CYCLING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 14 June 1934, Page 17

CYCLING NOTES.

BY

"WHEEL."

The Avon Amateur Club's? road race at Mairehau last .Saturday attracted a big field, the majority of the best amateurs in the Dominion competing. Fast time was recorded. The handicapper could have improved the event by making bigger gaps? between the bunches. At one stage over twenty riders were together. There is a certain amount of danger in big bunches, and it is also difficult for the officials to check off the riders. Jn a race of twenty-five miles the gaps could safely be not less than a minute. D. Neill tlLlmin), the winner, gave a fine performance. Tie had a big bunch to heat and lie made no error. Xeill's •68 min 4sec registered by J. L. Richards (ser). X'ei] 1 has had a meteoric rise to fame., having only started racing this season. His future looks very promising. P. JsCorreH, second place., can always be relied upon to give a good account of himself. He rides hard from start to finish, and his laps are exceptionally fast. Norrell should make good on tne road this season. W. P. Murray, third place, has been close up on several occasions th l * season. He is a capable road rider. K. Robertson and P. Haw-tin. who filled fourth and fifth places respectively, both Richards (fastest time) is very fit. It will be interesting tc see how he shapes; in the important distance events to be held during the next few months. Richards should be hard to beat in the Round the race. J. C. Murray teamed well with bis much more exnericncod co-marker. Richards. Desp’to bis I : mite<3 road exnerienoe. Murrc-v- is alrady a power to be reckoned with. Cash cyclists are still slow in coming forward for road races, the field for last Saturday’s fourteen-mile sweepstake race being small. The event, however, was full of interest, and the riders finished in a bunch. H. Smither, first and fastest time, gave an exceptionally fine performance. Riding hv himselT he set a steady pace and gradually overhauled the field. He defeated Wilderrnoth in a fast sprint. Smither should figure prominently in this season's championship road events. Jl. WdJderrooth, second place, is an ex-amateur who gave promise of becoming a successful road rider. So far. however, he has not shown the form cxnec lod of Mm. T. Darling. third place, always rides an honest race. He is very keen, trams hard and deserves to meet with success. After a lenethy absence. S. North made a reappearance on Saturday. He rode well and should catch the judge s eye in the near future. The Mairebau Sports Club's opening road race will be held at Mairehau on Saturday, July 14. The following prizemoney has been allocated for the event; First, 20s; second, 10s; third, os; fastest time, 7s 6d. , . . The four days’ road race from Christy Church to Dunedin and return suggested try the writer several months ago will t>e discussed by the executive of the r-ortn Canterbury Centre of the Mew Zealand Athletic and Cycling irmon to-mo T-i-ow nterht The executive will report o tne Centre and it Is probable that - some definite action will be tahen m the matter. A four-days’ race would do a great deal to boost road racing in tne Dominion. ss ss a J.. tv. Hill, road and track, champion., intends leaving for Australia He hopes to take part in the Centenary raie next October. D. G. Fleming will also make the trip. His best performance was h.is record-breaking attempt from Christchurch to Dunedin, a distance of 238 miles, last November. J. A. MetcaJf, of Rangitata, a son of iG. Metcalf, the winner of the first Tlmaru to Christchurch road race in 1899, intends going to Melbourne to compete in the Centenary 3 000 miles race. M. Jones, of Weedons, is also contemplating making the trip.

The Papanui Amateur Cycling Club will hold a twenty-five mile road race at Papanui on Saturday, starting on the Harewood Road a-t 2.30 p.m. Club rao®s have been arranged by the various clubs for the following week.

The Mairehau Sports Club, the premier cash cycling club in the Dominion, held its annual meeting recently. It has been iu existence for many years and lia.s clone yeoman service for the cash side of the sport. The club experienced a quiet season last year. d.ue largely to deplete! finances. With new blood on the management there is every prospect that it will once again reach the high standard of previous years. The. honorary secretary, Mr J. H. Parsons’, is very keen. He is now busily engaged in launching schemes to raise funds for the club. Within the ne.xt few months Air Bruce Small, of Melbourne, will conduct a nation-wide quest for the .Australian junior road champion under sixteen years. More than 5000 lads will participate in the trials. The Prebbletpn Cash Cycling Club will conduct a twenty-mile open road race on Saturday afternoon, starting at Prebbleton at 2.30. Entries close tonight. A sum of £3 is offered as prize money. The Avon Amateur -Cycling Club will hold .a road race on Saturday afternoon, starting at the corner of Kelly’s and Hilt's Roads, Mairehau, at 2.30. A schoolboys’ .event will also be decided. A training ride will be held on Sunday, leaving Victoria Square at 9.15 a.m. The following are the handicaps for Saturday's race;—Scratch, M. Pearl L. Neill W. Walker, p. -Morrell; 3 min. B. G. Savage. A. Willianis, C. Williams, K. Karii.ia.na; Simjn, N. Radford. W. G. Copping. R. Stoddart, C. Hall; Smin. T. Pnsk, G. Bruce, V. Milner, F. Kirwan, J., Grigor. I. Forgie, K. Ellison, R. MatherR- Grafton; 4min. T. Gibson, J. AT Jntyre. L. Robinsojp C. Reiter J. M'Conehie. F. Pocock. H. M’Bennan, P Dembsey; smin, S. Grim wool. R. Grigor, - R. Bodger. G. Bartrani, B. But whistle, D. Wild, N. Gaylor; 6mip. S. Barlow, E. Burke, A. Hands, J Anderson, W. AfFall. T. Hill. The following handicaps have hem declared for the Papanui Club’s open road race on Saturday:—-Scratch-—J. I„. Richards, J. c. Murray. lmin—G Tl Giles, W G. Hughey. T. A. Grose, 'imin —W Berry, Ai. Drake, R. C. Dav AV. C. Grigor, J. T. Chapman. 3min—-C. Al'Alister. C. Creed. A. J. Green. W D. Alurray. A. F. Day, M. Richards, J. J. Holland. 4mi n—W. H. Brown. K. Al. An nett, K. Robertson. B. Hunt, D. ti.li, J. Hogarfh. J. Prosser. M. G. Green. W. Green. omi.ii’—N. M'Cready, O. A. Cooper. A. J- Day, A. Robertson. R. G. Hart. A. V. Blakeway. J. Tracey R. Cocks. 6min —l. J. Taylor. K. Adamwon, B. Green. D. Green. C. Smith. T IXTURES. June 16—Prebbleton road race (cash). ' June 16*—faponui amateur race. June 23—Amateur club races. July 14—-Mairehau Club's race cash). September I—Seventy-mile amateur September 15-—IOO miles “Round the Gorges ” race.