CYCLING.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9602, 17 December 1896, Page 3

CYCLING.

CHRISTCHURCH CLUB.

Officers ol the Meeting*—Referee—Mr R. C. Bishop Jud-res—Messrs H. Fleming, E. Gordon (Auckland) and J. S. Kemp. Telegraph Board—Messrs W. Wade, H. A. Cooper and A. Hobbs. Scratching* Steward—Mr J. H. Tompkins. Starter—Mr W. G. William-. Clerk of Course—Mr F. T. PannelL. Clerk of Scales—Mr C. H. Lethaby, Timeke-pen*—Messrs G. Jones, T. Boyd and the Yen. Archdeacon Lingard. Lap Scorers—Messrs J. Henderson, J. Boyd and C. P-nnell. Stewards —Messrs W. K. Thompson, F. Taylor and U. Soaines. Number Steward—Mr J. Crawihaw. The Christchurch Cycling Club held a successful race meeting at Lancaster Park yesterday, in celebration of Anniversary Day, and it went to show the extent to which cash riding has taken hold of the people and the cyclists. In every race there were good fields, particularly the Three mile Second Class Handicap, and the attendance numbered about 2000 people. The Club got the events off punctually, the ouly delay occurring in the final of the big wheel race, when the pistol refused to shoot until after several attempts. The weather was not the best for track racing, as there was a strong wind blowing ; but. the mildness of the atmosphere was very pleasant to the spectators, who were given some good racing, and during the intervals between the events were entertained by the Stanmore band. The meeting was taken part in by representatives from Auckland, Invercargill, Taranaki, Hokitika, Wellington, and England, and some good finishes were produced, the most noticeable being the first heat of the Half-mile Flying Stakes, in which Wilmot established a cash record by two-fifths of a second; the second heat of the Two Mile New Zealand Wheel Race Handicap; the final of the same event, after which Hunt was cheered and carried off shoulder high ; the One Mile First Class Handicap, in which Barker beat Wilmot by the depth of a racing tyre, and the Five Mile Scratch, in which these two champions again tested their mettle, to the defeat of the North Canterbury crack. Appended are the results of the races :— Half-mile Flying Stakes; prizes £3, £2, and £I—First heat—A. C. Wilmot (Christchurch), scr, 1; H. Goodman (Christchurch), 90yds, 2 ; S. Andrews (Christchurch), 80yds, 3; G. Porter (Glentunncl), 60yds, 4. Tlie other starters were C. O. Sherwood (England) 20yds, and F. N. Chainey 30yds. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin s§sec. Second heat—H. C. Dawson (Christchurch), 60yds, 1; H. Ritchie (Christchurch), 90yds, 2 ; K. Rodgers (Christchurch), 80yds, 3 ; F. Hunt (Rangitikei), scr, 4. The other starters were T. Clarkson (Invercargill) scr, A. C. Forbes (Taranaki) 20yds, A. Butland (Hokitika) 35yds, H. Gee (Christchurch) 60yds, G. Hen wood (Christchnrch) 70yds, and H. Cox (Christchurch) 80yds. Won by half a wheel. Time, lmin Bsec. Final heat—H. Goodman (Christchurch), 90yds, 1 ; K. Rodgers (Christchurch), 80yds, 2; A. C. Wilmott (Christc'iurch), scr, 3. Of the placed men in the preliminary heats Porter was the only non-starter. Despite the strong wind the pace was good, but the handicaps were too much for the scratch men, and Wilmot only managed to get third place, two lengths behind Rodgers, who was beaten by Goodman by about five lengths. Time, lmin B_sec. One Mile Maiden; prizes £2, £1 and 10s—A. Buchanan (Selwyn), scr, 1 *, W. Preece (Christchurch), scr, 2 ; H. Ritchie, (Christchurch), scr, 3. G. Porter (Christchurch) scr, S. Andrews (Christchurch) scr, H. Cox (Christchurch) scr, A. Ffrost (Christchurch) scr, H. Goodman (Christchurch) 20yds, CO. Sherwood (Christchurch) 30yds, and W. Clarkson (Christchurch) 80yds, also started. The field kept very well together, and on the last lap being entered only a short distance separated each bicycle, Preece " leading, Ritchie lying behind, and Buchanan further away. In the last 200 yds Buchanan came along with a rush and challenged Preece on the last turn, whence there was a good race to the tape, the former winning by half a bicycle, several lengths separating second and third. Time, 2min 37sec. One Mile Second Class Handicap; prizes £3, £2 and £I—H. Btishell (Ashburton), 85yds, 1; J. T. Andrews (Ashburton), 60yds, 2 ; A. Butland (Hokitika), 45yds, 3. -Tlie other starters were A. G. Forbes (Taranaki) scr, F. N. -Chainey (Christchurch) 15yds, A. J. Thome (Selwyn) 25yds, W. Edge (Ashburton) 30yds, H. Gee (Christchurch) 65yds, H. Dawson (Christchurch) 65yds, G. Porter (Glentunnel) 75yds, K. Rodgers (Christchurch) 85yds, W. Preece (Christchurch) 100 yds, H. Cox (Christchurch) 100 yds, and A. Ffrost (Christchurch) 100 yds. Nothing of note occurred until the last lap wa3 entered when the field began to separate. At the back of the course Btishell shot from the ruck, and improving his position, held it to the finish, 1 winning by four lengths. Andrews and I Forbes came along about the same time ! followed by Butland. The first-named unsuccessfully strove to reach Bushell, and Forbes gave place to Butland in the last fifty yards, who was third by a length and a half. Time, 2min 26|sec. Thorhe did not finish owing to one of his tyre 9 I bursting. I Two Mile New Zealand Wheel Race (handicap) ; prizes £35, £10, £4, and £1— First heat—H. Goodman (Christchurch), 265 yds, 1 ; A Butland (Hokitika), 200 yds, 2; H. Ritchie (Christchurch), 270 yds, 3; G. Henwood (Christchurch), 250 yds, 4. The other starters were A. R. Barker (Christchurch) scr, A. C. Wilmot (Christchurch), scr, A. C. Forbes (Taranaki) 100 yds, A. J. Thome (Selwyn) 150 yds, H. Peacock (Wellington) 160 yds, H. Gee (Christchurch) 230 yds, A. Buchanan (Selwyn) 240 yds, and K. Rodgers (Christchurch) 250 yds. The heat was robbed of much of its interest by the'retirement of Barker and Wilmot, the former in the first lap with a punctured tyre, and the latter in the third lap. Goodman ! ran away from his companions in the last lap, and won by fully ten lengths, half-a-length between each of the other placed men. Time, 4min 56sec. Second heat—F. Hunt (Rangitikei), scr, 1; T. Clarkson (Invercargill), scr, 2 ; J. T. Andrews (Ashburton), 200 yds, 3; H. Bushell (Ashburton), 200 yds, 4. The other starters were C. O. Sherwood (England) 100 yds, F. N. Chainey (Christchurch) 120 yds, W. Edge (Ashburton) 160 yds, A. J. Campbell (Auckland) 170 yds, H. C. Dawson (Christchurch) 230 yds, W. Preece (Christchurch) 270 yds. Chainey and Edge retired at the completion, of the mile. The heat was a I well fought one, especially on the part of I Hunt and Clarkson, who paced each other, and by hard riding reached the van 200 yards from home. Thence a slashing race ensued, which ended in a win for Hunt on the tape. About two lengths separated Andrews from Clarkson, and Bushell was close to Andrews. .Time, 4min 51_sec. Final heat—F. Hunt (Rangitikei), scr, 1; H. Ritchie (Christchurch), 270 yds, 2; H. Bushell (Ashburton), 250 yds, 3; A. Butland (Hokitika), 200 yds, 4. All the placed men of the preliminary heats got away well after a short delay. On the second lap Henwood was leading, Ritchie, Bushell aud Goodman in the order named, with the scratch men improving. On the next lap the order was practically the same, and Clarkson was showing want of condition. He retired at the end of the mile, and Hunt went after the ruck, in which he got fifth on the last lap, Bushell, Butland and Ritchie in the van. Opposite the old stand Hunt went to the front with a dash, closely attended by Ritchie. The former, however, kept a nice lead, and won by four lengths, Bushell getting third about the same distance away and Butland fourth fairly close. Time, 4miin 52sec. Half-mile Officials' Race : prizes special, including one offered by Messrs G. and C. H. Jones—G. H. Lethaby, scr, 1; F. T. Pannell, 25yds, 2 ; H. Soanes, 10yds behind scr, 3. Five others started. Won very easily. Time, lmin 18_sec. Three Mile Second Class Handicap; prizes £3 and £2—A. C. Forbes (Taranaki), scr, 1; H. Peacock (Wellington), 65yds, 2 ; i W. Edge (Ashburton), 75yd3, 3. The other starters were—A. C. Forbes (Taranaki) scr," F. N. Chainey (Christchurch) 35yds, H. Peacock (Wellington) 65yds, A. J. Thome (Selwyn) 75yds, R. J. Campbell (Auckland) 85yds, A. Butland (Hokitika) I2oyda, J. T. Andrews (Ashburton) 145 yds, H. Gee (Christchurch) 160 yds, H. C. Dawson (Christchurch) 160 yds, G. Porter (Glentunnel) 170 yds, A. Buchanan (Selwyn) 170 yds, G. Henwood (Christchurch) 190 yds, H. Bushell (Ashburton) 190 yds, K. Rodgers (Christchnrch) 200 yds, W. Preece (Christchurch) 220 yds, H. Ritchie (Christchurch) 220 yds, A. Ffrost (Christchurch) 220 yds, j W." A. Sherwood (Christchnrch) 300 yds. I The race requires very little description, as, ! with the exception of Andrews, who went | over the sou-west bank, the field kept so j close together that the p*.\*vjrbial sheet [miskt -»V 4 «ov*r»d them at aUuwt *-y

time. With slight alterations io the lead. this wa. maintained to the last lap, when Peacock went to the front followed by Forbes and Butland, and Edge lying a bit back. About 100 yards from home Edge displaced Butland, and on entering the straight Forbes challenged Peacock, the two, racing tyre and tyre to the taps, which the former crossed half a wheel in front of his companion, and four lengths separated Edge from Peacock. Time, 7min 40|sec.

One Mile First-class Handicap; prizes £3, £2 and £I—A. R. Barker (Ohristchuroh), scr, 1; AC. Wilmot (Christchurch), scr, 2; T. Clarkson (Invercargill), scr, 3. The other starters were—F. Hunt (Raugitikei) scr, C. 0. Sherwood (England) 50yds, A. C. Forbes (Taranaki) 50yds, H. Peacock (Wellington) 65yds, and G. Porter (Glentunnel) 110 yds. When the men had settled down Porter was leading, Sherwood second and Forbes third. On the last lap Wilmot had assumed the lead, Barker close up, and Clarkson at his hind wheel, with Hunt in attendance. In this order they struggled to the straight, where Barker and Wilmot raced for the goal, and the finish was so close that thereappeai*ed some doubt as to the winner. The judges awarded the win to Barker by about the thickness of a tyre. A length separated Clarkson from Wilmot, Hunt lying fourth about a similar distance away. Time, 2min 24*_sec. One Mile Boys' Race, under sixteen years; prizes £1 10s, £1 and 10s—A. V. Ritchie, scr, 1; V. S. Harris, 90yds, 2; T. H. Tankard, 80yds, 3. Six other started. Won very easily. Time, 3min.

Five Mile Scratch Race ; prizes £5, £3 and £I—A. R. Barker (Christchurch) 1, A. C. Wilmot (Christchurch) 2, A. J. Campbell (Auckland) 3. The other starters were T. Clarkson (Invercargill), F. Hunt (Rangitikei), and C. O. Sherwood (England). There was nothing of interest until there were only two laps to go. Unto then a steady pace had been kept up, Hunt, Wilmot, Clarkson and Barker pacing, the last doing the least and the first the most. On the second last lap the Rangitikei representative was again leading, Wilmot next, followed by Barker, and the English, Auckland and Invercargill. visitors pedalling in the order named, each close to the other's Rover. Sherwood ran to the front as the bell rang, Wilmot and Barker after him, with Campbell aud Clarkson following, and Hunt falling away, done up. Half-way round the last lap Clarkson spurted, as did Wilmot, Barker, and Campbell. The first did not keep it up, and Campbell's was not as hot as that of Barker and Wilmot, between whom it appeared an even tussle as they took the last decline together. Barker proved the better of the two, and won by a quarter of a wheel. Campbell, who had kept going, was a length behind, and Sherwood ran into fourth position not far away. Time, 13min 24sec.

In the evening"the Christchurch Cycling Club held a smoke concert in its rooms, Cashel street. There was a large attendance of members and visiting cyclists. Mr W. E. Thompson presided, aud, in proposing the toast of " Cycling," referred to the success of the day's race meeting. The increased number of visiting cyclists showed that cash cycling was gaining in favour. Notwithstanding the small prizes, the fields for the second class events were the largest ever seen in Christchurch, and probably in New Zealand, and they deserved further encouragement. Mr H. A. Soanes responded. The toasts of "The Visitors." "The Winners," "The Unsuccessful Competitors," " Kindred* Sports," " The Handicappers," "The Ladies," and " The Press," &c, were also honoured. During the evening some excellent songs were sung, Mr H. Rossiter presiding at the piano.