CYCLING ON TRACK AND ROAD

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17863, 3 June 1926, Page 3

CYCLING ON TRACK AND ROAD

BY

“WHEEL.”

FIXTUES. June s—-Mairehau Sports Club’s Road Race. June s —Amateur Road Race, Mairehau. June 12—Thirty Miles Amateur Championship. .October 9—Warmamhool-Melbourne Road Race. :: The Brookside Cycling Club is to be congratulated on the splendid success of the thirty miles Canterbury Road Championship decided on Saturday afternoon last. The race was the first attempt the club has made at a big fixture, and it was well organised by an energetic committee with Mr T. Ellis as secretary. Older clubs, with more experienced officials, could very well take a lesson from this enterprising club. The road was well flagged and the corners manned by officials and the course was fenced off at the finish. The race was an interesting one to watch, being three times around a block of nearly ten miles. The roads were in good order for racing. Forty-nine riders were despatched by the president of the North Canterbury Centre, Mr W. J. Walter, who acted in the dual capacity of starter and timekeeper. It was evident from the start that the race would be keenly contested, as there were very few scratchings. Burnett (12min) got a lead on Dynes (12min) from the start and led the first round, taking 26min 33sec over the journey. The first lap the riders passed in the following order:— 26min 33sec—Burnett (12min). 27min 27sec—Dynes (12min). 28m in 4sec-—o'Connor (9min), O’Reilly (Omin), W. K. Weir (9min), Pearce (9min), Clark <9min). 28min 40sec—G. N. Prebble (Smin), Redmond (Bmin), N. F. Archer (Bmin), Wills (Bmin). 29xnin 33sec —Holland (7min), Bumfide (7min), J. Radnor (6min), Mahan (fimin), J. Parsons (7min), Good <7min), Tate (6min), Leggett (6min), .O’Plaherty (Smin). 30min 2sec —11. F. Prebble (7min). 30min 14sec—Flanagan (smin), Chapjnan (Smin). 31min lsec—Walker (omin). 31 min 55seo —Fidler Omin), M’Grath OminJ, Austin (3m*n), Weir (3min). 33mln—Spiera (limin), Ellis (Hmin), pamacd (l§min>. 34min 45sec—Muir (Hmin). 35min 37sec —Leathern (scr), Fitzgerald (scr), Carfcy (scr). Bell (scr) suffered a puncture at this Stage. At the commencement of the last lap the order was as follows: 51mm 45sec —J. 11. Parsons (7min), (6min), Mahan (6min), Marra <7min), Flanagan (Smin), Redmond (Bmin), G. W. Prebble (Smin), Chapman (omin), Hubbard (9min>, Good (7min>, Burnside (7min), Clark Omin),

N. F. Archer (Omin), Jordan (6min). olmin 56sec —G. A. Parsons (Bmin), W. Power (6min). 52min 23sec—O'Shea (7min). 53min 20sec —Weir Omin), Fidler Omin), Austin (3min), M’Grath (3min). 54min 36sec —Spiers (Hmin), Burnand (Hmin), Ellis (Hmin). 56min 21sec—Walker (omin). 57min 37sec—Fitzgerald (scr). Leathern (scr), Carey (scr). The race resulted in a win for C. Austin Omin), with R. Leggett (6min) second and N. F. Archer (Bmin) third. Fastest time was recorded by C. L. Burnand (Hmin), lhr omin 43sec. The winner, Clarrie Austin, put up a very good performance in getting up in time to win in such a decisive manner. He is a good all-round rider and has just finished a very profitable season on the track. Austin’s greatest successes have been on the country tracks, where he secured a large number of wins. The fifty mile teams’ race, which was held at English Park Stadium during the past season, was won by the team composed of Phil O’Shea and C. Austin. Austin’s previous best road performance was second to Ken Lange in the fifty miles road championship held at Mairehau three years ago. C. L. Burnand, Canterbury road champion, is to be congratulated on his sterling performance in winning his first blue ribband against such a strong field. To those who have followed the career of Burnand, during the latter end of the present season, his win did not come as a surprise as he has had some very good performances to his credit on both road and track. Burnand owes a great deal of his success on Saturday to the co-operation of his co-markers, Ellis and Speirs, who were with him up to the time he sprinted. If he can retain his present good form Burnand should prove a tough proposition in the big road races to be held during the coming month or so. R. Leggett, second place, was regarded as a likely winner when the handicaps were announced, and he nearly realised expectations, only failing to win by a couple of lengths. Leggett is a strong rider over a distance. His first big success on the road was the winning of the handicap in the Papanui championship about three years ago. Since then he has not been so prominent, his chief successes being on the track at country meetings. He rode prominently in the 1924 Timaru race, a puncture in the latter stages of the race robbing him of one of the big N. F. Archer, third place, does not do a great deal of racing. He is a good distance man and more racing would be beneficial to him.

J- H. Parsons, fourth place, generally conies to light when a big race is on the cards. lie makes the smaller races more or less of a “joy” ride, reserving his energies for the bigger prize money. He is a good long distance man who indulges in some long and arduous training rides. P- Tutty, fifth place, is a well-known Timaru rider who has been racing for years. He rides for the love of the sport and lias competed in the TimaruChristchurch race on several occasions. Tom Ellis, second fastest time, is a member of the Brookside Club, and a son of the secretary of the club. He has ridden with a fair measure of success for about three years on road and track. His success was very popular in his home district and it is to be hoped that the greater honour of road champion will be won by him in the near future. Having only just attained his majority Ellis should have a great future as a rider. W. J. Fidler, Swannanoa, won the prize for fastest time for riders under eighteen years. He has not done much ridingof late, owing to having received an Injury whilst training at English Park. His performance for so young a rider was a verv fine one. A comparison of the times of the scratch men and the one and a half minute men for the three laps is interesting. The scratch men rode the first lap in 23min 37sec, and Spiers, Ellis and Burnand rode it in 23min 30sec. The scratch men’s time for the second lap was 22min and Speirs, Burnand and Ellis took 21min 36sec. The scratch men rode the final lap in 23 min 7sec, as against the one and a-half minute men’s time, 21min 37 l-ssec. The first scratch man to finish, F. Carey, rode the distance in lhr Smin 44sec and Burnand rode it in lhr smin 42sec. The order of the two teams as far as handicapping was concerned ' could have been reversed. 3 The duties of official starter and timekeeper for the Brookside road race were capably carried out by Mr W. J. Walter, president of the North Canterbury Centre. Mr Walter was ably assisted by his wife. a a a C. L. Burnand was decorated with the Blue Ribband for the Canterbury Road Championship by Mrs E. R. V. Winter, wife of the president of the club. The prizes were presented by Mr Winter. The Mairehau Sports Club will hold an open road race at Mairehau on Saturday afternoon over the usual thirteen mile course. The Mairehau amateurs will also hold a road race at Mairehau in the afternoon. Amateur riders are reminded that the nominations for the Thirty Mile New Zealand Road Championship, to be decided by the Mairehau Amateur Club on Saturday week, close on Saturday afternoon next. * * * * Mr J. Kennedy, secretary of the N.Z. Athletic and Cycling Union, was in town on Friday last and was keenly interested in cycling matters in Christchurch.