CYCLING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18189, 23 June 1927, Page 3

CYCLING NOTES.

ON TRACK AND ROAD.

BY

“WHEEL.”

imrmiiiitfiimiiHfmiiimiiHfiiiiiiniiiirniiimimiuirmnmfnimiinmimiimuiu'iii FIXTURES. June 25—Mairehau Sports Club’s Road Race. July 23—Paparua Cycling Club’s Road ' Race. July 30—X.Z. A. and C. Union’s Road Race. North Canterbury. August 20—Mairehau Sports Club’s Race, Cashmere Hills. September 10 Timaru-Christchurch Road Race. October S Warrnambool-Melbourne Road Race. K X « Owing to the wet weather, all road races were postponed last Saturday afternoon. The Premier Cycling Club, which had arranged three fixtures during the next few weeks has decided to cancel them, and it is possible that the club will be disbanded in the near future. Steps are being taken to form a big club in the city. Preliminary arrangements are in hand and a definite announcement will be made in the course of a week, or so. >: * The road race which is being promoted by the North Canterbury centre of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union is arousing considerable interest amongst the road racing cyclists. The race will be held on Saturday, July 3, and will start from Ran giora at two o’clock. As the riders will pass through several districts where there are affiliated clubs, this should stir the country clubs into activity. Rangiora, Sefton, Southbrook, Belfast and Papanui have affiliated clubs, and it is anticipated that there will be representatives from them competing in the race. The roads are good and the race promises to be a great success. The prizes are as follows:—First £B, second £3, third £2, fourth £l, fastest time (not receiving first prize) £3. second fastest time £1; first rider to finish in receipt of half to three-quarter limit

not including three-quarter limit £l, first rider to finish in receipt of threequarter limit to limit, inclusive, £l. The entry fee is 3s. Nominations close with the centre secretary, Air P. C. Lucas, on Saturday, July 23. A few years ago road races for Derby riders, those under the age of eighteen years, were a great success. They attracted large entries and were the means of bringing out several good riders such as A. (Bill) Leathern. W. A. Muir and W. Mackie. The Mairehau Sports Club is expected to promote one of these races in the near future. IT. B. Dixey, who did considerable racing on the road last season, is at present at Ashburton. Tie is training in view of the Timaru to Christchurch road race. Dixey states that road racing is at a standstill at Ashburton and that he is endeavouring to form a club there. A year or two ago there was a strong club at Ashburton and road races were held at frequent intervals. XXX It is quite probable that Auckland will be represented in the Timaru to Christchurch road race which is to take place on September 1. Last year the Auckland road championship clashed with the Timaru race, but Mr George Sutherland states that this year the northern race will be run prior to the Timaru, and that representatives will be sent to compete in the big race. The Mairehau Sports Club will hold a dance in the Beckenham Hall on Saturday night next. The function is being arranged by the energetic secretary of the club. Air J. If. Parsons, and the proceeds are for the purpose of boosting road racing. On Saturday the Alairehau Sports Club will hold a road race at Mairehau open to club members. Valuable prizes have been provided, including one donated by Afr Reg Stillwell. En-

tries close to morrow night with the ■secretary of the club or with Mr P. C. Lucas, phone '1730. The prize list for "the Timaru to . . hnstchurch race will be announced at I tican arly i datS ' Th ° ' iSt "’ iU be praC ' j cnlrv is anticipated, especially from the l country, and the entrants promise to include a large number of young riders. A letter rece'i'ved’froin'Willie Mackie, the Christchurch rider who is at present at Newark, the cycling centre in i America, states that Harris Herder, the brilliant Australian sprinter, is favourite for the quarter-mile American championship. He is very quick off the mark and recent!v beat Willie Spencer in a quarter-mile race in 27 4-ssec, and Fred. Spencer in 2S 4-osec. Horder at the time was riding at the top of his form. Reg Al’Xamara had just arrived at Newark from Paris after having competed in his fifty-first six days race. In spite of his racing career having been a chapter of accidents and his age. thirtv-nine years, he was riding as well as 'ever. ' Alackie rode in a fifteen mile paced race and finished fifth. Newspaper reports state that Alackie rode a great race for a beginner. Alackie says there is a big opening for aviators, but as he went over to America to be a cvclist he will stick to the sport. lie intends to re-j turn to the Dominion at the end of the i X X 3 There are several riders who, although they seldom got placed, are 1 regular competitors. G. A. Wilcox is one of them. Although he resides at Darfield he has taken part in a large number of events on the road and track. Wilcox indulges in a fair amount of training and derives great enjoyment from it. L. E. Porter also is a trier, but does not meet with the success he deserves. However, this does not deter him from trying and a well-deserved win will be his reward in the near future.

A prominent road and track cyclist he is regarded as one of the best pacemakers on the track and in the past has rendered invaluable service in the capacity of a pacemaker. The Sou tihb ridge Road , Race, which carries with it the South Island Roac Championship, will be held on .Saturday, September 17. the week after the Timaru to Christchurch road race. The prize list will be practically the same as last year, the first prize being £25. Full particulars will be announced next week. The Paparua Cycling Club will hold a fourteen mile # road race at Riccarton oil Saturdav, ]ulv 23, at 2.30 p.m. The club will probably hold two road races in August. Entries for the arranged event will be received by the secretary, Mr Winter Cole, Middlepark Road, Riccarton. x vl W. K. Weir is a young rider who deserves more encouragement from the handicappers. At Sefton, on Easter Monday, Weir did well by winning the Kowai Wheel Race. Although he has ridden well on the road he has failed to win a race and generally manages to get on a hard mark. Weir has a big heart and deserves encouragement. J. 11. Robertson, the ex-amateur rider, has not yet shown the form on the road that was expected of him. On the track at Sefton on Easter Monday he rode particularly well and gave promise of developing into a rider above the G. W. Hazel dine *is another rider who competes frequently but does not manage to fill a place. llis track form was very encouraging but when riding on the road he does not show to the same advantage. x Alec Struthers has ridden in several road races this season and although handicapped on a good mark, so far he has failed to get a win. He rides a spirited race on. the track. X X X Road racing cyclists should have a busy time for the balance of the season. With the Mairehau Sports (Tub, the Paparua Cycling Club, the North Canterbury Centre of the X.Z.A. and '-. Union, and the new Christchurch Club holding races, the future looks very bright and the cyclists should have a

A good all round rider who should figure prominently in the coining big road races. It is rumoured that the cycling track in the Papanui Domain is to be removed. If this is the case it is a great pity as a large number ot cyclists use the -track for training purposes. A few vears ago, the Papanui (Tub, which was then a live bodv. used to have two or three meetings a year as well as evening races. Those interested in cycling in Papanui should take immediate steps to save the track.^ Road racing*is booming in Australia. In a twenty mile open road race held recently,there were one hundred and seventy three entries.