FAIRLIE TALK TO ATHLETES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21190, 10 November 1938, Page 3

FAIRLIE TALK TO ATHLETES

Points on Cycling and Running Special Social Evening After the Fairlie Cycle and Athletic Club’s sports meeting on Tuesday night, competitors were entertained at a social evening, at which addresses were given on cycling and running, and musical items were contributed. The purpose of the evening was to extend the club’s social activities. A comprehensive address on cycling, including advice to riders, was given by Mr E. B. Taylor, formwly a prominent South. Island cyclist. Mr D. C. K. Clarke spoke on running. To fix the height saddle, Mr Taylor said, the rider should sit outside the machine and adjust the saddle until the right toe could be put under the corresponding pedal. The saddle should be practically parallel with the centre bar, and if anything, canting downwards. When road racing, there should be a slight bend in the cyclist’s arms. The position of the rider need not be so comfortable for track cycling, because speed was a factor and the time on the cycle was shorter. In the Fairlie district, the suitable gear for road racing was 84. Unless the course was hilly, a brake was unnecessary; to be a good racing cyclist with a brake required considerable experience. The rear tyre had to be inflated hard, but pressure in the front tyre need not be so great; a softer tyre gave a better and a safer ride. It would absorb the shock given by shingle. So far as the rider himself was concerned, Mr Taylor continued, sufficient clothing was necessary; a woollen jersey and woollen shorts were recommended. In a road race, pacing on the road was an excellent thing, because it conserved wind and energy. A moderate distance to take a lap in anything up to a 20-mile race, was half a mile. Races were won and lost on sprints; an accomplishment which could be developed. A practice ride should be done slowly each day for a fortnight, and energy saved for a sprint at the end. Going around the track at full speed, and then trying to sprint, was the wrong way to learn. On the track, it was useless trying to pass a man on a corner. As soon as possible, a rider should get himself out of a habit of looking around. Passing on the inside shpuld not be done, but if a rider swung wide on a corner, he had to be passed on the inside. Riders should get into the habit of riding straight; that should be done in the interests of following riders. Requirements of Runners itr D. C. K. Clarke, a former wellknown runner, said the first requirement in a runner was the desire to run; to get that way, he had to become fit. All effort, of course, should not be left on the training track, because that won no prizes. A runner had to make sure that his style was all right, and that was largely a personal factor. There were, nevertheless, several important points, and one was arm action. The action might be quite comfortable to the runner, but if the comfort wasted energy, it was of no use. He would recommend Fitch's book to runners. In starting, the arms should be widespread, but comfort should first be obtained on the mark. The eyes should look just over the tape. Some runners bent forward from the hips, but he favoured bending forward from the ball of the foot. At the first suggestion of staleness, a runner should temporarily, suspend training; staleness was worse than being unfit. Musical items were given by Messrs R. J. Creighton (songs), T. Smith (harp and mouth-organ combined), J. Boulter (mouth-organ), O. B. Stringer (songs), R. Cowan (bagpipes), C. Kerr (songs) and community singing accompanied by Mr T. Smith. Sports Results Running was for the first time this season included in the evening sports, and attracted good fields. Results were:— Three-quarter Mile Cycle Track Race—First heat: L. Carlton (130yds) I, V. Wall (110yds) 2. Time—lmin 39 secs. Second heat: A. Kane (80yds) 1, B. Whyte (130yds) 2. Time—lmin 40 secs. Final—L. Carlton 1, A. Kane 2, V. Wall 3. Time—lmin 38 3-ssec. One Mile Cycle Track Race—First heat: I. Thompson, Timaru (60yds) 1, J. Dixon (220yds) 2. Time—2min 17 secs. Second heat: V. Wall (170yds) 1, A. Kane (120yds) 2. Time—2min 15 1-5 sec. Final: V. Wall 1, A. Kane 2, I. Thompson 3. Time—2min 17secs. 100 Yards—First heat: H. Crampton (4yds) 1, J. Boulter (11yds) 2, P. Carlton (6yds) 3. Time—ll 3-ssec. Second heat: A. Crampton (scr) 1, H. Baker (9yds) 2, D. C. Clarke (4yds) 3. Time--11 l-ssec. Final—H. Crampton 1, J. Boulter 2, A. Crampton 3. Time—lo 4-ssec. 220 Yards—J. Boulter (20yds) 1, A. Crampton (scr) 2, P. Carlton (12yds) 3. Time—2s l-ssec. Schoolboys’ Race, 75 yards—H. Cuthill 1, J. A. Fahey 2, D. Carlton 3. The programme for next week will comprise a cycle road race to Cricklewood and back to the Athletic grounds; 880 yards and 220 yards’ running; caber tossing and children’s races.