SPORTS AT THE BASIN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1023, 12 January 1911, Page 7

SPORTS AT THE BASIN.

SMASH AMONG THE CYCLISTS. Tho Athletic Football Amateur Sports Club conducted a sports meeting at tho Basin Reserve last evening, which attracted about thre6 hundred spectators. Threo events on tho programme were run off successfully, but the second, a one mile bicyclo handicap, collapsed in an atmosphere of calamity? Six riders faced tho starter, and tho' first two laps were unmarked by any incident save tho with-, dr.nval of l'ym, who ivas riding last. Events came afterwards thick and fast. Lyons, riding towards the rear of a clump, 6truck a track flag with his front wheel and came down. Falling, ho struck tho mounts of Edwards ami Sutherland, who also fell. None of the riders was badly, hurt, but the bicycles were all more or less damaged. Two riders only remained awheel, Ambridgo and Donkin, but even now the talo of disasters was not complete. Just after the bell rang for the final lap a disregards small boy wandered on to the track. Ambridge's handlebar struck the inlrusi.vo youngster on the wrist, and the effect was remarkable. The small boy got Off with a crack on the wrist, but tho rider turned a complete somersault, and came down, sitting on tho track with a dazed smile on his face. His bicycle was buckled'in both wheels. Donkin, left alone in the race, rode a littlo further and then in sportsmanlike fashion withdrew.

There were'no other mishaps.. Results in tho remaining events were as follow :—

Ono Mile Handicap Run.—Baxter (scr.),' I; Finn (105 yds.), 2; Binney (25yds.), 3. Seven started. Baxter sprinted to the lc d early in the final lap, and after a contest with Binney, and later with Finn, finished first, with . a good lead. Baxter passed the half-mile mark in 2min. 20sec. Time, 4min. 38 l-ssec. •75 Yards Handicap.—Donaldson, 1; ■Knight, 2. A gootl race. Won by a yard. Five started. Time, 8 3-ssec. 440 Yards Handicap.—M. P. Poole (22yds.), 1; J. W. Coard (Byds.), 2; D.J Casey (16yds.), 3!, Ten started. Won by" five yards. Time,'sl 4-ssec.' Tho club will endeavour to hold another evening sports meeting towards the latter, end of next month.