HUBERT OPPERMAN TO MEET O'SHEA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18946, 17 December 1929, Page 15

HUBERT OPPERMAN TO MEET O'SHEA.

Will Opperman defeat O’Shea in tho great match race which is to be decided at English Park to-morrow night? The general opinion is that the New Zealander will prove victorious. The race, which is to be “ human paced ’’ by teams of tandems, will be decided over two distances of five miles each, and should be the most thrilling event of its kind held at the stadium. The thousands who attended English Park last Saturday were astounded by the speed and trackr-craft of the brilliant little Australian, which fully justified his being styled the greatest of Australian cyclists. O’Shea, the holder of championships from quarter of a mile to nearly two hundred miles, has been racing for over twenty years and is a past master as a track rider and recent performances have demonstrated that he is capable of stalling off the most determined challenges. Both Opperman and O’Shea are confident of victory, and a splendid race should result. Paced by Tom M’Cleary, Opperman will make an attempt to lower the five miles motor-paced record, held by W. Mackie, and which has been standing since 1926 at Bmin 59sec.

W. T. Weir and A. C. Ritchie will meet in a five miles motor-paced race to decide who will meet Hubert Opper—man in a three distance match race at English Park on Monday next. In view of the big match race both Ritchie and Weir are out to win, and the riders should give one of the best exhibitions of motor paced racing seen at English Park. Large entries have been received for the handicap cycling events, the nominations including A C. Ritchie, J. R. I’Anson, L. W. Hill. L. Pither. A. E. Fransden, C. Bright, W. T. Weir. The Temuka crack rider, E. B. Tayler, has also nominated.

A big field 'will contest the 126 yards fiat handicap with the New Zealand sprint champion on the scratch mark. The 440 yards handicap has also attracted a big entry. Complete arrangements have been made for the meeting, which will be controlled by experienced officials and the programme will be run off without undue delay. The Woolston Band will render selections at the stadium from 7.30 p.m. The sports will commence at 8 o’clock. Special trams will leave Cathedral Square at frequent intervals.