CYCLING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17756, 28 January 1926, Page 3

CYCLING

ON TRACK AND ROAD

BY

“WHEEL."

FIXTURES. January 30.—Mackie v. Wells, motorpaced match, English Park. Fcbruarv 3.—English Park sports. February 13.—OShea-Mackie motor February 27.—Grey mouth sports. March 6.—Benefit sports meeting, English Park. March 13.—St Patrick sports, English Park. The English Park Stadium Company on Saturday night promoted one of i the most successful sports meetings that has been held at the stadium since the track was opened. The racing was fast and clean, there was a large attendance and the programme as a whole was most attractive. The two-lap open handicap produced a good field, and for the first time for some weeks the race was ridden in proper racing time. The fastest heat was won by N. H. Goodman, the cn-amateur, in 59 2-osec. off fifty yards. An other fast heat was that won by ( ant (40yds 1 in 60sce. Carey (27yds) finished second. The final, won by M. Fitzgerald <lsvds), was a splendid race. M'Girr (lovds) ran the winner very close, Carey (27vds) being third. The time was 61 3-ssec. Mick Fitzgerald is rapidly picking up form and his performance in the half-mile race was his best since his arrival in Christchurch. He thoroughly deserved his win. Fitzgerald is a popular rider. T. M'Girr. who finished second, is •without doubt the most improved rider competing at the stadium. Only a week or so back he was riding off big marks, and' now he is included amongst the best eight riders in Christchurch. x x Frank Carey, who finished third, demonstrated that he has a fair turn of speed when in form. * His performance on Saturday night was a big improvement on his half-mile ride on January 16. On Saturday he rode Cant a close second off twenty-seven yards in 60sec, which is a performance above the average. x The one-lap second and third-class handicap was a particularly keen race. Six heats, two semi-finals and a final were necessary to decide the event. x The placings in the heats and semifinals were equally divided amongst the front and back-markers. The times were good throughout. X X X F. Flanagan, the winner, has been somewhat unlucky of late. He has I»cen riding well in his heats, but has failed to materialise in the finals. On Saturday night, however, he rode unexpectedly well and at last realised expectations. •*> X X George Prebble, second place, was the ■veteran of the race. He was on a long mark, of which he made full use. Prebble’s riding of late his been very indifferent, and it is to be hoped that this ride will be the forerunner of many another. x . x Don Speirs, third place, is another wonderfully improved rider. From the scratch mark he went through the field in a masterly manner. The fact of his just missing should induce him to endeavour to pull off a more valuable race in the near futurue. J. \V. R. Jones, who was selected as a likely winner, did not ride as prominently as he had done in previous quarter-mile races. He finished second

in his heat and run up the bank in the semi-final. Out of the six scratch men in this event, W. A. Muir and D. E. Speirs were the only ones to reach the semifinals and final. The match race between Phil O'Shea and H. W. Nesbitt was not a success, the former having a comfortable win over the Australian, who was obviously not well. O’Shea won the first heat easily in 64scc, but had a harder ride in the second heat, which was again ridden in 64see. D. E. Le Fcvre acted as pace-maker in both events. The winner is riding particularly well at present and so far this season has defeated all comers. _ x

The one mile invitation scratch race in which O’Shea. Mackie, Wills. Bright, Fitzgerald. Bearman, Sowclen and M'Girr took part was without doubt the best scratch race ever held at the stadium. The pacemakers, Birch and be Fevre. led the field spread out over the whole distance, the time, 2min 3sec, giving an idea of what the pace was. The finish resulted in a very close win for O’Shea from Fitzgerald, with Wells third.

The time was the fastest ever record ed for the distance at English Park, and this was due to the pacemakers, who spared no effort to make the race interesting. O'Shea was again equal to the occasion and won from a strong field. Ilis ride proved bey end contradiction that he is the best track rider at present competing. x X

On Saturday next an event of more than usual interest will take place at English Park Stadium when “ Jumbo ” V. eit will mec', Willie Mackie in a motor-paced match race over three distcrces. The heats are two of two miles each and one of three miles. Mackie has already made a name for himself as a motor pace follower by defeating every rider he has met in this class of racing, but it is anticipated that YVells, who is an adept behind the Toller, will keep his young adversary busy.|

A 1 long looked tor event will take place on Saturday, February 13, when Phil O'Shea and Willie Mackie will meet in a three distance match race of two straight heats of half a mile and a deciding heat of three” Quarters of a mile.

The St Patrick’s sports arc to be held at English Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon and evening of March 13. Cycling has been liberally catered for with five events. The races on the programme include half, three-quarters and one mile handicaps. The St Patrick’s wheel race, with prize money amounting to £25, will be held over one mile. There is also a two miles scratch race, the conditions of which are that the competitor gaining the greatest number of points each lap to be declared the winner. Points are to count as follows: First 3 points, second 2 points, third 1 point. The amateurs are catered for with a one-mile handicap. X X X The Mairehau amateurs are gaining in numbers, the last road race having thirty starters, including several of the X.Z.A.A.A. amateurs. x x -T Henderson is training actively and expects to be competing again in a week or so. His inclusion in the scratch races will give them an added interest. " • Leathern made his first appearance in a race at English Park on Saturday night since his disqualification. He, however, was not prominent, an injury to his leg during training operations evidently troubling him. Uen Scuft'ell appeared on Saturday night after an absence of several weeks. He apparently has not yet picked up his true form.

The Mairehau Sports Club’s meeting held last night was quite a success, though with such a large number of entries, the longest race should have been not over one mile. The meeting was full of surprises, not the least of which was the defeat of Phil O’Shea, “Jumbo ' Wells, Jack Bearman, and Willie Mackie in the quarter-mile championship. This event was won by Frank Carey, who rode a well-judged race, putting in his kick at the "opportune moment and winning right on the

Mick Fitzgerald, who was regarded as a likely winner, was a warm favourite and appeared to have the race in hand in the run home, but Carey’s well-timed sprint landed him first by inches. Mackie was a close third.

Jumbo” Wells, who won the chief handicap event, celebrated his first win in a handicap race since he commenced racing at the Stadium this season. Off 25yds, Wells won the one and a half miles Mairehau Wheel Race winning the heat in 3min 22 3-ssec and the final in 3min 15 4-ssec. Wells proved that he has plenty of speed left, and he beat a strong field decisively! Mick Fitzgerald was runner-un and V M’Girr was third.

J. Henderson made his first appearance since his recent accident whilst competing in the New Zealand championships. He still retains his speed, a fact which he demonstrated in the one mile members’ handicap, which he won in no uncertain manner in the excellent time of 2min 2sec.

Hector Burnand, who has not been riding for some time, came out again last night and won the half-mile open race by inches from Frank Carey. Although Burnand has done very little .training during the past, few weeks, ‘he spell appears to have done him good. His time 57 2-ssec off 35yds was fast.

J. M Girr, wno has been figuring prominently in first-class handicap races of late, was re-handicapped severely in the half-mils and one and a half mile races. This, however, did not prevent him from being placed.

lie finished third in both events. His time for the. half-mile handicap would be about 58see. N- H. Goodman, the cx amateur, won the junior championship in an easy fashion, beating last year’s winner, Percy Saunders. Goodman lias now earned the right to be classed as a first-class performer. He is a heady rider who makes the most of his opportunities.

T he amateur events were held under the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union"s rules and both events drew large fields. There was a curious coincidence in the fact that in both races the same riders were placed firsts secend and third, viz., H. F. Mills. D. Fahey, and b. F. Hill. The races decided were, the three-quarter mile handicap and the one mile New Zealand championship.

The five mile motor paced race proved an easy victory for Willie Mackie, who rode his best motor paced race to date. lie held an advantage from the start which he increased with every lap until he almost lapped his opponent. Mackie has had no difficulty in disposing of all comers and he is a strong favourite in his three distance contest against ” Jumbo ” Wells on Saturday next.. It is in the air that. Mackie will be pitted against Australia’s best motor paced follower, Hubert Oppcrman, in the near future.

AMONG THE AMATEURS.

NOTES BY “SPEEDY.”

During the last week two road races were held by Christchurch clubs. On Thursday the Christchurch Club held a ten-mile road race at Iloon Hay, a good race being witnessed by a fair attendance of spectators. W. Jordan, the winner, rode a great race off 2imin. Jordan has been riding very well lateh'. lie won the Derby a few weeks ago, and was placed at the Methven sports. R. Jamison, second place, finished

well for such a young rider. He is showing a marked improvement on his last season's riding.

G. Brett, third place, is another young and promising rider. He has filled four mnior places la tel}*, but has yet to secure a first place. S. C. Forrester rode a great tinpaced race off scratch. He gained fastest time from R. Eastwood (lmin) by one second. A fifteen-mile road race was held at Halswell on Saturday, under the auspices of the combined Christchurch and Halswell Clubs, the event being efficiently handled by officials front both clubs. E. Mangin, who finished first, is a rider who can usually be looked upon to sprint well after a hard ride. On Saturday, after riding most of the journey with only the assistance of G. Brett, Mangin finished in a manner that showed him to be almost up to his best form. G. Brett, second place, rode a good race, and well earned his position. R. Eastwood, third place, and fastest time, is a very consistent rider, and on Saturda}- put up a very fine performance off the scratch mark. S. C. Forrester added another fastest time to his long list by gaining fastest time, unplaced. At the Stadium on Saturday night a three-lap handicap was decided. F. Grose, the winner, is riding particularly well, and beat A. Day by half a wheel after a very exciting sprint. If Grose can keep his present form he will have to be reckoned with in the championships. A. Day, second place, had a very hard ride off scratch, conceding 35yds to his nearest opponent. On performances he should be prominent in the championships. J. I’Anson, third place, is a rider who is showing great promise. lie only took up the sport just before Christr mas,' and he has been placed on several occasions. A ten-mile road race will be held at Halswell on Saturday next by the Christchurch Club.