CYCLING SURPRISES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 304, 22 December 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

CYCLING SURPRISES.

SUTHERLAND BEATS "MAJOR" TAYLOR. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) LHRTSTCHUECH, Saturday. The Christehureh Cycling Club's meeting was continued to-day in good v eather. There was a strong easterly breeze blowing. In the scratch mile r <-o "Major" Taylor won his heat fairly <■. sily'in 2m. 295., but in the iinal he v. is lifi'tcn by Sutherland by a length, 1 Council being inches away, third. The 1,''.,, 'whs 2m. 20s. In the last lap Tay- |, ■ vis blocked in the back stretch and I, ,| several yards. He travelled very i ,< in the straight, but could not get -,i , The big handicap event (over two J,, ics) resulted in a win for R. Arnst r:i Y ds) W Scott (210 yds) being secninl and ■!. Arnst (00yds) third. The ipne was 4,n. 355. .1. MacCarthy, E. ); = tchie, nnd T. Steel fell in the last lap, JiicCarthy breaking his collarbone. CHIUSTCHURCH, this day.

Tn conversation with a "Press" re- - -ter Mak>r Taylor, the negro cyclist, i, 'explanation of" his defeat in Wednesday/races s staled that was due to his iM-iii" out of condition. He had not been - a"-wheel for three months before his i-.l'rival here, and had only trained} for j.'.or days in Chrietchurch. He was unci, ,• contract to ride, and had to ride and j. :,ke the bast of it. If i< had been left 1 himself, he would not have raced for :i ti'ioTith after arrival here. Taylors ]~.)lcrri!ance in a scratch race on Satur- (!•-.- went far towards confirming the ll.ovo. He bhowed phenomena) speed for ■.! sliDi-t distance, but failed to stay, and

v, !; we!) beaten by the N.Z. champion, t-i-.jlhcrland. 'I here was a Blight demonBtiation against Sutherland after the r:'ce. <" section of 1 ho spectators apparently ignoring that Taylor had been Blocked.