CYCLING ON TRACK AND ROAD

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17573, 25 June 1925, Page 3

CYCLING ON TRACK AND ROAD

BY

“WHEEL."

FIXTURES. June 27. Maiden Road Race, Mairchau. The Mairchau Sports Club held a thirteen mijc road race at Mairchau on j Saturday afternoon, the roads and „ weather conditions being perfect. The Held was a very moderate one, only twenty-five riders starting. J. Henderson was on scratch, giving a start of 20sec«to t yril Sowden. W. T. Weir. W. * oman, X. Lange and R. Laskey. The limit was smin. ('. Clark. G. Lintott and C. A. Wiilcox being on this mark. '1 he first bunch to show up at the completion of the first round consisted of Wiilcox (5 1, Clark (5), Moyle (4). May (4), Porter (4). Duggan t4>, Condon (4>, Struthers (4), and Rodda <l'. and Mahan (4 k The limit men had taken ISmin ~>2sec to ride the six and a half-mile block. Burnside (3D. Gobbe (3); and Gwatkin (31 passed 4Ssec later, followed by B. Leathern (2D and S. J. Jordan (2D. and then c.-tme Coman (20 L Weir (20>. Laskey <2ok Sowden (20', Lange (20'. and Smith (3D passed, Henderson (scr) putting in an appearance 2min loscc later. J. W. R. Jones retired at this stage and Henderson pulled out a couple of miles further on. The sprint was a good one. Eight riders participated and the struggle to cross the line first resulted in . some unintentional bumping. The race resulted: E. Condon (3D. 36min 7sec . . 1 31. Burnside (3D, 36min 7 l-ssee . 2

L. Porter (4).’36min 37 l-osec . 3 .7. Rodda (3D. 36min 7 3-ssec . 4 M. E. Mahan <3D 36min 7 l oscc . 3 A. E. Gobbe (3'. 35min 38sec . G Sowden was the first of the backmarkers to finish, beating Coman by a narrow margin. Weir following, with Lange and Laskey finishing next. Sowden’s time was 34min 33sec, and Coman’s 4min 33 l-ssec, first and second fastest times respectivelv. After the race, a complaint was made that Weir crossed over close to the line and let Sowden through, Laskey and Lange suffering in consequence. The matter was inquired into and it was ascertained that .the crossing was not intentional. E. Condon, the. winner, has at last reaped the reward of consistent trying, and now has a win to his credit. Of late Condon has shown wonderful improvement and on several occasions has just missed getting home, his chief failing being lack of dash in the sprint. His sprint on Saturday proved that to ft large extent he has overcome this difficulty. lie should now keep on trainiiwj steadily in readiness for the big Timaru event. H. Burnside, second place, made a great race and was unfortunate in not winning as during the first round he had a spill and lost his team mates. However, he kept on and ran the winner close on the line. Burnside is showing improved form with every appearance. L. E. Porter, third place, was the pick of the 4min men and ran Burnside very close for second place; in fact until the judge announced his decision it was thought that Porter had beaten him. The form shown by Porter at the present time is stiil much below that which made him a prominent rider about four or five years ago. J. Rodda, place, who raced as an amateur, appears to be a very prom-

isingf performer and should do well in open company. E. Mah‘an, fifth place, is a solid type of rider, who should make a good distance rider. lie takes a great interest in the sport, but the work in which he is at present engaged prevents him from training as he would like. A. E. Gobbe, sixth place, is a dis- ‘ appointing rider. Apparently he is not taking the sport as seriously as he did last season. (.'. J. Sowden, the winner of the fastest time prize, rode his usual solid race and showed pleutv of dash in the sprint. He rode the first lap in ]6min dOscc. and .the second in ITmin 43sec. W. Goman, second fastest time, rode remarkably well off 20see. lie had been originally handicapped on ljmin, but owing to Savage not putting in an appearance. he elected to go back to the 20sce mark. J. Henderson rode his first race on the road since the season, opened, but it was apparent after he had completed the first lap that he was by no means in form. When he retired his chances of picking up the 20scc men were hopeless. .T. W. R. Jones and S. A. Jordan also made their first appearance on the road this season, but the* former retired on the completion of the first round. Jordan. however, rode well oft 2*min, finishing tenth. B. Leathern rode a good race, finishing in ninth piace. The handicappers are a trifle hard on this young rider. In view of the coming Timaru to Christchurch road race and other longdistance road races to be held during the next few months, an article by Hubert Opperman, the Australian road champion, entitled, "llow to Train for Road Racing." and published in the " Sporting Globe,” will be reprinted in this column commencing next week. This article is of particular interest to young cyclists, and the advice given is ‘based on practical experience. Two applications have been made to the North Canterbury centre for a road race to be held a fortnight prior to the Timaru-Christehurch road race. The Rangiora Athletic Club has applied for a permit to hold the fifty-mile race around the Ashley Gorge, and the Southbridge Athletic Club wishes to hold its usual race over a thirty-six-mile course on the same day. The allotting of the date will be dealt with at the next meeting of the centre. The Ashley Gorge race will most probably decide the fifty-mile South Island championship. ON DTT. That a large entry is being received for the maiden race to be held at Mairchau on Saturday. That A. E. Porter, a well-known follower of the sport, intends to be a competitor on Saturday. That the sport of cycling has put " Mairehau " district on the map. That L. Scuff ell is in Christchurch at present. He has removed from .Geraldine and will in future be found at Ashburton.

That Mr J. Johns, one of the principals of the English Park Stadium Company, intends to visit Melbourne to make engagements for the coming seaThat the English Park authorities propose holding spoils in in connection with the Exhibition. That it is possible the Timaru to Christchurch road race will be held on September 20. That L. J. Scuffell has not ridden a push bike, sincq he raced at English Park. lie intends getting fit next month in view of the coming Rangiora That several riders who have not ridden for years contemplate riding in the maiden race on Saturday. That the conditions for the maiden race on Saturday have been slightly altered. Riders who have not won up to ~5 on the road or track this season will be eligible to compete. That the Mairchau Sports Club is not very punctual in starting its races. That the roads between Christchurch and Timaru are in first-class order, in

fact, better than they have been for years. That every prospective competitor in the Timaru to Christchurch road race should read the article by Hubert Op perman which will appear in this column next week. That Eric Piric, who has been transferred to Wellington, will probably return to Christchurch shor-tlyi That photographs of riders and items of interest to cyclists will be welcomed by the writer of this column.