CYCLING NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18642, 20 December 1928, Page 5

CYCLING NOTES

ON TRACK AND ROAD.

By

"WHEEL."

FIXTURES. December 26—Oxford Sports. * . December 26—Doyleston Sports. December 26 —Temuka Sports. December 26—Halswell Sports. December 26—Waimate Sports. December 29—Springfield Sports. December 29—Pleasant Point Sports. January I—Amberley Sports. January I—Dunsandel Sports. January 1 and 2—Timaru Sports. January I—Oamaru1 —Oamaru Sports. January 2—Waihora Sports. Cash cyclists entered in large numbers for the Cust Sports, which were held last Saturday afternoon. * The bad weather during the week made the track very heavy during the early part of the da}-, but it improved greatly as the day wore on. SC X X Although some of the back-markers did not put in an appearance, the racing was of an interesting nature and the finishes in the three open races were close. The chief absentees were W. Mackie, J. R. I’anson, L. Pither and A. A. Morwood. x x W. T. Weir was the most successful rider. lie won the one mile handicap

and the Cust Wheel Race. B>' winning these races Weir proved that he is rapidly regaining his top form and he will be a power to be reckoned with at the big Christmas and New Year meetings. 54 X X L. W. Hill also rode well, the clay track evidently being to his liking. He won the three-mile handicap and filled second place in the Wheel Race. Like Weir, Hill is also showing improved form, riding much better than he did at Rakaia week. A. E. Fransden, the ex-amateur, filled third place in the @ne and three miles handicaps. x Large numbers of riders are training at English Park each evening, and judging by the form shown by several prominent cash riders, there should be some great racing for championship honours when the New Zealand track championships are decided at Temuka and Timaru within the next fortnight.

L. Pither, J. R. I’anson, A. C. Ritchie and W. T. Weir are riding particularly well and should give the present championship holders, P. O'Shea and W. R.

Willmott, a big fright. 11. F. Miles, who, up to three years ago, was a backmarker in the amateur ranks, is also shaping well and intends to compete at the southern meetings. The amateurs decided a one mile track event at English Park on Tuesday night. As usual, good entries were received. In the final Buckley, who was well in the front, bolted, and the rest of the field, which was comprised of back and middle-markers, loafed, and Buckley scored a popular win. Had the field settled down to it they could have picked up Buckley without much trouble. Angus Mackie and L. Pearce, paced by A. Mutton and John Mackie respectively, took part in a motor-paced race which proved to be an easy thing for Mackie, who settled down nicely to following the motor. Mackie and Campbell took part in another encounter behind the rollers, but what promised to be a most interesting event was spoiled by Mackie mistaking the signal and he pulled up too soon. :: The motor-paced racing was staged by the Papanui Sports Club as an exhibition race in order to prove to the Centre officials that that style of racing is not dangerous. « x The Waihora Sports Club has submitted following cycling programme for the annual sports, to be held at Motukarara on January 2:—Two Laps Handicap (£3), Three Laps Handicap (£6), F'our Laps Handicap (£7 ss), Five Laps Handicap (£6 10s), Seven Laps Waihora Cup Handicap £8 and Waihora Cup). The entries close with the secretary, Mr W. C. Miller, Motukarara, or with Mr P. C. Lucas, Christchurch. x It is not generally knpwn that the rules of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union cover? special prizes for most points in athletic and cycling events. Where two or more competitors tie, the prize is to be given to the competitor who is handicapped nearest the scratch mark; “in any event if still equal ” preference to be given as follows: —-Running and cycling, points to count, first 3 points, second 2 points, third 1 point. » The annual conference of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union will take place at Wellington on January 10, 1929. The union has in. the past done very little for cycling, and it is on the cards that at the conference the union will be criticised for its apparent lack of interest in cycling affairs. Owing to a large number of riders taking part in the championship events, the entries for Doyleston and the Oxford sports, which are to be held on Boxing Day, have suffered. At Oxford, the one mile Canterbury championship is to be decided. At Doyleston the one mile North Canterbury championship will be held. :: The Mairehau Sports Club will hold a road race on January 17, a Thursday evening, A few years ago these evening races were very successful, proving popular with the competitors and officials. s* « The South Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union are holding an inquiry into the charges made by the Rakaia Club. At the annual sports meeting of the Rakaia Club, held on December 8, a recommendation was made by the club to the «entre that W. Mackie should be disqualified for two years. The offence Mackie is alleged to have committed is that he deliberately ran T. R. I’Anson off the track in the four laps handicap.

S. A. Jordan, a competitor in the two miles Rakaia Wheel Race, has protested against the decision of the committee in awarding the race to A. C. Ritchie, wfio finished first. Jordan states that Ritchie deliberately interfered with him in the last lap. The club withheld the prize when the protest from Jordan reached the secretary. The inquiry takes place to-morrow.