CYCLING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXII, Issue 13574, 21 October 1904, Page 3

CYCLING.

HILL-CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS

A clear, sunny day, -with just enough wind to cool the atmosphere, provided l satisfactory conditions ior the annual hillclimbing championships of Canterbury, which were decided yesterday afternoon at Cashmere Hills. The arrangements were in the hands of the Christchurch Cycling and Motor Club, the promoters, and the officials were: ——Referee, Mr R. H. Thompson; starter, Mr W. G. Williams; timekeepers, Messrs E. H. James, G. Jones, A. R. Barker and F. T. Pannell; stewards and marshals, Messrs J. Burgees, W. E. Thompson, J. Henderson, C. Campbell, R. M'Clurg, J. Boyd, G. Foster, C. Groggan, J. Tompkins, G. Lewis, W. Jacks-ori and W. Edmonds. A procession, consisting of bicycles, motor-cars, motor-cycles and other veliicleis, left Cathedral Square at 2 p.m. for the foot of the hills, where most of tho events were started. A very large concourse of people assembled on the banks at the side of the road on the hills, and the trams also conveyed a large crowd to witness the competition. An interesting feature of the procession was an Ivel agricultural motor, which has been imported by Messrs Ma.son, Struthers and Co. Although not travelling at a high; speed, the. ponderous machine seemed to be capa.ble of drawing 1 heavy loads. Fancy-dress items consisted of a cleverly-dressed court jester mounted on a diminutive bicycle, and what appeared to be a representation of a, brigand, but which might nave passed for almost anything, dressed fantastically in a heliotrope 1 costume with ostrich feathers adorning the hat. A strong wind blew, accompanied by much dust, but it greatly assisted the competitors in all the events. The first race, which was started at about three o'clock. wan the Hill Climbing Championship of Canterbury; first prize, gold medal, value £3 3s, second prize, gold medal value £2 2s, presented; by Messrs. Jones and Son. A setof tyres was given by the Dunlop Tyre. Company for the competitor registering the fastest time. Conditions—Gear not less than 56in, cranks not more than Tin. There were six entrants, and the racs was run in three heats, over a. course from the foot of the hill to the gate of Rhodes's Convalescent Home. Results—First heat: J. Arnst 1, J. O'Connor 2. Time—lmin 42 l-sscc. Second heat: R. Arnsfc 1, C. Mehrtens 2. Time—lmin 40sec. Third heat: E. J. Ritchie 1, W. Walsh 2.-. Time—lmin 53 2-ssec. E. J. Ritchie retired from the final, and J. Arnst> won from R. Arnst. Time—lmin. 27sec. J. Arnst takes two prized. Motor Bicycle Hill Climbing Championship of New Zealand, over the same course as in tho previous race; first prize gold medal value £3 3s, second prize, goid medal value £2 2s. presented by Mr F. T. Pannell. W. E. Thompson, on, a, 1} horse-power "Indian" machine, covered Fne distance.in 58 3-ssec. which is a. record, and won first prize. F. Howarth, driving a 2| horsepower " Star Zedel," was second, in lmin 1 2-ssec, and E. F. Stead, on a'2J horsepower Bceston-Hnmber, covered the distance.in lmin 5 l-ssec. Other competitors ; were—Clark, on a " Marsh " 3 horse-power, j lmin 30 l-ssec; G. B. Brown, on. a horse-power "Mitchell," lmin 8 3-ssec. Another competitor ran into a bank when wohie at a good speed, but luckily escaped without injury. During the afternoon exhibitions of hill

climbing with cars were given; by several motorists, and a. collection "Was made to assist in the work of improving' the road on the hills. In the evening a progressive euchre party and musical evening were held in the rooms of the club when the presentation of prizes was made and! a very enjoyable evening, spent. : : - * * ■■ . The Syme's Eleven-mile Bicycle RoadRace took place last evening, and resulted as -under:—G. Turner (4£min) 1, H. Smith (smin) 2, J. Storer (4min) 3, J. Baker (Sjjinin) 4. There were sixty-one starters.