CYCLING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17995, 4 November 1926, Page 11

CYCLING NOTES.

ON TRACK AND ROAD,

By

“WHEEL."

FIXTURES. November *l—Amateur Road Race, Mairehau. November 6—English Park Sports. November 12 and 13—21 hours teams race, English Park. November 20—Cycling Sports at Kaiapoi. November Park Sports. The second cycling carnival promoted bv the English Park Stadium Company was held on Saturday night* the weather conditions being exceptionally good. The long programme was not as attractive as it might have been. In the first place the teams handicap race of three minutes’ duration was not readily followed by the spectators, who were unable to determine which team was gaining or losing the case might be. The result was that everyone was in doubt until the result was announced. The teams, in sonie cases, comprised three and in other instances, four riders, first class men and limit men taking part. After one lap the weaker riders dropped ’out and on occasions only one rider was left to finish the journey. The winning team. M. P. Leathern. C. Austin and F. Flanagan rode well. They had a handicap of 146 yards in the heat and were scratch in the final. All three riders were well in the heat and final. The race would have been more interesting if the teams had started on the opposite sides of the track: 3 K K For the second time this season the amateurs have failed to put in an appearance in anything like the number contained in the programme. Last week only twelve out of twenty-seven showed up, whilst this week the number of riders was even smaller, only ten putting in an appearance out of twenty-seven entries. This event was a one and a half lap scratch race, and the riding of M. F. Waghorn was the feature of it. In his heat he defeated Frank Grose in a close finish and he repeated his performance in the final. Grose led all the way until close to the finish. He was challenged in the straight by Waghorn. who made a splendid run home, J. I'anson being a good third. The half mile open handicap saw some-good racing. Full fields competed and the heats were well divided up, making for fast racing. N. H. Goodman made his first appearance on the track in the first heat and took the backmarkers through in no uncertain manner. A. Leathern took the lead from Goodman and crossed the line an easy winner. Jack Henderson made a splendid effort in the third heat, winning in 61 2-5 .sec from Alec Ritchie. This was a particularly close finish. H. Burnside rode better than he has previously done in the fifth heat, and showed a rare dash of speed in the straight. :*: E. Condon (30) proved too good for the opposition in the seventh heat. He was hard pushed by Le Fevre but scrambled home a winner in a close finish in the good time of 60 4-ssec. The final was a great race, the hero being Charlie Blyth. On the 80-3*ard mark with his nearest man 30 yards back, Blyth rode his best from the gun. With a of a lap to go it appeared as if he must be caught, but by a supreme effort he got enough pace out of his machine to carry him over the line a winner by a wheel from J. Henderson (scr) with H. Burnside a very close third. It was a splendid finish, in fact one of the best ever seen at the stadium. Time—6l 4-ssec. The two miles miss and out scratch race could scarcely be called a success. Through Carey, Goodman, M. Leathern, J. Henderson, J. M’Girr and C. L. Burnand being called off for being last over the line each lap, the race lost a considerable amount of interest. The riders left in for the last two laps w r ere A. C. Ritchie, C. Bright, A. Leathern and H. Burnand. At the bell Leathern forged ahead with Ritchie handy. Going into the straight Ritchie who had dropped back a little, challenged Leathern in a determined manner, but was unable to get to the front. Leathern crossing the line half a length to the good. Burnand and Bright were some distance back, finishing third and fourth respectively. The time was 4min 30 4-ssec. Charlie Blyth, who won the open half mile handicap on Saturday, has had a fair amount of experience at racing, but has met with only a fair amount of success. The road has been the scene of most of his winnings. As a track rider he is capable of doing hard work and is a strong rider. Blj-th’s win on Saturday night was very popular.

The back-markers are riding particularly well at present and four of them. Henderson. W. Leathern. Carey, and Mackie, occupy the scratch mark. Future scratch races should be of a very interesting nature, as any one of the above riders is likely to turn the tables at any time. Leathern and Henderson appear to be at the top of their form and the heat won by the former on Saturday night was a splendid effort. It was unfortunate that the time of the race was not taken. Henderson is riding particularly well and should hold his own against all comers. * . Carey did not show his usual dash on Saturday and was the first to be called off in the scratch race. When in form Carey is one of the fastest sprinters on the track. >; k » A strike of riders occurred on Saturday night just prior to the advertised time of starting the sport. The strikers declined to start unless the prize money was increased. At such a late stage their action was most unfair to the Stadium authorities, as the public were waiting to be admitted, and the agitators had had ample opportunity* to meet the promoters earlier in the week if they wished, as the nominations had closed some days previously. The action was absolutely unwarranted, as the prize money offered is big in comparison to the attendance of the public. The prize money objected to was in the open handicap, when £7 was offered for an entry, fee of one shilling. Recently a six-teen-mile road race was held in the country where the entry fee charged was 4s for total prizes of £lO. It is significant that some of those prominent in the strike last Saturday' have not taken part in recent road races. W. Mackie will make his appearance at the Stadium on Saturday’ night next. He is reported to be in splendid racing trim and, will occupy’ the scratch ' mark in the half-mile open handicap. His inclusion amongst £he back-markßrs will give the races an additional interest. S. W. Crutchley\ the Wanganui crack rider, is now in Christchurch and will make his appearance on the track at an early date. If he can repeat the form shown by him on the road, the back-markers should be considerably’ strengthened. The Canterbury road championship for New Zealand A. and C. Union’s amateurs, which was arranged for Saturday* last, was postponed until after the holidays. The time and date of the race will be announced shortly. :: « It was intended to put on a race for trophy’ riders under the rules of the New Zealand A. and C. Union at the Stadium on Saturday’, but owing to insufficient notice the riders were not conversant with the arrangements. These races will be known in future as Derby races. The first of the series will be held on Saturday* fortnight. All riders who have not registered « with the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union art warned that their prize money will be held over until they* make an explanation to the centre why’ they* have not registered. A term of disqualification will probably be a further punishment. Arrangements are well in hancl for the twenty-four hours teams race to be held at the Stadium on Friday and Saturday of next week. The teams are well matched and the race should prove a big attraction for Carnival Week. Representatives of the Stadium are to be invited to the inquiry to be held into recent trouble at English Park, when several riders refused to ride unless the prize money* was increased. The inquiry* will be held on Wednesday*, November 17. ti ti J. Scruise and R. Marshall arrived in Christchurch this morning and were early* on the track at the Stadium making an inspection. They both appear to be in fine form and will race at the Stadium on Saturdav night. Advice has been received in Wellington that R. W. (“ Fatty ”) Lamb, the ; Australian amateur cyclist, has accepted the invitation of the amateur body to visit the Dominion this season. He will race at Christchurch and Wfcl- 1 lington. The Amateur Canterbury -Road Championship to be conducted by the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union is to be held at Mairehau on November 27. The distance is 20 miles. :*: « The Mairehau Amateur Cycling Club will hold a road race at Mairehau this evening. Intending competitors should get into touch with Mr Walter or Mr Oborn as soon as possible.