CYCLING

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 250, 21 October 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

CYCLING

W. Kerr, the Now South Wales champion, has stated his intention of visiting England next season, bo compete in bhe English championships. Yet another wheeling record was pub into the shade (wires our London correspondent), for at the London County Grounds, Heme Hill, Mr J. W. Stocks, of the Hull Bicycle Club (25 miles champion of the N.C.U.), accomplished the marvellous performance of riding twenty five miles in 59min 31 3-sth sec, and going on covered 360yda more in bhe hour. The previous besb ,was Osmond's record of bwenby - five miles in lhr and 4sec. Sbocks, who was paced by several very fasb men, including Osmond, commenced to break the record at four miles, and from that poinb (except bhe twelfth, which he missed by 2-sbh sec), his figures eclipsed all previous bests. This was a grand performance, but two days later, on the same ground, Stocks knocked his own record for twentyfive miles down to 59min 6 4-sth seconds, and reduced the figures for every mile from 3to 63 inclusive. He commenced to lower the times at 3 miles, doing that distance in 6min 55 3-sth sec, as againsb 7min. Ab 12 miles ho was quibe ISsec inside bhe previous besbs, and in an hour rode 25 miles 690 yds. Ab 30 miles, Stocks had been riding lhr llmin 40 2 - sth sec, the previous record being lhr 17sec 34 2 sth sees. A collapsed tyre in the 49th mile retarded him somewhat, bub riding grandly, the Hull man kept well ahead of the records for each succeeding mile, and finally finished 63 miles in 2hrs 45min lOsec, the previous best being 2hrs 49min 35 3-sbh sec, to bhe credib of Laurence Meintjes, of South Africa. Stocks rode the twelfth mile in 2min 13sec. He was paced for the first 10 miles by Osmond and Burgess on a tandem, and these bwo created fresh records for thab bype of machine from 3 bo 10 miles. The ben mile tandem now stands ab 23min 19 4-sth sec. AQUATICS. •In the preliminary races between th® four American yachts, Vigilant, Jubilee* Colonia and Pilgrim, the Vigilanb oub of eighb sbarbs, secured five firsb, one Becond, once disabled and once did nob finish. Ia the final test races to decide the defender, bhe Colonia won bhe first race by 6 seconds from the Vigilant, the latter sailed the distance in 14 seconds less time thab bhe Colonia, bub the latter received 20 seconds time allowance. The Vigilanb won bhe second and bhird besbs.

There was great rejoicing in New York aquatic circles when the Navahoe defeated tho Britannia, and won back for the Americana their Brenton's Reef Cup. This trophy was taken from them in 1885 by the Bribish cubber Genesta, which defeabed bhe American schooner-yachb Dauntless. It was a memorable race. There was scarcely a breath of wind ab the start, but tho race was finished in a heavy gale. The course was to and around Brenton's Reef Lightship off Newport, and return. The race was sailed without time allowance. The Genesta won, and her time was 48hr 19min 40sec. At the finish the sea was sweeping her decks, her topmast was housed and there were bhree reefs in her malm-ail. Her jib had been carried away, her bowsprit spreader was gone and four men were injured. The Dauntless came in several hours later, aleo disabled. She had carried away her jibbooro off Point Judith on the way out. On the run home thoy were obliged to double reef her mainsail. Under bhat tail, a foro trysail, fore staysail and jib, she sailed with lee rail under close along the Long Island beach to Fire Island, and thence across to the finish off the lightship.

The following is the draft programme for the Championship Regatta to be held at Picton this season:—Champion FoursFirst prize, £30; second prize, £10; third prize, £5. Entrance, £2. Course, bwo miles. Champion Sculls—First prize, £8; second prize, £2. Entrance, 10s, Course, one mile and a-half. Champion Double Sculls—Firsb prize, £10; second prize, £2. Entrance, 15s. Course, one mile and a-halt. Champion Pairs—First prize, £10; second prize, £2. Entrance, 15s. Course, one mile and a-half. Junior Outrigger Fours—Firsb prizo, £10 ; second prize, £3. Enbrance 20s. Course, one mile and a-half. Senior Babswing Fours— Firsb prize, £15; second prize, £4. Enbrance, 20s. Course, two miles. Junior Pairs—Firsb prize, £6; second prize, £2. Entrance, 10s. Course, one mile and ahalf. Maiden Outrigger Fours — Firsb prize, £8 ; second prize, £2. Enbrance, 153. Course, one mile and a-half. Junior Sculls—Firsb prize, £5. Enbrance, 10s. Course, one mile and a-half.

As was generally anticipated after bhe result of bhe firsb race became known here, the Vigilanb has successsully defended the America Cup from bhe attacks of England, and how would the American Eagle

scream over the vicbory ? Thab cable fiend somewhat raised our hopes on Monday lasb, when he wired that the Valkyrie, with a split mainsail, had defeated the Vigilant. The news was, as usual, contradicted the next day, and the Vigilant had won the bhree races, so thab bhere was no need to race bhe fourbh and fifth beats. It is bhe general opinion thab so long as the English yachts have to cross tbe Atlantic on their own bottoms, tbe Americans will retain possession of the coveted cup. In the Navahoe we have proof of this opinion, for she was built by the Herschoffs, yet the English yachts Britannia and Satanita have beaten her in several races in English waters. After a period of dormancy and subsequent increasing strength, the Auckland Rowing Club has again regained theposibion held by ib in the earlier days of rowing. As a natural consequence the club has extended its club-house and plant bo such a degree that it now numbers among bhe besb insbibubions of ibs kind in bhe colony. As bhe club-house now sbands, ib is a credib to the contractors, Messrs Henderson and Berry, who made the alterations and additions. Tbe accommodation iv bhe boab house has been doubly increased, and now is capable of housing over bwenby boabs. The presenb planb consists of two out-rigged fours, four in-rigged four 3, bwo converbible double sculls or pairs, four single sculls, two pleasure boats and bhree racing scullers making an assorbmenb of boabs double that of any kindred insbitution in the district. The upper portion of bhe club house is divided inbo three rooms, dressing-room, club-room, and commibtee-room, besides a balcony in front of the building which will be found of greab service in viewing club races, etc. The rooms are suibably furnished. Each room is fibbed throughout with gas. The firsb club races for this seasou are fixed for November 4bh, entries closing this afternoon, and as there was a considerable influx of new members at the commencement of the season, a large field is expected. On November 11th commences a series of contests for single scullers. There will be six of these events during the season and a special trophy will be presented to the winner of the most poinbs at the end of the season. Thi3 is a step in the right direction to encourage sculling, and it is to be hoped that the occasion will be availed of by the members. The club had intended opening their season to-day, but as the Auckland Amateur Rowing Association subsequently fixed their opening for the same date, the function was worked jointly.