CHRISTCHURCH CYCLING CLUB.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9704, 17 April 1897, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH CYCLING CLUB.

EASTER MEETING.

Referee—Mr R. Tliompson. Judges— Mes-trs RH. Thompson, H. .lem'-g, J. 8. Kemp. Telegraph Board—Messrs T. C. Faville, W. Wade, A. Hobbs. St-rt*r—Mr W. G. Williams. Clerk ot Covuse— Mr G. H. Letliahv. Timekeepers—Messrs J. Jones, O. Hulston*. H. Seniles. Lap ScorersMessrs J. Henderson, J. Boyd, C. Pannell. Stewards—Messrs W. E. Thompson, H. Soanes, .'. T. PannelL Number Steward—Mr J. Crawshaw. Pacing Steward—Mr S. Wilson. Press Steward— Mr J. H. Tompkins. The Easter race meeting, under the auspices of the Christchurch Cycling Club, which took place yesterday, was a success numerically, the attendance exceeding the expectations of the most sanguine supporters of the organisation. It was estimated that there were nearly 3000 persons on the ground. The weather was not conducive to comfort or record making, a cold stiff sou 1 -wester prevailing. Tho racing, as a whole, was fairly good, some of the finishes were close, and some of the fields large. The officials, however, got the events off punctually, so that no serious waits occurred. Music was supplied during the day by tho Stanmore band, and as a break in the proceedings two "Bud-jumping" races were introduced. The wheels of the machines wore elliptical in form, and, when propelled imparted a "bucking" or'".bumping " movement to. the bicycles. The difficulties of the riders in the first race caused much laughter, but the second similar event was allowed to pass off with practically no demonstration on the part of the spectators. Three competitors started in each race, W. J. Williams won both events, his bicycle exhibiting the least bucking propensity. A. R. Barker, who was paced by a triplet aud a tandem, essayed to reduce his own mile record of 2ivin 2sec, but the atmospheric conditions were against him, and he did not reach it by 21sec. One of the most attractive contests of the day was the multicycle handicap, in which the triplet team appeared in a uniform colour, which had a pleasing effect, and their riding was specially good. The tandem riders, the cracks Wilinot and Barker, got a lot''of work out of their machine, but the handicap proved too severe for them. Appended are the results :—

Maiden Handicap • one mile; prizes, £2 and £I—H. Ritchie, Christchurch, scr, 1; H. E. Cox,Christchurch, 25yds, 2; W.Clarkson, Christchurch. BQyds, 3. Thefollowing also started :—J. Doig, Christ-hurch, 80yds ;R. T. Wheeler, Christchurch, 80yds; H. J. Boakes, Christchurch, 90yds; E. Savilh**-, Christchurch, 90yds. Doig and Clarkson led the greater part of the distance, but at the back of the course in the last lap the former fell right away. Clarkson took the van, followed by Ritchie and Cox. A good race resulted from the last descent, Ritchie coming away at a good pace and winning by, a length or so, Cox beating Clarkson for second place by half _ length. Time, 2min 39_sec. Half Mile Flying Stakes; prizes, £2 and £I—First heat—E. J. Ritchie, Oamaru, 80yds, 1; G. A. Sutherland, Christchurch, 100 yds, 2; A. Ffrost, Christchurch, 80yds, 3. The other starters were—F. Chainey, Christchurch, 40yds; W. O. Warnecke, Christchurch, 70yds, J. Chalmers, Oamaru, 70yds ; A. J. O'Neill, Christchurch, 90yds ; W. Preece, Christchurch, 90yds. The finish was very close. ; Time, lmins_see. Second heat —K. Rodger, Christchurch, 80yds, 1; G. Porter, Selwyn, 80yds, 2; A. C. Wilmott, Christchurch, 3. The other starters were—H. Ritchie, Christchurch, 35yds ; A. Phipps, Christchurch, 40yds ;. H. 'Gee, Christchurch, 60yds ; J. Doig, Christchurch, 100 yds. The two first men had little trouble in securing their places. Wilmott just managed to get into the final. Time, lraiu 6_sec. Final heat —E. J. Ritchie, 80yds, 1; G. A. Sutherland, 100 yds, 2; G. Porter, 80yds, 3. Ritchie won in good style on a spurt from the south-west corner, and Sutherland beat Porter on the tape. Time, lmin 6sec. Good Friday Handicap, three miles, second class ; prizes £3 and £I—E. J. Ritchie, Oamaru, 120 yds, 1; G. A. Sutherland, Christchurch, 200yd5,2; K. Rodgers, 150 yds, Chri-tchurch, 3. The other starters were— H. Ritchie, Christchurch, scr; F. Chainey, Christchurch, .20yds; A. Phipps, Christchurch, 30yds *, J. T. Andrews, Ashburton, 50yds; H. Gee, Christchurch, 75yds; H. _-. Cox, Christchurch, 100 yds; G: P6rter, Selwyn, 120 yds ; G. Henwootl, Christchurch, 120 yds ;' A. ■ Ffrost, Christchurch,; 150 yds ; W. Preece, Christchurch, 175 yds; W. H. Trengrove, Christchurch, 175 yds; A. J. O'Neil, Christchurch, 175 yds; E. Saville, Christchurch, 210 yds. At the end of the first mile Preece, Sutherland, and Ffrost were leading in the order named, and at the commencement of the third mile Preece was again leading with Henwood and Rodgers in his wake. "The field gradually closed, and at the back of the course on the last lap Ritchie, Sutherland, and Rodgers spurted. They maintained the improved pace until the end, two lengths separating first and second, and three lengths second and third. Time, Bmin 3jjsec. ._ Juvenile Handicap, one mile; prizes 103 and ss—G. .Gray 1; J. B. Rlackburn 2. Nine started. Won easily. Time, 3min 18see. Officials' Race, half mile; prjze, pair of tyres presented by the Dunlop Company— G. H. Lethaby, 30yds behind scr, 1; F; T. Pannell, 50yds, 2; C. Hulston, 20yds behind scr, 3. Ten started. Won by about two lengths. Christchurch Cycling « Club Handicap, first class ; one mile ; prizes £3 and £I—Hi Ritchie, Christchurch, 70yds, 1;. J.. Chalmers, Oamaru, 100 yds, 2; F. Chainey, Christchurch, 70yds, 3. A. R. Barker, Christchurch', scr,; A. C. Wibnott, Christchurch, scr ; A. Phipps, Christchurch,7oyds; H. I. Cox, Christchurch, 100 yds ; G. Porter, Selwyn, 110 yds ; W. Preece, Christchurch, 110 yds; A. J. O'Neill, Christchurch, 110 yds. At the half distance Chalmers was leading', Preece, O'Neil and Ritchie in close attendance, the second and third giving place to Ritchie and Chaiuey. In the run home the former managed to beat Chalmers by/a length, who succeeded in keeping that distance away from Chainey. Time, 2min 23sec.

Easter Handicap, five miles; prizes, £3, J £2 and £I—J. Chalmers, Oamaru, 400 yds, 1; G. Sutherland, Christchurch, 500 yds, I 2.; A. Phipps, Christchurch, 280ydB, .3. '■ Other starters were :—A. R. Barker, Christchurch, scr; A. C. Wilmott, Christchurch, scr; H. Ritchie, Christchurch, 250 yds; F. Chainey, Christchurch, 280yd_ i, H. E. Cox, Christchurch, 375 yds; W. H: Trengrove, Christchurch, 450 yds; W. Preece, Christchurch, 450 yds; J. O'Neil, Christchurch, 450 yds. Wilmott did not finish a mile, and Barker retired at half distance, having gained nothing on his handicap. For the greater distance t\fe> race was divided into two sections, Trengrove, Chalmers, O'Neil, Sutherland and Preece in the leading section, and Phipps, Ritchie and Chainey in the last. In the last mile Trengrove and Preece went up to Phipps and Ritchie, and in the last lap the positions were Sutherland, Chalmers and O'Neil, with Phipps lying some-way behind. A good race ensued from the sou'west embankment, Chalmers finishing- half a length in front of Sutherland, and Phipps riding strong into third place. Time, 14min lOfsec. Spectator's Handicap, half-mile; prize, £1 or trophy—Baker, 1; Reid, 2 ; Gray, 3. Twelve started. Time, lmin l__sec.

Multicycle Handicap, two miles; prises, £3, £2 and £I—W. _*_ecce, F. Chainey, H. Cox, H, Gee (Quad), 350 yds, 1; W. O. Warnecke, E. J. Ritchie, G. Henwood (Triplet), lOOvds, 2; A. R. Barker, A. C. Wilmott (Tandem), scr, 3. A. J. O'Neil, H. Ritchie (Tandem) n 2ooyd_, also started. The quad led the whole way and won by about a clear length from the triplet, Barker and Wilmott a poor third. O'Neil and Ritchie retired in the second last lap. -Time, 4min 28|sec.