CYCLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 201, 28 August 1935, Page 4

CYCLING

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"VELOS"

The weather last Saturday was al! against the amateur road cycl sts. lor there was a gale of wind to contend with. No rider likes to have a strong head wind against him for half ihe, journey, especially if he is riding soiu. This was the experience of several riders on Saturday, so it wa« not surprising to find several of the riders ietiring. • Of the fourteen starters there were only four to finish the 42 mile journey. If similar conditions are experienced for the Palmerston North-to-Wanganui race there will be not many of the boys fit for the journey. Tom Townsend had his initial win in tho W.A.R.C.C. on Saturday, pedalling home an easy winner from the next rider, Beswarick, by oxer four minutes, a most eonvinc'ng victory. Many may think that Townsend is a new rider but this is not sO. He has had some notable victories in the professional ranks .from which he has - recently been reinstnled. He is a very fine pedaller and rode a remarkably small gear. He was riding only a 75inch gear, which must have been a great asset to him in the strong henTwind from Turnkina to home. His effortless pedalling had much to do with his win. In the previous race he finished second to his young brother Rex, so his riding is quite consistent. It was very pleasing to see the young . limit boy Besxvarick fill second place after a sterling performance. Starting racing at the beginning of this road season he has not had much success. Evidently the longer races «'•« suiting him best and for a first-season boy he is making good progress. • • • • J. McCormick, third, has nad more placings than any other rider (IT scratch this year. Tl's improvement this year is remarkable. He also gained second-fastest time. Burton, the only other to finish, deserves -credit for his ride. He ai o finished alone and. like all the others, said it was the toughest race he had ridden in. • • • • Bad luck struck the scratch bunch. On the journey up to Upokongaro. Anderson, who was a little wary of the loose metal after his spill of last week, > was left behind. Then, when nearing the Wangaehu Hill. Wade find the misfortune to puncture while W. Pidwell, the onlv remaining scratch entrant, found the going too hard on his own. Young Rex Townsend also was unfortunate in taking a wrong turning early in the race, this robbing him of whatever chance he had as he ’ost well over five minutes. Rex put up a splendid ride in winning the previous race over the dreaded Okoia Hill course and in most trying conditions, and like h : s brother, rode practically the whole journey solo. To do this in his second race speaks well for his prospects. Appreciation must be expressed of the action of the drover who thought fully herded his sheep to the side off the road to allow the riders to have a free run at the commencement of the race. This evening the committee will meet to make final arrangements for the Palmerston North race of next Saturday. All executive must attend as there will be plenty of work on the day of the race and it must not be left to one or two. Also, next Saturday’s race must be decided upon. centre of the handle a luscious bunch of grapes. Changed days; and why not! there is a great deal of money in the game; the professional golfer who is * in the foref'ont is a prosperous fellow, the open championship is a star event, and he is quite right to do himself well. The splendid appearance of the great majority of the professionals at the open champiurusuiiD was good for their status.” “All delegates intending to represent clubs at the annual gene*al meeting should either send to the secretary of the association beforehand, or bnrj with them to the mooting a written authority from the secretary or corn-, mittee of the club.” states ho Golf Council report. “Under rule 10, no person, except a retiring member of the council, shall be eligible for election unless his nomination shall be in the hands of the secretary of tho as. soc'ation one month before rhe date of election. ’ ’ Proper Finish Helps Actual Stroke Watching Waiter Hagen otive pit h toward the green, Bobby Jones, from a position quite remote from the scene of play, decided instantly that the shot was successful because of the manner in which the Hague finished the stroke. This was before the ball finished clo«e to the pin which a dutiful ba I sl op’d do when two golfers such as those above put their trust in it. Hagen s finish of that shot was similar to that of Harrison John tor’s in the abox o illustrat’on. The swing was smooth and unhurried, a hit of hackspin addeci • to the ball and the cl ibhead finishing on a line toward the hole. This latter position, wh’le not infallible shows more often than not that the ball has been trulv struck. Natural!'* .t cannot correct a mishit ball but if ore keeps his m'nd on haxi ig the clubhead finish pointing toward the pin, he is nnf apt to relax his concent ation until long after impact has taken place. Th s in particular has manv benefits insuring a hit straight on the line and discouraging any tendencies to relax at or jus>t after impact.