CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1900, Page 6

CYCLING.

TH hi L IT.AGUE „ CHAMPIONSHIPS.

A.UCKLANDERS VERY SUCCESSFUL

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Saturday

The second day of the cycling championship meeting, under the auspices of the Xew Zealand League of Wheelmen, held this afternoon, produced a better attendance and much bettor racing. The day was fine, but again windy, but some of the times under the circumstances were very good, this being- largely due to the vigorous pacingl in the scratch events. Under its effects, very lew riders maintained their places to the finish, and most'of those who did were lapped by the winners. A high net was fixed upon the bank where so many accidents occurred on Wednesday, and the falls today were few, The most unfortunate of these way in the three mile cash championship, just, as Tierney and Reynolds were preparingl to light out the last lap. The Cornier was so bruised and cut (hat he could not start in the five miles. 10. Reynolds, by his .performances of to-day, quite rehabilitated himself as the best of. the League's representatives. He won the mile without any very great exertion, and fairly romped home in the three and Jive miles. In the Cornier he had only Tierney lell against him when that rider fell, and in Ihe latter he was alone a I the finish, the rest being laplied. If is brother took two more amateur championships, being, in frost, the only competitor in the iQ\\ miles. In the handicap events M. Randrup, of Wanganui, proved both that his riding earlier in the week was no fluke, and that he will have to-be reckoned with in future. In the two mile first-class handicap he won from Bennett, after the Dnnnevirke champion apparently had him beaten, and his sprinting in the second class events was by far the best shown on the ground. He rode his heat of the mile in 2.20 2-5 from scratch, and no doubt could have done better ii' necessary, ft was noticeable that though the handicapper penalised Randrup in Ihe half mite, he did not alter allowances in the mile, but it probably would not have made any difference. Details: — Final Half-mile Cash Championship: Tierney, 1; Wall, 2. Phmlcett aml> Rennett also started, and the former led to the turn, where Tierney went to the front, and won by six: lengths. Time, 1.5 1-5. Final Mile Cash Championship: E. Reynolds, J; Tierney, 2; 'Ralston, :;. Humphreys also started. Pacers were, put on to prevent loafing, but they did not take up the men smartly, and the race was rendered some seconds slower than it should have been. Tierney led till the bell rang1 and round most of the last lap, but at the home turn Reynolds challenged him, and after a capital set-to won by a yard. Time, 2.19 3-5.

Three Miles Cash Present holder, E. Reynolds; New Zealand record, ,T. Grant, G. 4:; ;;-.">. E, Reynolds, 1; Plunked. 2. Wall, Chalmers, Ralston, Bennett, Barker, Tierney and Humphreys were the other starters. The pace was severe from Ihe start, and after a mile or so Humphreys, l'e.niiett i>»nd Chalmers were disposed of. Barker and Ralslon dropped behind and were distanced, and with three laps to go Tierney, Reynolds and I'lnnkett alone were left in, find the last named was quickly falling back. At the bell Tierney and Reynolds were still together, but most

unfortunately the former hit the pacers' wheel as lie was drawing oft' and fell. Reynolds thus had no dim- j culty in winning by 100 yards from Phmkett. Time, 7.2 4-5. Five Miles Cash Championship.—E. Reynolds, 3; Wall, 2; Kalston, 3. Chalmers, Bennett, Barker, Plunkett and Humphreys also rode. Humphrey's chain broke after the first^ lap, and the pacemakers very quickly broke up most of ihe others. Chalmers and Barker retired at the mile and then M. Randup took up the pacing at a great rate. Reynolds fastened on and immediately established a commanding lead. Bennett, Ralston and Wall alone persevered; and they were lapped in a few rounds, and rode on for second money, leaving Reynolds to complete the distance in 12min dead. Wall secured second place by a length from. Ralston. Two-mile Tandem Cash Championship. —Gardiner and Humphreys, 1; Marker and Bennett, 2. These were the only entries, and much to the surprise of all Barker and Bennett, after a spirited race and a ding-dong finish, were beaten by a few inches. It turned out that ISarker lost his pedal in the last lap. Time, 4min 51sec. Three-mile Amateur Championship. | Present holder, If. Thompson; time, [Smin 12 ]-fi!.h sec —-W. Reynolds, 1; Whitflehl, 3. Foster also •started, but retired at thu end of the first lap. The severity of the pacing soon left Whitlield hopelessly in the rear, and Reynolds rode home a winner by nearly :>. lap in 7min 47sec. Half-mile Amateur Handicap.— Weslbury, 25yds, 1; McLeod, 40yds, 2; Ryan, 32yds, 3. Foster and McGregor ! also started. The event was won easily. Time, Imin 12sec. Ten-mile Amateur Championship. Present holder, D. Crozier; time 26min iiOsec. —W. Reynolds was the only competitor, and assisted by pacers he rode over the distance in 27min 0 4-atli sec. Two-mile First-class Cash Handicap. —M. Randrup, 1; Bennett, 2; Plunkett, 3. Chalmers, Tierney, Humphreys, Burton, and H. .7. Randrup also rode. Tierney and Chalmers retired after three laps, and the rear division then caught the leaders, but M. Randrup and Burton broke away again and established a gap which the others had great difficulty in overcoming. At the bell only five were left on the track. Bennett challenged Randrup, who was in the lead, and passed him at the turn for home, but the Wanganui boy was not done with and sprinting up again he beat the Dannevirke champion on the post by a wheel. Plunkett was third, 11. J. Randrup and Humphreys bringing up the rear. Time, 4min 52sec. Randrup was heartily applauded for his fine riftingl. One-mile Second-class Cash Handicap.—Seventeen started in two heats. M. Randrup, from scratch, won the first, beating Caulton by a few inches, and H. .T. Randrup won the second heat on the post from Coe. Final: M. Randrup, scratch, 1; 11. J. Randrup, SOyds, 2; Coe, 10yds, 3. Caulton, Jeffries and Sullivan also started. The scratch men soon caught the field and a great race ensued in the last lap. 11. J. Randrup led into the straight, but his brother's sprint brought him home first, all the rest close up. Time, 2min 37 H-fiih sec. This was the completest finish of the meeting.

Half-mile Second-class Cash Handicap.—Fourteen started. M. Randrup being penalised 10yds he won his heat with a tremendous sprint, but as nine men were allowed to start in the final he was blocked and had no chance. O'Siillivan,ssyds,won, with Anderson,

70yds, second. Time. Imin 4 l-sth jec.