CYCLING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17905, 22 July 1926, Page 11

CYCLING NOTES.

ON TRACK AND ROAD.

(By “ WHEEL.”)

FIXTURES. September 11— Southbridge Road Race (South Island Championship, 30 miles). September 18—Rangiora Road Race (South Island Championship, 50 miles). October 2—Timaru-Christchurch Road Race. October 9—Warrnambool to Melbourne Road Race. The dates for the big road fixtures are causing much dissatisfaction amongst the. riders, some of the cycle trade and the Rangiora Athletic Club. According to the newspapers, the Rangiora Club held a meeting on Saturday night and resolved to write to the Centre requesting a special meeting to rescind the resolutions passed at the last meeting alloting September 11 for the Southbridge race and the title of 36 miles South Island Championship to the same club. The Rangiora Club contends that a road race of over twenty miles held prior to its race will have the effect of reducing interest in the fifty miles race, especially as both the Southbridge and Rangiora Clubs have, been allotted South Island Championships. In the past the race which has suffered most through long distance races being held just prior to it is the Timaru to Christchurch race. Last year, for instance, both the Southbridge and Rangiora races interfered materially with the Timaru entry. A large number of riders who competed in these events, particularly over the strenuous Rangiora course, found they were unable to ride fifty miles and then and there finished their long distance racing. Last year’s Timaru was a great sufferer in this respect. If the Rangiora Club adheres to its present date. September 18, and falls in with the present arrangements, it has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Advice received from the League of Victorian Wheelmen states that it was impossible to send a representative to the Dominion to compete in the Timaru-Christchurch road race owing to the state of the finances, but that steps would be taken to induce individuals to compete and that full publicitv would be given the event in the sporting papers^ There is every prospect of a road race being run at an early date by the Mairehau Sports Club. Mr J. M. Coffey, one of the keenest sports in the city and one who takes a prominent part'in the running of the Timaru-Christchurch road race, has been laid up for some weeks. ilis manv friends will be p’cased to know that he is now making rapid recovery. It has bet*n reported recently that Xew Zealanders would learn as much bv competing in the Warnambool as thev would by racing for twelve months in the Dominion. Past events have, however, not proved this.

A New Zealander. Phil O’Shea, has the distinction of winning the Australasian championship three times in succession. a feat which has never been equalled by an Australian. The win of Peter Hill, the well-known Christchurch rider, in the 1922 Warrnambool. was due to his superior knowledge of road racing as he was successful in defeating several Australians who were on even terms with him a short distance from the finish. From the above instances, it will be seen that the Australians have nothing on the New Zealanders as far as long distance racing is concerned. « >: The organising work in connection with the Timaru to Christchtirch road race, which is to be held on Saturday, October 2. has already commenced. The task of collecting will start early next week and it is anticipated that there will be a good response. Intending competitors are availing themselves of every opportunity to train for the event. A. C. Walker, who last year deadheated with Clarrie Bright, has been doing steady work since the last event and should again show up prominently. It is rumoured that Bright will not compete in this year’s event, having decided to save himself for the track After scoring seven decisive victories in match races, in which he accounted for Reggie M’Namara. Alf Grenda, Fred Spencer (champion of U.S.A.-}, Cecil Walker (all round champion), Bobby Walthour and Orlando Piani, Ernest Kaufman (champion of the world a.nd Switzerland), met his Waterloo at the Newark Velodrome on May 28, when Art Spencer (thrice champion of U.S.A.) won in two straight heats (says the Melbourne "Sporting Globe”). Ilis brother, Willie, on the following evening at New York, downed the mighty Swiss in a similar manner! It was a veritable cycling sensation.

When Willie Spencer visited Australia lor the second time in 1923, after having won the U.S.A. sprint championship, he rode with marked brilliance, and his many appearances on the Melbourne Exhibition track earned for him the plaudits of the thou sands of keen followers of the sport. However, in the following year, he did not create anything like a favourable impression owing to his indifferent riding. That he was palpably below his true form was beyond all question, and he suffered many' reverses, although he occasionally showed flashes of his former dash. The news of his success and of that of his brother Art over Kaufmann will be read with more than passing interest. When Art was here he also failed to produce his American form, and many followers expressed the view that the Spencer brothers had become “ back numbers.” But such is not the