CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11854, 4 January 1902, Page 7

CYCLING.

The final for the New Zealand wheel race was run on Saturday last at Lancaster Park, Christchureh, the winner turning up in A. Watson, of Wanganui (250 yds), who covered the distance in 4tn. 24 2-55., showing that a lively pace was maintained throughout by the front contingent, who never, gave the back-markers a chance to get up. The Auck- . land rider, It. Hendry, who qualified for and rode in the final, appears to have met with a bit of bad luck on the first day of the meeting, when he fell in the Express mile at a stage when the event seemed well within his grasp. The details furnished by the Press Association of the second day's racing are very meagre, and, strange to say, the. association did not see fit to send -any' particulars of the first day's meeting, despite the fact' that riders from all parts of the colony were competing. , According to latest English exchanges to hand M. Rigue has broken the world's cyclist's record for one kilometre. He covered the distance in Paris in 33 l-55., which represents a speed of 63 miles an hour. '~ .:•/„ . ~ , ''..-.'; , ■ .' Two good perlormances were put up -in America early • in November. Mr. .W. K. Vanderbilt drove his motor-ear a mile over a private road in 53 2-ss, Mr. Foxhall Keene covered the distance in 59 3-ss. Sixteen Australs. have now been decided, seven run on high machines and nine on the present make of cycle. Only three— those ridden in 1888, 1890 and this yearhave been won by scratch men. The two first-named were ridden en " ordinaries." - The Melbourne Sportsman refers to the New Zealand riders now in Australia as a "warm lot." ; ■'"__... At a recent meeting of the New Zealand League of Wheelmen a motion- that the : league take over the : control of riders in road races was lost, but it was decided to refer the whole question to the centres. _ • Michael, the Welsh wonder, seems to ho infatuated with the idea that ho is a born jockey. Not content with his wonderful success on the track during his stay in Pans, he must needs have a go among tho osse.?. He got put up in a race near Paris recently, but, as has been the case, in Ins attempts of a like character in the States, he cut a sorry show, and is evidently not. cut out for a jockey. Yet the vain little ex-butcher s boy can't see it. '" ': '.'-12, ",■ ' tho League of New Zealand Wheelmen has taken a solicitor's opinion in regard to the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act. Tho man of law says:—"ln order that a person who is injured,: or his representatives, it killed, could obtain compensation, it must be established that he was engaged in an employment to which the Act referred at the time the injury occurred, and that the relation of master and servant existed at the time. of the accident .Iho opinion was also expressed that Christchureh -and this would apply -equally to other centres-committees might bo liable lor damages to a rider on the track while racing if it could be proved the injury was caused by the negligence of the club. v, .^ Particular? are to hand of a tether European success by 3. Michael, who has this season recovered oil his old-time brilliancy. In fact,- the "Welsh midget," who. is a naturalised American, is now as invincible behind pace as he was a few years back His latest victim is the world's middle-distance champion, Robl, who has this year .carried everything before -■ him in European paced races ' The match, over a distance of fifty kilometres (31 miles 123 yards), between these two flyers naturally caused great interest.in the race, but froir- the start Michael went to the front anil remained . .there, WW by three laps in the record time or 43m: 12 3-53. Robl continued on, and succeeded in putting up now figures for the worlds hour record, riding 40 miles 1496 yards in: 60m. Had Michael only continued lm # would have ridden 4?. miles and one-fourth in the hour. Ten miles were ridden in 13m. 43, 4-55,; miles? 27m.. 59 l-55.; .and 30 miles,. 41m, 34 2-5s Arthur Smyth, th veteran, was well rewarded for his pluok : and perseverance by a very-fine ride against I time at the ■ Sydney Cricket Ground recently. - With wind and motor troubles, ho has had muni to contend ; against for months; Mr. W. :T. Kerr, assisted by Mi. J. J. Meagher : took the time. The motot tandem '.was; ridden by Bearpark and Allisoff. '■ Smyth reduced ■. the figures tor three-quarters of a mile by 6 4-53.; and those for the mile by 11 3-ss. Following are the results of I tho ride :— Quarter-mile :. Previous record, 255.; new record, 24 4-ss. Half-mile: Previous record, 535.; now record. 60s. Thrce-quartei mild Previous record, lm. te 4-55.; new record, lm. 17s. ■ One mile: Previous record, lm. 55 l-55.; new recdrd, lm. 43 3-ss.

Don. "Walker was once unplaced at the Austral ' meeting. I- He. started <13 times, won 10, was •;; second once, '•"' and ;'! third; once. it He says - ! the : best man ■•■- won : the -Austral,: and would win it ten times out of ten tries. Per-; haps the best man did win, but: considering the 'j question of ; luck and pacing, the other assertion is a bit extravagant. : i The following letter has; been published in Melbourne by the Melbourne Cricket Club: — " I am directed by the council of the Melbourne Cricket Club to state that at its meeting this afternoon it was resolved.; to place on the minutes the expression of' the unanimous feelingoorf r members present that unless in future some moans can be devised calculated to prevent such an exhibition of betting as characterised the recent Austral Wheel Race meeting,, the ground should not again be let for such a purpose. The authorities of the M.O.C. have for years" past been making strenuous efforts to obtain legislative power to cope with the betting evil. Over and over again they have in deputation consulted with Ministers or suggested measures to that end, and they earnestly* hope that the Betting Suppression Bill recently passed by the Legislative Council may find equal favour in the Legislative Assembly. (Signed) A. Atkinson (for the secretary of iho M.C.C.)" The Bill referred to was subsequently passed by the Assembly. . It seems to me that the £100 reliable voiturette is now within measurable distance (says C. H. Larette, in the Athletic News). Looking in at Carnage's the other day to procure some trifle, I was shown, ,by the head of tho firm, a car of which ho has been offered the agency. It is the "Peiper," Belgian made, and designated to carry four people, and is fitted with two speeds and a reversing action. The price is £125. It so happens that a friend of mine has a. car of this make, which ho has had in constant use for more than twelve months, during which time it lias covered close on as many thousand miles, and given. very little trouble. I have had several rides on this car. and found that on fair going it will cover from 20 to 30 miles an hour, and under the low gear, climb hills as well as anything, excepting, of course, the highly ongined monsters specially designed for distance annihilating. The " Peiper" I saw is driven by a five-h.p. engine, and is fitted with pneumatic tires. It is the best value for the money, in tho car line, that I have ever inspected.