AMONG THE AMATEURS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17698, 19 November 1925, Page 4

AMONG THE AMATEURS.

(By “SPEEDY.”) The amateur club formed at Mairehau and affiliated to the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union, the body which controls the professional side of athletics and cycling, is in a peculiar position. Being an amateur body, it should be identified with the N.Z. A.A.A., whch has taken control of the amateur branch of cycling, but as those who are largely instrumental in the formation of the club appear to be bent upon bringing about a conflict, it is not at all surprising to read in the published report of the last meeting of the Canterbury Centre of the N.Z. A.A.A. a decision that the New Zealand Council be asked to write to the Rowing and Swimming Associations and ask them to circularise their Christchurch branches pointing out that the new cycling club was not recognised as an amateur club; also that the Council be asked to request the support of the Australian authorities so that concerted action could be taken in Australia and New Zealand. From a . recent, report of a meeting of the Canterbury Centre of the N.Z.A. and C.U. one gathers that the council of that body had not been consulted as to whether it approved of its branches assisting in forming and affiliating amateur clubs, and if this is the case surely the N.Z.A.A.A. should open communication with the N.Z.A. and C.U. Council, and ascertain if it supports the action of some cf its members in what amounts to hostility to an organisation with which it has friendly relations. A fourteen miles road race was deat Ilalswell on Saturday under the joint control of the Christchurch and Hals we 11 Amateur Clubs. The entry for this event was good, and the race proved to be one of the most interesting held this season. Weather conditions were ideal, except perhaps for a strong southerly wind, -which, however, made the sprint at the finish particularly fast and exciting. Robertson, W. Jordan, Brett and Conroy were considered as having a fair chance of being amongst the placed men. The first-named, however, had a spill, whilst Brett did not ride up to expectations. Conroy finished well up, but did not get placed. I-randsen <2min 40sec), first place, rode a solid race, covering the greater portion of the distance with YV. Jordan (3min). who was second. These two rode the last lap in good - time, and finished well ahead of the third man. Neither of the placed riders has any outstanding performances to his credit. It transpires that the winner is over age, and will therefore be disqualified and Jordan will fill first place and Williamson, who’ started off the 2min mark, second place. Williamson found his co-markers foo slow in the early part of the race, and left them to go off on his own. He has not previously gained a place, and this success will no doubt prove an incentive to go on tfith the sport. F. Grose, who was placed fourth and won the fastest time prize, will now be placed third. This rider’s perform-

ance. was probably the most outstanding of the day. Grose has improved wonderfully since his first race. He f won the last road event at Ilalswell, and the manner in which he sprinted on that occasion and on Saturday last stamps him as one of the coming scratch men. Unfortunately Grose met with disaster in the Ashburton-Clirist-church road race, or more might have been heard of him on that occasion- \ Little need be said of R. F. Eastwood, who was placed fifth and second fastest. lie now takes fourth place. In almost every road race in which this rider has started he has been prominent. He finished ninth in the Ash-vburton-Christchurch road race, and, although not a track performer, he has a second and a third to his credit at English Park this season. Oowper (2min), fifth place, rode creditably. It was unfortunate he was unable to keep up the pace of his comarker, Williamson. He should be amongst the placed men in the very near future. The scratch division, comprising L*. Hill, L. Sherwood and D. Broad, were riding strongly in the early part of the race, when the first-named skidded on a corner and had perforce to retire. Sherwood and Broad worked hard to pick up the next bunch (Grose, Wootton and Eastwood). The former punctured, however, and Broad, although he rode a gruelling race, lost 29 seconds on the fastest time rider. Entries for the Christchurch-Amber-lev road race are coming in well, and the event bids fair to turn out a grand •success. There is* scarce-lv a week to the race liow, and riders are training streifuously in the hope of winning the prize of a £l4 14s bicycle. A twenty-one-mile open handicap will be held at Halswell on Saturday. Gray, Day and Forrester will probably be contestants for fastest time honours. A number of track events will be decided at English Park on Saturday afternoon, December 5. One and twomile handicaps have already been decided ,upon. It is noticed that a number of road riders have not yet appeared on the track. These would be well advised to try themselves out at the Stadium, as a rider often unsuited to the road rides quite creditably on the track. It is rumoured that a five-mile track race may be held at Ilalswell shortly. The one-mile grass race at Lancaster Park on Tuesday evening drew a fair number of entries. C. Chamberlain (150yds), E. Blanchard (160yds) and A. Brown (140yds) secured the places. Chamberlain won comfortably, and Blanchard and Brown engaged in an exciting sprint. Sherwood (40yds) rode well, but could not head the placed men. Forrester and Blakcway (scratch) never looked like winning. G. Clark rode a solid race, but was I not fast enough in the last 220 A'ards. As the three placed mep have not been placed in a track event before, . their success on Tuesday-evening win Jae seme encouragement to continue training with a view to winning some of s -*-ke more important races. ( <