CYCLING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 956, 28 December 1933, Page 6

CYCLING NOTES.

BY

"WHEEL."

Keen racing was witnessed at Oxford on Boxing Day, the fast track being responsible for good times. W. J. Lamberton showed his best form. He won the one mile Canterbury championship, the half-mile, and was third in the three miles handicap. I The riders in the second heat of the two miles Oxford Wheel Race took matters too easily and the contest was declared “ no race ” after two attempts. In the second race the competitors took their laps, but did not put enough pace into their work and rode two heats for nothing. This proved a lesson to them for they put up really good performances in the remainder of the cycle events. Back-markers seem to lose sight of the fact that they* should go to the front and make the pace when they catch up to a limit hunch. Lamberton rode with great judgment. He had some big gaps to bridge and, in doing so, demnns f ’-f f < s d at staying powers. On his riding during the day, he can be- >.ue «^i. the best cash track riders in the DominD. Swanston, who won the wheel race, has developed into a useful performer. He did his share of pacing, riding his laps at a fast pace. Swanston gained valuable racing experience as a novice rider. Xow that he has won over £3, he will no longer be allowed to compete in that class. 1,. I'i'her, who won the three miles handica rode disappointingly. His riding seemed to lack the dash which characterised it two or three years ago. I-iither was a disappointment in the championship, in which he finished third. T. M. Lohrev, the winner of the three miles handicap, showed his best track form to date. He is sprinting exceptionally well and should figure prominently at next week’s meetings. Lohrey also finished well when he secured second place in the three miles handicap and defeated Lamberton. I-I. Smither was in good form at the Doyleston sports. He won the half, one and a half and the three miles Wheel Race. Smither is a greatly improved rider. His efforts on Tuesday showed that he had made careful preparation and had trained hard. As anticipated, H. Turtill accounted for the one mile North Canterbury cycling championship. The West Coast rider was in a class by himself and this made it difficult for him in the handicap events, iri which he was not placed. Turtill seems to be more at home on an asphalt track. P. J. Duffy, of Greymouth. was another back-marker. He secured two second places. Xo performance sheets were available for the two West Coast riders and it was difficult to place them. Dutfy rides a good race and deserves to meet with more success. I-I. W. Bennett, of Doyleston, was plttced second to Turtill in the championship. After winning his heat in 2min 30 3-ssec it was a surprise to see him come to light in the final. Bennett is a much-improved track rider. C. J. Arnst. who won the two miles handicap, is a consistent performer. It was disappointing to see him robbed of a place in the championship by a spill.

fields of amateurs contested the cycling events at the Halswell sports on Tuesday. Some excellent finishes were witnessed. The halfmile handicap was ridden in the fast time of 63 1 -ssec. but the other races were ridden in comparatively slow times. The placings were well distributed, riders on long marks having the best of the running. In the half-mile race. B. G. Young, H. Robinson and F. J. .Tones, all off 80yds, finished first, second and third } respectively. The final was ridden in }63 l-ssec, and the back-markers had no chance. F. J. Jones, who was first in the one and a quarter miles and third in the half-mile, should make good on the track. To beat experienced riders like Giles and Campbell In the sprint of .the wheel race was a good effort. . H. Robinson, riding off 4 big mark, rode well to win the’one mile and secure • second' place in the half-mile handicaps. Robinson also gives promise of making good brt the track. L. G. Young and A. A. Brown, the winners of the hklf and one and a half mile races. are comparatively new riders who are showing improvement with every start. W. G, Copping, second place in the one mile handicap, is a solid rider, but lacks the necessary dash in the final sprint. A. C. Ritchie, the former New Zealand cycling champion, has returned to Christchurch from Australia and has taken Ji. Smither in hand. Smither’s riding has benefited considerably since he has been under Ritchie's 1 guidance. Good entries have been received for the cash meetings at Dunsandel (January 1). Prebbleton and Cheviot (January 2). The back-markers at Cheviot are: L. Pither and J. G. Stack (Kaikoura); Prebbleton. L. W. Hill. W. Good, W. J. Lamberton and C. J. Arnst. Christchurch cyclists rode well at Oamaru this week. L. W. Hill winning the one and two miles and gaining second place, in the half-mile handicap. W. Good, with a second and two thirds, also showed good form. R. Sutherland was well treated by the handicapper. He won the half-mile off 60yds and finished third in the one mile handicap off 135yds. Hill won the cup for most points in cycling events for the second year in succession. In company with Good, Hill intends visiting Otago to compete in the New Year meetings. The New Brighton Cycling Club will hold a road race on Saturday afternoon, starting from the Bower Hotel at three o'clock. FIXTURES. December 30—Novice race. New Brigh•Tanuary I—Dunsandel sports. January I—Timaru sports. January 2—Cheviot sports. January 2—Prebbleton sports. January 2 —St Andrew’s sports.