CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 7

CYCLING.

The Auckland Cycling Club have completed arrangements for their annual road race, to be held on Saturday, September 27, and in conjunction with it will hold the opening run of the season, concerning which i will give details in next week's notes. Encouraged by the success of last year's contest, the Management Committee have decided to increase the number and value of the prizes, which will range from a gold medal, valued at £3 3s, downwards (five prizes for places), with two trophies, valued at one guinea, one for the rider with under sm. start who puts up the fastest time, and the other for the best time recorded among those with upwards of sm. start. The course will be from the Parnell fircbell through Ellerslie, Panmure and Otahuhu, back through Mangcre and Onehtmga to Cornwall Park, finishing at the park gate on the Epsom Road. Competitors will leave the starting-point at three p.m., and, given favourable conditions, it is anticipated that the course, which is some 23 miles, will bo covered in about 75m. The race is open to all riders, whether members of clubs or unattached, and entries close on Saturday next. Tho handicaps will he. framed -by Mr. H. J. Fielder.

The New Zealand rider, R. Connell, will race in Australia this season.

The various Australian leagues are setting their faces against giving free entries to races to any competitor, and arc also taking steps to prevent any riders getting paid for their appearances. The __ Wellington cyclist, D. Plunkctt, leaves for Melbourne shortly to compete in the Austral Wheel Race.

At a meeting of priests recently in Rome, under the presidency of Cardinal Swampa, it was decided, after a long discussion, that the use of the cycle by the clergy be formally forbidden.

The portions of the Auckland Cycling Club's rooms in Pitt-street destroyed recently by fire have been reinstated, and as several improvements have been effected anil additional furniture purchased, the rooms are now more up-to-date than prior to the fire. A ping-pong table has been added to the attractions and an increase in membership is expected.

1 extract the following from the Australian Cyclist and Motor Car World. The author i- evidently of a humourous turn of mind, if somewhat personal: — Saturday being proclaimed a. public holiday, advantage was taken of the Government's generosity, and a. two-davs' tour was held by the Suburban Bicycle Club, N.S.W. Eleven members, headed by Captain Joe Pearson, and including a visitor from Now Zealand — a Mr. P. Ananias Vaile—who, by the way, is the originator of the cycle paths movement in that colony and one of the most ardent advocates for good roads. He also states that he has not ridden a bike for three years. If not, then he is a perfect marvel, or bis front name is not. a libel, for tho second day he rode 130 miles with the best of us, and at the finish did a scorch home, and never bad a drink the whole time."

Details are published of the groat racing carnivals at the Sydney Cricket Ground, to which reference has frequently been made. The first is from November 1 to 10, and £500 is provided for prizes, the races being of all kinds, from a wheel race of £150 to an Orient Plate (scratch) of £50, and motor paced and motor races. There is a similar £500 carnival from January 10 to 19. In March the £1000 handicap, the biggest on record, will be run. There will bo a prize of £10 for the best name for this event.