting recently held at Melbourne, 15,000 people witnessed Eddie Tolan, the American negro sprinter, competing against "Bill” McFarland, British Empire champion, and Tim Banner, Australian champion. All of Tolan’s performances, up

to 130 yards, have been well inside “evens” and he hopes to be in his best form in March when he will attack several records. He will probably appear at Wellington at Easter. Tolan is an American University negro graduate and won the 100 metres (109.3 yards) and 200 metres (218.6 yards) Olympic Games championships in 1932, both in world record time. His times were 10 3-10 s and 21 2-10 s respectively. Since then Tolan has been considered the world’s fastest human being. While training himself into form recently in Australia (having not raced for two seasons) Tolan covered 75 yards in 7 7-16 s and 130 yards in 12 7-16 s. In Australia he has proved himself a magnet wherever he has gone. He is an educated man, and has studied the science of running, which plays an important part in an athlete’s career.

New Zealander’s Win. The Mordialloc Grand Prix short-dis-tance road race of 31% miles, recently won by Alby Ralston (Dunedin) in Australia was held over a one and a-half mile road track of 22 laps. Points were

allotted every second lap, and the best aggregate to win the major prize. Every other lap special cash prizes were given for the sprint winners. Amongst the notable cyclists that competed were some of Australia’s best in D. Toseland (winner of the Centenary Cycling Derby), Jack Fitzgerald, Len Hill and H. Turtill (New Zealand), O. Nicholson, E. Milliken, “Fatty” Lamb, A. Hall and J. Walsh. I-.. . ,

At a meeting at Sheffield, Tasmania, Ralston won the two-rnile wheel race with Len Hill third. Ralston also won the one-mile event. Len Hill won the fivemile scratch race. At , another meeting at Westbury Hill won the wheel race and was second in the one-mile event.

When the handicaps were declared for the Wangaratta sports meeting it was found that 108 cyclists were listed to compete, including some of Australia’s best. H. Turtill was on the scratch mark in all events, with A. Hall and J. Walsh, Australia’s leading sprinters. Jack Fitzgerald received five yards in the half and five yards in the mile, Len Hill received 10 yards in the half and 15 yards

in the mile, A. Ralston received 20 yards in the half and 30 yards in the mile. The limit handicap was 80 yards in the half and 120 yards in the mile. , Ralston is due to return to New Zealand, but will return to Australia for the coming road season: Hill is indefinitely staying in Australia at present. Something rather unusual and unprecedented was accomplished recently by Gordon Parker, who was seen on top of Paritutu with his bicycle. Needless to say he did not ride up. Wood's Continued Success. Lynn Wood, the New Plymouth cyclist and 1934 mountain winner, continues on his winning way, and scored two more wins last Monday by particularly strong riding. The writer still maintains that Wood has a lot to learn about the game and advises studying the game not necessarily on the cycle. He has speed and stamina in plenty, and will continue to win as he learns the finer points. Tommy Haw is not at his best yet, but is showing glimpses of good form,. and

: should be ready for a few good efforts : when the bigger meetings come to hand. Stevens brothers are always ready for a good effort, and are sure to get their share of the prize money this season. They placed themselves well at Pio Pio and Te Kuiti last year, and are just the right kind of riders for a similar invasion this season. Gordon Stevens has improved a lot lately. B Grade Riders. Although W. Ireland and D. Bond are the scratch boys in the B grade, they are not outstanding, and are liable to be beaten by R. Wood, R. Greenlees and C. Pulford at any time. The latter pair made very poor use of their starts (100 yards and 80 yards respectively) in the two-mile event last Monday, when they were caught by the scratch boys after two laps. Had they ridden their best, and with A. Warren’s help, they would probably not have been caught by the scratch boys. They want to remember that the riders on a fair handicap have two chances, to win. and. they are, firstly to attempt not to be caught by the back

men, and secondly to endeavour to give the back boys as hard a ride as possible to catch them, thus reducing the finishing efforts of the, back markers. Percy Snowden won his first race in the C grade events after having bad luck the two previous weeks. He won well, and will probably be a serious match for Vic Jury, the scratch boy. Vic Jury had a hard race to ride this week, and received no assistance on the journey. Nevertheless he stuck it out well and had to ride hard to gain second place. > , Improving Runner. Amongst the runners, Geo. Plucke showed considerable improvement to win the 220 yards with a good finishing effort. Plucke was narrowly defeated in the 440 yards by the consistent C. Lehrke. Although Lehrke has been consistent over all distances in the company in which he has competed, it appears that from 440 yards onwards will suit him best, as he is a slow beginner but a determined finisher and shows good judgment.

A 220 yards and 440 yards was sufficient • for the boys last Monday, and they decided not to line up for the hurdle event. Next week there will only be a 75 yards fox* the sprinters and a one-mile event for the distance men, so it is hoped that a few will compete in the high : jump, as there is a high jump event on the club’s open sports programme to take place in April.