CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 217, 10 September 1904, Page 12

CYCLING.

My Chri.-tehurch correspondent, who interviewed some of the New Zealand competitors in the recent road race in Australia, ascertained from ~KArnst. that Smith did not ride up to the standard of form he displayed in the Tiiuaru to ChrTstchurch race. In the Goulbourn to Sydney race. ih<- -winner of the New Zealand test race found the hilly nature of the country too much for him. while in the Warj nu'mbool event he tired early and re--1 tired. Baker did not start in the Syd-nev-Ooulbourn race, and broke his chain in "the big event; in fact, Arnst says : quite a chapter of accidents occurred to the New Zealanders within a space of two hundred yards when seventy miles on the way. Baker having the three \rnst.s as "companions in distress. J. Arnst broke the fork of his machine, and had to get another bike to finish the course, which would have disqualified him had he iinished among the prizewinners. The Mew Zealand champion was, in addition, sickening for influenza, =o that he could not be accounted in luck's way. The roads were very bad for about eighty miles from the starting point, but the "riders had the assistance of a fair wind. Xho New Zealanders were not the only unfortunates, as numberiess breakdowns occurred throughcut the race. . Both J. and R. Arnst have both made up their minds that this will be the last Warrnambool event they will contest; in fact, they have decided to retire from big road racing, and compete only in the smaller local events. In Arnst's opinion, P. Larcombe, who finished third in the Goulbourn-Sydney race, and second with the fastest time in the Warrnambool-Melbourne event, is the best road racer in the Commonwealth at present.

W. Schwiegershausen, the German cyclist who toured through Australia some two years ago, has completed his circuit of the countries of the world, after five years' continual travelling.

Don Walker represents Australia at the world's cycling championships meeting in London this month. Having been barred from coming to Sydney as a cyclist. Macfarland has, according to a report, made up his mind to return in charge of some pugilists. Macfarland is said to be able to use his hands rather well, and a well-known r : .der in America is probably aware of that fact now.

A wooden-legged cyclist recently completed a cycling trip from Paris to St. Petersburg and back in a month. The distance is about 3700 miles, and the daily average comes out at nearly 120 miles.

The Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland has decided to challenge for the CJ-ordon-Bennett of 1005. As challengers, Messrs S. F. Edge a-nd Lionel cle "Rothschild and the Wolseley Motor Company have already come forward. The tricycle, seemingly, is far from being extinct in England, as a rider named R. f 4 . Cobley recently attempted and lowered the record of 100 miles on the road for this class of machine. The time occupied over the century was shr 48min 25sec.

II is now practically settled that Thorwa.ld Ellegaard, the famous Dutch sprinter, will sail for Australia at the conclusion of the Continental racing season. Major Taylor is a eertaintv.

At the twelfth annual general meeting of members of the Christchurch Cycling and Motor Club, the annual report stated that at the end of the year the membership stood at 172. showing a decided increase on thp number lastyear. Tn the matter of finance the assets of the club now stand at £S2S 17/."?. while there are no liabilities. The club had nad a successful racing season, the total receipts for the meetings being £1156 18/1. while the race-meeting expenditure had been £910 18/8. Unfortunately, the Auckland Club's balancesheet has a much leas rosy appearance.