CYCLING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17710, 3 December 1925, Page 3

CYCLING

FIXTURES. December f>. -Amateur Sport?, English Park (afternoon). December 5. Match races, English Park (evening). I )eccmber 12. —Cust Sports. December 12.—Springfield Sports. December 19. Rangiora Sports. ( December 25.—Mairehau Sports Club’s Sports, English. Park. December 2d—Oxford Sports. December 2(5. — Darfield Sports. 1 ccember 26.—Doyleston Sports. December 26.—Temuka Sports. December 2S.—South Malvern Club’s Spurts, Glentunnel. December 2$ and 29. -New Zealand ('ham piunships, Dunedin. January I.—Ohoka and Eyreton lantiarv ! a —Dtinsandel Sports. January 1 and 2.—Timaru Sports. January 2.—Waihora Sports, MotukaThe weather is causing the management of the English Park Stadium Company much anxiety this year. With the exception of the opening night, the weather has been far from satisfactory and has been uncomfortable for riders and spectators. The rain which foil on Saturdav night upset the programme and, with the exception of the three-quarter-mile < pen 'race, which was abandoned, the < '.her events not finished on Saturday v ill be decided on Saturday night. The first-class half-mile was closely contested, although the rain affected the riding of several of the competitors. The front markers made full use of their handicaps, ]Vlarra (32yds) winning in a close finish from Austin ( 15yds), with Savage (45yds) third. This heat provided one of the best finishes ever seen at the stadium, all the field being covered by a length and a half. O'Shea made up his gap early in the second heat, but did not go on with the race, the wet track making riding unsafe. M. Leathern came away at the bell, but in the back straight there was no*one else in it but Bear-

BY “ WHEEI..’*

ON TRACK AND ROAD

man, who won from Maekie (20yds) with Leathern (35yds) third. In the final Bearman repeated his performance and appeared to have little difficulty in disposing of the field, crossing the line one and a half lengths ahead of M. P. Leathern, with Maekie a close third. Bearman, in winning this race, demonstrated that he is getting back to the form shown by him two years ago. At . that time he was regarded as one of the best track riders in the Dominion. Lack of training and also of interest in the sport has had a detrimental effect on his racing career. Xow that he has settled down to the sport great things may be expected from him. M. P. Leathern continues to ride extremely well, and is in his right class riding in first-grade races. lie has been doing valuable work in the paced races in picking up the pace-makers for the field and his showing in this department has been so good that spectators have remarked that he' should be competing on level terms with the other contestants. W. Maekie appears to be in better form than he was when he finished racing last seasbn. lie picked up his gap in the final and showed a fair turn of speed in the straight. The first two heats in the third-class handicap were decided in heavy rain, whiifli made the racing dangerous. The third heat was called off owing to the lights giving out in front of the stand. This race will be decided on Saturday night. The first of the two heats in the second-class scratch race was very closely contested. The lap prizes of half a crown proved a sufficient inducement for riders to keep the pace on. Ritchie did good work pacing the field in the last two laps and went on to win from Le Fevrc, Silvester being third and Saunders fourth. N. H. Goodman and A. If. Struthers were the only starters in the second heat. Goodman winning. The final, which will be decided on Saturday night, looks like a good thing for Ritchie, as he won his heat com-

fortably after'leading the field for over half the distance. It is possible that Le Fevre and Goodman will run him close.

Clarence Bright made his first appearance on the track since his return from Australia, but obviously he is not tip to “sprint" form yet. When he gets fit he should be well.in the money.

Harry Watson will make a start on. Saturday night in the half-mile firstclass handicap. His inclusion in the first-class events will give them an added interest. Watson has been indulging in a fair amount of training during the past week or so, but is not yet showing his old dash.

. . k dominations have come in freely for the Cust Sports and a large percentage of leading track cyclists have entered, amongst them being Phil O’Shea, Cyril Sowden, J. Bearman, Harry Watson. H. Burnard, M. P. Leathern. R. Cant, Clarric Austin, R. Harrison, J. Henderson, Eddie Marra and W. Maekie. The track is half a mile around and the clay surface is generally in good order, apd with such a strong field excellent times should be recorded. Ihe programme for the Dunsandel Sports Association to be held on New Year’s Day has been issued. The cycling events include: Half-mile handicap, one mile handicap, two mile handicap. three mile handicap and five mile handicap. There is also a one and a half mile maiden cycle race and a one mile race for boys under eighteen years. A comprehensive programme of cycling events has been included in the programme for the Waihora Sports, to be held at Motukarara on January 2. The handicap events include halfmile. one mile, one mile and a half, two miles and a half and the three mile Y\ aihora (up handicap. There is also a Derby race for boys under eighteen years of age. Nominations close on December 27. The Doyleston .Athletic Club will hold a sports meeting on Boxing Day. The cycle races on the programme include a half-mile handicap (open), one mile district handicap, one mile and a half open, three mile Doyleston Wheel Race, two mile district handicap, one mile, under eighteen vears. district. Nominations close with Mr F. W. Gurnsev, Doyleston, on December 16. „ A sports meeting will be held at. English Park on Saturday, December !-• A pood entry has been received for the ( ust sports on the afternoon of that date and riders who have entered for the Cust meeting and who do not compete there will not be allowed to start at the Stadium. Tn order that the sports may be in keeping with the Canterbury .anniversary celebrations to be held on Saturday week, the management; of the English Park Stadium has decided to put on a race for the old-fashioned high bicycles. The race will be over two laps and £5 will be allocated as prize money. x T he programme for the sports to be held at English Park Stadium on Saturday week consists of a second and third-class -handicap, one lap, first-class handicap, three laps, open handicap, two laps, amateur handicap (N.Z. A.A.A. Union’s rules), a high bike race and a match race to be arranged. Three match races were decided at English Park last night and attracted a great deal of interest. In the “Jumbo" Wclls-Cyril Sowden race the former won the quarter-mile unpaccd and also the half-mile paced, thus making a third distance unnecessary. “Jumbo” on hi.s riding last night was a much superior rider to Sowden. The quarter was won by inches only, but in the half Wells went away when he .pleased to win easing up. Sowden did not appear to have the dash and pace characteristic of his riding during the past two seasons.

The second match was between Mick Fitzgerald and Sowden. This race was to decide which was the stronger rider and was a half-mile pursuit race. Fitzgerald started in front of the stand, Sowden being directly opposite him. After a false start the riders got away together and from the outset it was seen that Fitzgerald had an advantage, which he maintained to the end, winning by two lengths. The third match was between W. Maekie and Sowden. This was a five mile motor-paced race, the riders starting together. Maekie was piloted by M . J. Holland and Fitzgerald followed “Ginger” Williams. During the first portion of the journey Fitzgerald led but after that they changed around a great deal. Maekie gaining a substantial lead during the last two miles. In the final stages Holland put the pace on and Maekie did some great pedalling, never leaving the roller. On the other hand Fitzgerald’s pilot did not appear to be taking the bends too well and shut off on the corners, causing the rider to lose the roller. The race was full of thrills. Both riders and pilots wore skull protecting caps. On finishing Maekie received a great ovation from the large crowd of spectators. The meeting of Jack Fitzgerald and “Jumbo" Wells next Saturday night will be an event in the historv of cycling ip New Zealand. Both riders have had world-wide experience in match racing and the public will have the opportunitv of seeing them at their best. The race will be over three distances, a quarter-mile unpaced, and half-mile and three-quarter-mile paced. ON DIT. That Mick Fitzgerald is to be a competitor at the Cust sports on Saturday "That Hector Burnand is anxious for a match against ' Maekie behind th£ rollers. Arrangements are in hand for this event. That \\ . Muir is making another start. He will appear at English Park on Saturday night, and at Cust on the following Saturday. That “ Nork " Marsh has .returned to Christchurch after an absence of over two years in Australia. He intends to make a fresh start at racing. AMONG THE AMATEURS. BY SPEEDY; The Christchurch—Amberley road race drew a large field of starters, amongst them being Day, Gray, Pope, Forrester, Blakeway, Weston and Busch (of Amberley). Ferguson rode a good race, and sprinted well at the business end to gain the verdict over Blanchard and Carter, who filled second and third places respectively. Stutheridge and Jamieson were the next in order, the latter rider performing creditably for his age. E. Ferguson has had no outstanding performance to date, but his sprint on Saturday was worthy of a rider of greater experience. E. Blanchard, second place, was due Tor a win, and easily deserved the success he attained on this occasion. His performances this season are a second at Lancaster Park atid the seci on cl under review. Carter is a rider who performs consistently, but has seldom been near enough to cause comment. The same j may be said of the fifth place-getter, Jamison. The latter has improved of

late, and was unfortunate in being only fifth in this race. He will, however, receive the prize for first Christchurch rider to finish. Stutheridge is another consistent rider. lie has not gained prominence this season. Last year he finished well up in the. fifty-mile, and won the prize for fastest time between ten minutes and limit. The first Amberley rider to finish was Croft, being just a short time before Busch (3min).

Five riders were expected to be. in the running for fastest time, namelv. Pope, Day, Gray, Blakeway and. last but not least, the veteran Forrester.. Of these five. Forrester and Day’ rode the most outstanding performances. Pope and Gray were riding well, however, and Day did not win the sprint very comfortably. Time was awarded to Day, who rode the distance in a little under one hour and a half. Forrester and Blakeway rode strongly, and at Woodend had held their own. Busch and Weston had dropped back to these men, and it appeared likely the bunch would gain on the scratch division. Blakeway shortly after punctured. Ferguson (a younger brother of the Christchurch-Amberley road race winner) accounted for the event at English Park on Saturday night, the dis-* tance being a quarter-mile. The limit riders took all the places, Maindonald being prominent.

It is understood that Saturday evening programmes at the Stadium will npt include an amateur event under the N.Z.A.A.A. rules for a week or so. A seven-mile road-race will be decided at Upper Riccarton (commencing at C hurch Corner), at 6.15 p.m. on Tuesday evening next, the race being held under the auspices of the Christchurch Amateur Cycling Club. The following evening, at 7.-30, a meeting, will be held in the Riccarton Town Ilall with a view of forming an amateur cycling and athletic club in Riccarton. A cycling club in the Riccarton district should meet with success. T. Cooper, who gained prominence in Wellington last year by winning the Petone-Akatarawa road-race of thirtysix miles, is now in Christchurch, and will be a starter in road-races here. G. Ilewson won a mile handicap at the Ashburton evening meeting on Tuesday. Woods and Olds were next in order. Flett (Wellington) has been riding well lately. lie has won two races on the track so far this season.