CYCLING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17180, 25 October 1923, Page 3

CYCLING

ON TRACK AND ROAD

By

"Wheel"

FL&TUttES. October South Malvern. Club’; October 27—Brooksid© Cycling Club’* Road RaceOctober 27—“ Round the • Mountain” .Road Race. October 27 Warrnambool-Melbournc Road Race. Methven Road Race. October 30— l’apauui Club’s Road Race. November 10-—Paparua * Club's Road Race (open). November 17—Papa ru a CluVs Bo'ad The first track meeting of the season took place on Monday at Southbridge, ■when the Southbridge Athletic Club held its annual meeting. The track : •was in good order, much faster than in ■previous years, but the wind caused the riders considerable anxiety, sweeping them round the south-west corner at a fast, pace, several spills occurring. Taken ou the whole t.he racing was vory satisfactory, both from a, spect-a-tor’s and the handioappers point of Viyrtv. Tlie remark was general that the rating was far more interesting than in previous* years- every man l»e----ing ‘out to win. Some of tho scratch men wore .disappointing, among them being Birch. Rearman. -.Saunders and Allan. The limit riders were responsible for making interesting races, a number of them putting uu excellent performances. The cycling events, however, were not divided up enough on the programme, there, not being sufficient- time between some of the events to give the riders sufficient spell. Tu the first heat of the mile, Bearman caught Allan early and left him. overhauling the leaders in the second l.ip. The riders were altogether in the third lap. and the pare was slow. E. Walk ins and W. J. Bray were in front, followed by Carey . who went to the front at bell with Rearm an on his wheel. A close finish resulted Carey, Bearman and Bray. The second heat >aw T. J. Farmer Aurl Ci. l\ J. Ridden in the lead with Scuffle reducing the gap between them rapidly giving Henderson a hard rule to qualify. Scuffle won easily from Henderson, with Saunders, third and J-M a rra f-du rth. Tu the third heat Dawson. C hamberTein and Birch were together early chasing four riders, prominent among whom was TT. C. Lovell, the tifteen-year-uld rider. The back-markers caught the field at the end of two and « half laps. Lovell taking the lead at the bell. .Another close finish resulted Birch. Chamberlain. Lovell and .Dawson. The other riders were some distance back. liie final saw some good riding. Lovell was soon overhauled by Scuffed, w ho led for a couple of laps, followed )v Lovell, Brav. and Maria. Bearman v,a* making a bold bid for this race end caught, the field at the bell. Lovell had a spill on the south-west corner, putting Bearman out of the ro.ee. S, ufi’ell in front put on the jiaee, -followed ib.v Maria and Carey, the latter displacing Maria near the line. Scuffle gained a well-earned via by a fair margin. The first heat of the Two-mile Handjiap saw Burn aid?. leading in th w first lap with Allan, Henderson and Birch, as baekmarkers. Allan had a spill, causing Henderson to lose ground hut brilliant riding brought him up to •i he field and the riders were altogether with half a lap to go. A good finish resulted, Henderson, Moriarty, Birch and Burnside*. Time, omin l&ec. Tu the second heat Bearman and Saunders were together early. Scuff el l was ugain very prominent, making a race of it and doing the majority of the work. With two laps to go S-eiif-fell was in the lead, followed by Carey mid Goodwin. dust before the bell Saunders and Bearman caught the field and a remarkable {Sprint resulted in Scuff ell winning from Carey, with Bearman, third amj Ridden fourthOnly, about half a length separated tho first three riders. The time given for this race, one of the c.f the dav, was omiu oSsecs, evidently a mistake of one nmmte, as the backmarkers appeared to be all’out. The final appeared to h<* a good thiug f<n the back-markers, with Henderson. Birch arid Bearman together. Burn--id© on the limit made the juice w arm, with Scuffell gaining ground fast. A. spectator walking across tho track « 9qs**d Burnside to run off the track. Henderson caught the leaders with tlijee laps to go. Scuffell wa.s running last, having got pocketed, but he went, round from the outside and took the lead, a splendid effort. Ho was in the Lad at tho bell, blit could not stay efi the challenge of Henderson and < arey, who took th© lead three bun died yards from the line, tho former winning, with Scuffell third. Time—4mm 58see. The TV heel Race of four miles wa.s run off in one heat- and provided an interesting contest. Bearmaii, Ik;derson and Birch were together for the first lap. with L. Farmer mid Ridden in front travelling well. Scuffell also vas doing good work. In the fourth lap nine riders were together in front, chased by Birch, Henderson. Carey , Saunders, Allan. Chamberlain. For three or four laps the leaders were holding the back men who. however, clapped on the pace and gained .steadily. With five laps to go Henderson shook off the other Lark-mark-er.-i and Carey took Bearman up. All Ihe riders were together with three to gb. Header son led at the bell »nd won comfortably from 1. Carey. Goodwm being third and Chamberlain fourth. Ridden and Allan had .•> soill at the corner, the-latter severely injuring his shoulder. The first heat of the three mile race was an easy one for the back-markers, a-v they were all together in one and a, V* 1 from 4<Vds to 20yds, but Bearman waited for him. Henderson put in a Rood lap and then Saunders. Orton went to the front and rode well and Iv. Marra put in a good dash from the back. R. Dawson was lying third throughout, but did pot do bis lap until caded or. The tenth lap was s’ow. Saunders tee*r. the lr fif l nt the bell, folowed I v Henderson. Bearman put in a good dash from the back, ami

a a,ood sprint resuted as follows: Beaman, Hendeison, Carey. Dawson, Bray and E. Marra. The second heat saw Birch on the mark with, a gap of oOvds, Jiis nearest man being Chamberlain on 90yds. Birch continued to chase the riders, but retired after covering five laps. 1.. Farmer and Lovoti took the lead but were soon displaced by E. 35. and O. C. Watkins. who led at tlio fourth lap and maintained their lead throughout, ridinng like, champions. Goodwin and Chamberlain did good work and I.- F. Alo'riarty was prominent. The "Watkins brothers were nut headed, and won comfortably, followed by Chamberlain, .Scuffel, Goodwin and Mori arty. The final promised to be a great race but was marred by a bad spill. Scuffe! . and the ’Watkins brothers got to the front early and gained on the leaders for two or three laps, Henderson was riding well and pulled the back-markers up. Bearmau followed witjli a lap, but Carey*, lap lost ground. Henderson put/ in another fast lap and then Dawson. Bearnian took the back nun up and caught the leaders at the bell and what would have been the betstf race of the day was spoiled by a very bad spill at the south-west corner and all but Henderson, O. O. Watkips and Goodwin fell, these three finishing in that order. I’. G. Dawceiving severe injuries to his head

A BRILIJ AN T JS Pill XT KB,

.1. REND KB SON. winner of the Southhridge Wheel Race (four miles), also the’two and the three mile handicaps at the Southhridge >ports, on Labour Day. Henderson is the most promising rider on the* track at the present time. •T. Henderson was without doubt the best rider and thoroughly deserved bis wins as he rod© right out in every heat. .Vt some stagds in the various races it appeared as if -• .rack " would not. pick up the leaders, but he settled down in fine stylo and only missed in one. race. If he goes on improving on the track’as- lie lias done lately, should not- be long before he is-at the top of the tree. 1.-. J. Scuff©ll lode remarkably well, and in winning the one hiiio. ’ handicap and gaining third place in tho two mile race, he showed his best form since he comineneed riding. Jn every race in which, ho rode .ScuffeU did more than bis share of pacing, but a,ways had « •if tie left for 1 h* sprint. He evidently rode too high a gear, which no doubt was responsible for his tiring in the three mile race. He is a vastly improved rider who is using the experience gained in past races to advantage. I'. -I - Carey gained second places in the one. two and four mile races, and showed that he is a capable rider on the track as well as the road. This is his second appearance on the track, bis first being at Ohoka two years ago, when he was- a novice, and bo iai.ee] to gain a place. Although his laps’ were tint, so fast as Henderson’s, he showed up as a good sprinter. More should he. heard of this rider in the ucqi future. • I. Rearm a n and .11. AN . Birch did nor ride as well a s was expected. Tlie limits were not big as they were oiilv giving a wav. 110yds in the mile, 215 in two miles, 2fio.vds in tlucc miles and .300yds ii: four miles. It is quite possible the Timaru-Christchurch road ra> •*> was responsible for the -comparatively poop show ing of those tw o Vidors. G. A. Goodwin lias not been doing a great deal of racing lately, but appears to still hold his old form. He is a young and strong rider and capable of doing good work if he will settle down to it. F. -Maria and H. E. Chamberlain, although well handicapped, did not, show up very prominently. At times Doth put ill good work, but the final sprint was too lug a tost for them and they tailed. The handicappers will have to bo a little more generous with these two young riders. , !\ F. Saunders was disappointing. 'Hie form shown by “ Percy ” at Papa uni and Lancaster Park seems to have left him for tin* time being and the solo efforts which were liis strong feature aj-e missing. G. J. All ail was unlucky in having a bad spill, wffich will no doubt cause him to miss the " Round the Mountain ” race, fie did not negotiate the co.ners well and the track wheels used by him did not make matters any hot-.

ter. It is hoped that- he will have a speedy recovery from his fall. IT. C. Lovell, of the limit riders, deserves special mention, as he rode like an eld hand, going out- and giving his lap with the best, of them. With the correct training Lovell should turn out a good rider as be is a strong; and sturdy boy. It. G. Raw .son was riding well when lie fell in the final of the three redo race and looked like running into the money. ' ; Boh *’ is » very unlucky rider on the track, but this does not deter him from trying and a good win will coin©- his way yet. Two Cbristchim-.h riders gained places at Ashburton on Monday. A. CL Ritchie securing recond place in the Wheel Race and AY. R. Dickson, third place. Other well-known riders who were placed .were J. Templeton and H. AY. Cant. The Maireh.ju Cycling Chib opened its season on Thursday night last when a nine mile race was decided. The limit was two minutes. The race was generally considered a. good thing for the scratch men, but tin- front men made a welter of it and filled the first live places. The scratch men were A. Leathern and AY. Maokie. leathern left Maokie early and finished 46 seconds after the winners. -T. Kirner. first place, has been a starter off the limit on a number of occasions, but this is his first win. He rod© well in the thirtv-«ix mile race at South bridge on September 22. Kirner finished in great style a.nd showed, vast improvement on previous efforts. If. M. Sparks, second place, has also been a starter in numerous rapes, but has not been successful previously. His position in this race should encourage him to endeavour to do better next time. 35. P. Farmer, third place, has been a persistent trier in previous races, but lias not yet succeeded in getting homo . first. AY. Greenway and AY. Keenan, -who i filled the next places, are also consistent entrants. A. Leathern gained the fastest timeprize and showed that Ids form is not going back. ' Tho time, 22min 3Ssec, was fast. The Mairekau Club w ill hold another club race this eventtig over the thirteen . mile course. The club intends to ap. ' ply for a. fifty-mile Canterbury championship to be held on February 3. also a five-mile- Now Zealand ladies’ championship to be decided in February. On February 21 an open ra-c-o of 25 miles is to be hold. A rumour was’circulated in the. city ! that H. G. AVatson had been re-handi capped in the \Ya rnam bo!-Mcl bourne race, but- inquiries made- at the proper channel iailed to confirm tbo rumour. , *.* Twenty-three entries have been received for the South Malvern Club's fixture to be held on Saturday. A. Leathern and I . .T. Carey are cm scratch, and the limit is seven minutes. ! The distance is twenty-tiro miles. The Brook&ide Cycling Club has received thirty-si\- nominations for the, road race to be held on Saturdav everjing. The handicaps of tbo Canterburv rjders who have entered for the “ Round the Mountain ” race are as follows: —P. O'Shea scratch, V. Hill scratch, C. Bell, G. J. Allan, L. R. Moore lOmin, AY. Maokie, AY. Alavsh 32m in, H. F. Pro hide. A. Bonis 20m in. •F AVelsh 2dmin, G. AY. Prebhl© 2*in in, T. G-reig. \V. Gooch, E. G. Fuller 30m in. F. L. Sutton, .7. Xeilson. F. Groves 36min. Sixty-two entries have been received and out of that number O’Shea 7 s Bel! and Marsh arc in Australia. and it is not likely that Hill or the two Prebbles will fuaite i-h*-tiip. Mackie a.nd Allan, accompanied by Mr J. G. Maokie. leave to-nighi lor New Plymouth. The limit is fifty minutes- with eight riders on thq’t mar’r. AV. Maokie. w ho had been but • m the 12 min mark by himself, has been put- back the lOmivi mark with Allan and .Moore. The Pa.jva nii! : Hu e wod Club will* present an attractive programme on Saturday, December 21).’ The events include a one mile handicap,, two mile <Y n terbury championship., two mile ■PiVjanui wheel race, ami a one mile ladies’ race.