Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1899.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 4751, 16 March 1899, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1899.

'Jhb English and American papers not immediately connected with cycle manufacturers and cycle booms are almost unanimous in considering that cycle racing as at present carried on ie not likely to hold much longer the place in public estimation which it has hitherto occupied. It is impossible to pick up a newspaper containing comments upon recent race meetings without seeing this opinion expressed with more or less emphasis. Even in ' Austialia the refrain is being taken up, ! thus indicating very clearly that unless a reform takes place soon cycle racing will be a thing of the paßt. Why this fate should be especially threatened to this branch of sport seems at first sight \ an anomaly. The sport is comparatively new and decidedly attractive, and the enthusiasts in bicycle riding appear to be ever on the increase. But the first visit any observing person pays to a bicycle track, particularly when an important meeting is being held, will at once enlighten him. He will see that the leading competitors who are generally'—we might almost say, invariably—paid employees of importers or middlemen engaged in the bicycle trade, have got things pretty much their own way. The events are mostly arranged to suit their convenience, the heats are frequently made up in such a manner that men in the same employ can act as pace makers for fellow employees, and are able to rapidly overtake the field, which is usually composed of amateurs. Then these combinations proceed to employ those tactics which long experience has shown them can be successfully practised against the more sportsm*nlike amateur, who finds that when the time comes for his effort, he is carefully blocked while one of the confederated pros, is sailing away in front. Thus the times of all the races in which the back markers—or paid riders—overtake the field early are always slow, for these latter lay themselves out to keep the field back for the " final sprint" when one of them should win. There is therefore nothing surprising in the statement which recently went the rounds of the papers that it took some • champions' over seven minutes to ride a mile in England the other day. Nor can one wonder that a well-known sportsman is credited with saying that "the public would not pay to see advertisements sent round the track." This is the crux of the whole matter. So long as the cycling clubs lend themselves to the manufacturers, middlemen, and professional riders it is useless to look for genuine honest racing. A writer in our columns lately suggested that the paid riders should not, be allowed to compete in all important races, and the idea seems to be the on'y feasible way out of the difficulty The other riders are, after all, only amateurs, even although do ride for ca&h prizes, for they do not make a living at the business, nor do they spend more than a few hours a week on the pastime. It cannot be denied that unless some radical reform is brought about in the manner I of carrying on cycle racing the bulk of the riders as well as the public will ceasfl to take an interest in it.

IS CYCLE RACIM DOOMED ?

Pr will be seen on reference to our cablegrams from Europe that the Queen of England has been accorded a most enthusiastic reception in France. We wonder what would be the result at the present juncture of a visit by the Queen of England to the United States of America. We venture to say if Her Majesty's health—and the other circumstances that hedge round royalty—permitted of such a visit, the result would be startling to the rest of the world. Recent events have shown that the American people have deep deep down in their hearts that same feeling of respect for the old country and its traditions which throbs in the pulses of the Britons themselves, and one can @aspy conceive with what enthusiasm they would welcome the supreme visible symbol of England's 1 power, We feel certain that were Her Majesty to pay a yifit to panada and the United States of Ameripa, her progress over the vast eontineiat would be marked by such scenes of enthusiasm and demonstrations of good will, such expenditure of mopey and labor to give emphatic expression ta the love the American people bear to Victoria tbe Good—-the model wife, mother, and sovereign—as have never been witnessed in the history of the world j for; pke Americans when they act in u2!!? Qn j do nothing by halves.

QUEEN VICTORIA IN AMERICA