TEST ROAD RACE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 19 July 1934, Page 15

TEST ROAD RACE.

Four-Day Cycling Fixture Abandoned. MODIFIED TRIAL. Due to a lack of support from southern centres, the four-day road race. . which the North Canterbury .Centre, the New Zealand Athletic, Cycling and Axemen's Union had proposed to hold as a test prior to selection of a team of New Zealand riders to compete in the Melbourne centenary seven-das- road race, has been abandoned. A one-day race from Oamaru to Christchurch, via Walmate. will take its place. This event will be held early in September. The modified trial was adopted by the centre at its meeting last evening. The chairman (Mr W. J. Walter) said that it had become necessary for the centre to revise its plans regarding the test race. The southern centres had been unable to offer any assistance and the centre now had to consider whether it would hold a race from Oamaru or be content with the usual WalmateChristchurch event. Officials in both Oamaru and Waimate were willing to support a race. Oamaru Offer. The secretary (Mr P. C. Lucas) said that ho had been In touch with the Mayor of Oamaru regarding finance and had received an offer of £25 towards the expenses of the race. Mr G. Mugford suggested that as an alternative a two-day race should be held. It would not be possible to select riders for the centenary race on their performance in a one-day race. Possibly a race from Christchurch to Walmate and back could be arranged. This would not be more expensive to the riders than the present one-day event. Mr J. Smith spoke in favour of a longer race, saying that a fairly sever© trial was necessary. Definite Flua. Mr Walter said that, in view of the offer from the Mayor of Oamaru, the centre could make definite plants Oamaru’s support would make the race possible. He moved that the race be held from Oamaru to Christchurch, via Waimate. Mr G. Henderson said that the centre had to cater for the majority of riders, not for a few who had a chance of going to Australia. Mr Lucas said that he had written to Melbourne for detailed financial information. but this had not come to hand. Mr Henderson said that he was not in favour of making any arrangements for sending a team away until more information was available. Mr Walter replied that the Australian authorities had undertaken to pay the expenses of New Zealand riders on the condition that a fair test was made in the selection of the team. Mr Walter’s motion was carried. It was decided that the race be held on the first or second Saturday in September, the definite date to be decided by the chairman and secretary. Canterbury Centre. The North Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Athletic, Cycling and Axemen's Union met last evening, Mr W. J. Walter presiding. Competitors who had not paid their entry fees for the Prebbleton meeting were placed on the defaulters’ list. The Prebbleton Club was granted a permit to hold the 50-mile Canterbury championship on August IS.