CYCLING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19070, 15 May 1930, Page 15

CYCLING

ON TRACK AND ROAD

BY

"WHEEL ”

Only thirteen riders faced the starter at Southbrook on Saturday afternoon, when a nineteen miles road race was held by the Southbrook Cycling Club. It is two 3-ears since this club held a road race. The roads around the three mile block were in fair racing order, and the weather conditions were ideal. J. W. Jordan, L. Pither and J. R- Robertson (scratch) gave S. Arnst, W. L. White and C. J. Sowden a start of one minute. E. S. Dixon, of West Eyreton, was in great form. Starting oil eleven minutes, he had over a lap lead at the start, and lasted long enough to win by nearly three minutes. Arnst retired in the first lap. having spilled. Dixon followed White and Sowden, keeping with them for over four miles, and with half the distance covered, Dixon was 7min 29see ahead of the scratch men, his nearest opponent being E. J. Peek (oimin), who was omin 35sec behind him. M’Kaskell pulled out in the second lap with a puncture, and Robertson was dropped by the scratch men. Dixon had a lead of 3min 57sec with one lap to go. White, Sowden, Peek and Hill following him. Jordan passed 62sec later, riding strongly. Robertson, who was lmin 19sec behind Jordan, retired at this stage. Dixon crossed the finishing line 2min oosec in front of C. J. Sowden, with White and Hill following closely. Jordan finished 53sec behind Sowden, and secured fastest time, E. S. Dixon, the winner, has been a trier in road and track events for a considerable time. His win on Saturday is his first in an open event, and he is to be congratulated. His per--1 formance was easily his best and he 5 rode consistently throughout. He re--1 ceived great assistance from White and Sowden, as he gained ground by keep- * ing with them for a few miles. Dixon [ has competed at recent sports meett ings as a runner as well as a cyclist. I C. J. Sowden, second place, rode his usual hard race from start to finish. \ He was too good for his co-marker. White. On his present form, he should - figure prominently in future contests. - " K Si i W. L. White, third place, showed up 1 well despite the fact that he has done I very little training. It should not be s long before he again occupies the place j of honour on the scratch mark. r A. C. Hill again just missed getting ' a place, finishing fourth. No doubt . he will be prominent in the longer distances. J. W. Jordan had a very hard ride during the latter stages of the race, as he had to ride unpaced for a con- , siderable portion of the journey. On * his present form he should again make a bold bid for championship honours y in the comfng big road events. J. R. Robertson was going well with * the scratch men until he had trouble. l He carried on, but was unable to make e headway and retired with a lap to go. 3 Robertson has made a written com--1 plaint to the North Canterbury Centre r stating that he was interfered with and 1 that the back-markers received motor- . pace on the back roads during the ~ course of the race. „ i ‘ The table given below shows the s times registered for the six laps by ■ the winner, E. S. Dixon (llmin) and J. W. Jordan, who registered fastest - time: Dixon. Jordan. First lap 8 45 7 25 Second lap S 47 7 36 1 Third lap 8 38 7 38 Fourth lap ; 9 6 741 1 Fifth lap 8 59 7 50 Sixth lap 9 2 7 55 53 17 46 5

A meeting of the North Canterbury Centre of the .New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union will be held on Wednesday next, when the complaints made by Robertson will be investigated and matters in connection with cycling will be discussed. The Clarkeville Cycling Club will hold an open road race at Clarkeville next Saturday afternoon, starting from the Clarkeville Hall at 2.30 p.m. Entries close with Mr P. C. Lucas. The country clubs are doing their part to keep the sport going, and it is. up to the riders to support them. The more entries received, the more races will be held. Acting on medical advice, J. R. Robertson will not be a starter next Saturday at Clarkeville. Mr Croskerv, of Wellington, the president of the Port Nicholson Cycling Club, will be in Christchurch this week and is anxious to meet representatives of the North Canterbury Centre, pf the New. Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union and discuss matters in connection with cycling. Mr Crockery is associated with that section of the club which recently decided to join up with the Auckland controlling body. The two divisions of the club held road races last Saturday, and the club which broke away had an entry of over thirty, and the club which is still loyal to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association had only eleven starters. On Saturday, May 31. the Mairehau Sports Club will hold a two miles track race at English Park. The race will be run in conjunction with the Charity Day football match. Road wheels add tyres only will be allowed. The sum of £4 has been allocated as prize money. Nominations close with the secretary, Mr J. 11. Parsons, or with Mr P. C. Lucas, 'phone 37-142, or 131, Worcester Street. The Papanui Amateur Sports Club held a most successful road race at Papanui on Saturday afternoon, when twenty-nine riders started. The race, which was over a twenty miles course, was particularly interesting. The course, with the exception of one of the corners, which was loose and shingly, was in fair racing order. The event drew a few new competitors, with the well-known riders. L. G. Lukey, F. J. Grose and J. L. Richards on scratch. The winner, C. G. Fletcher, rode a good race off the five-minute mark, teaming well with R. Daly, S. J. Barlow, L. Buckley and E. Rhodes. Grose retired after doing four or five laps. L. G. Lukey, in company with Richards, rode particularly well and at stages of the journey was registering over twenty-three miles per hour. The finish was close, five riders finishing together, with the scratch men a minute and a quarter behind. C. G. Fletcher, the winner, has had considerable racing experience, but up to the present has not met with much success on the road. As a track rider last season he was fairly successful. On his riding on Saturday, Fletcher should figure prominently- in future contests. L. G. Lukey continues to hold his own as a road rider. He secured fastest time and registered good time for the distance, his time being 57min 43 4-ssec. In the longer distances, Lukey should have little difficulty in winning fastest time honours. Next Saturday the Papanui Sports Club will hold another race for amateur riders, over a twenty-mile course, starting from the corner of Bishop's and I fare wood Roads at 2.30 p.m. In conjunction with the Prebbleton Club, road races will be held throughout the road season. a FIXTURES. May 17—Clarkeville Road Race. May 17—Papanui Amateur Road Race. May 24—Christchurch Club’s Road Race, Ilalswell. May 31—Mairehau Club’s Track Race, English Park. October s—Oamaru to Christchurch Road Race.