CYCLING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20391, 23 August 1934, Page 13

CYCLING NOTES.

BY

"WHEEL.”

On account of the inclement weather last Saturday, both amateur and cash road races were postponed. ss The Mairehau Cycling Club will hold a twenty-five-mile road race on Saturday, starting arid finishing at the corner of Hills and Briggs Roads, Mairehau, at 2.30 p.m. The Oamaru to Christchurch, of 170 miles, the biggest and most important road race ever held in the Dominion, will be decided on Saturday, September 22. A large number of riders are training for the event, and the secretary states that a representative entry is assured. Several letters have been received from various parts of New Zealand asking for particulars. A " mystery ” cycling hike will be held on Sunday. Cyclists are asked to assemble in Victoria Square at 9.15 a.m. This run is being organised by some of the New Brighton cycling officials. 2*2 2*2 2*2 The New Brighton Amateur Cycling Club will hold a thirty-mile open road race on September 8, starting at the Bower Hotel at 2.30 p.m. A seven-mile road race for ladies will be held, whilst the open road race is in progress. 2*2 2*2 2*2 A dance to assist the funds of the New Brighton Cycling Club will be held at New Brighton on August 30. 2*2 2*2 2*2 Record fields in amateur events indicate that the prospects for the “ Round the Gorges ” race are particularly bright. There should be a. record entry. Each week-end sees a growing number of riders ,on the country roads. Most of the riders are young and untried: unless they put in a great deal of training they will find the 100-mile journey too far for them. Amongst those training for long-distance races are riders? who have proved themselves over a distance. There should be a great battle for championship hort'ours this season. 2*2 2*2 2*2 The. thirty-six-mlle South Island road championship will be held by the Southbridge Athletic Club on Saturday, September 1. The race will be held around a twelve-mile block, starting and finishing at Southbridge. The chief prizes are: First £8 10s, second £3, third £1 10s. fourth £1 ss, and prizes up to seventh place: fastest time £3, secondfastest time £l. Entries close on Saturday. 2*2 2*2 2*2 The fifty-mile Otago road championship will be decided on Saturday, September 1. Three Christchurch riders, H. G. Watson. L. Thomas and L. G. Fleming, intend to compete. It Is a pity that this important event clashes with the South Island road champion--2*2 2*2 2*2 A. E. (“Dad”) Porter and A. Clemence intend riding through to Dunedin early next week. This trip is being undertaken as part of their training for the Oamaru to Christchurch race. Porter won the Waimate to Christchurch in 1931.' 2*2 2*2 2*2 Saturday’s fifty-mile amateur race is attracting a great deal of attention. It is the first road championship to be decided this season, and as there are several aspirants for honours the contest promises to be most interesting. No fewer than ten riders will occupy the scratch mark—J. D. Richards, A. J. Green. Poster (Dunedin). T. A. Grose. R. B. Blakewav. G. R. Giles, Savage, J. C. Murray. M. F. Pearl and W. Christensen. As a rule, a big bunch such as this is not in the best interests of the race, as the riders are inclined to wait for one another to make the pace and also wait for the sprint. It would have been better to have put Richards. Grose. Savage and Foster on the scratch mark and the others up to, say 2min. Foster, of Dunedin, comes to Christchurch with a good record. If he can produce h'.s Otago form, he should prove a tough proposition. Given a hard ride nga'nst a head wind on a wet day, Richards, should take a power of beating, as he is a good unpaced rider. Giles has not produced championship form this season. His recent performances hardly variant his inclusion amongst, the scratch men. Blakeway, Pearl, Green, Murray and Christensen are good road men. but nave yet to prove they can hold their own with the present road champions. 2*2 2*2 2*2 FIXTURES. Amateur. August 25—Fifty-mile amateur championship. August 29—Sixty-mile North Island championship. September I—Seventy-mile championship. September 29—“ Round the Gorges ” October 20—Wellington - Palmerston Cash. August 25—Mairehau Club’s race. September I—Southbridge road race. September B—Fifty-mile championship, Prebbleton. September 22—Oamaru to Christchurch. October 20-2 7—Victorian Centenary race. October 20—Round Mount Egmont race.