THE EXHIBITION SPORTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 28

THE EXHIBITION SPORTS.

The .Sports Committee of the Exhibition ought to fool very well satisfied with themselves at the result of Monday's meeting on the Exhibition track. They carried to a successful issue a highly interesting programme., and had with them to witness it fully 3000 people. The scene in the afternoon was a very animated one. The crowds followed the racing with the greatest interest, and lined the track four or six deep to do so. They applauded with judicial impartiality throughout the afternoon the splendid riding of the crack cyclists, just as thoy had in the morning the striking military evolutions ■with which the Garrison Band opened the day's proceedings. These evolutions are worthy of something more than mere passing comment. The gallant bandsmen, with all their uniform on, marched up and down the track, and crossways and back again, playing in splendid tune and time while they described a number of rather bewildering geometrical figures with ease and accuracy. Then they went to the bandstand, and under the direction of their popular conductor, Mr Herd, played a capital programme of music during the The sports were carried on in excellent time. All the officers worked well. Two important features of the meeting were the large speaking trumpet in the centre of the ground, and the gentleman who employed it to announce the names of the competitors in each race, and, after each event, the result. This proved a valuable help to those of the public who get confused in trying to determine which man is leading in a long handicap race on a short track. The results, beside being posted

on the scoring board, were announced from this trumpet to the audience, who appreciated this exceedingly, though the proceeding, as might have been expected, invited running comments from the juvenile barracker class —or the " boohoo gang," as the officer in question aptly put it. This was nothing unusual, however. No sports meeting in Australasia is complete without the barracker. Yesterday he was not present in very strong force. The following were the officials :—Chairman and directors of sports, Mr R. E. Bannister; referee, Mr T. S. Ronaldson; judges, Messrs Murrell, IST. McLean and J. Marchbanks; timekeepers, Messrs E. O. Kreeft, G. Humphries and A. Blanchard; starters, Messrs H. McCardell and E. C. Batkin ; clerk of the course, Mr T. Mayer ; lap-takers, Messrs Woods, Inglis, Haybittle and Knapp; marksmen, Messrs Ballinger, Reid and A. Young; telegraph board and bell, Mr J. Owen and Mr T. Sayers ; in charge of announcements, Mr J. B. Dunisbury ; handicappers, Mr G. Watson (Cyclists' Union), Messrs Tydeman and Walker (Cyclists' Alliance), Mr H. McCardell (running events).

In the first distance race of the Exhibition Handicap, three miles, an unfortunate misunderstanding occurred. The bell notifying the last lap was rung whilst a mile and one lap remained to be completed, and when the officials sought to remedy the error by shouting to the spurting competitors to go on, several of the riders left the track. Then to those "who remained the officials and some of the competitors who had dropped out called "No race !" A section of the crowd, as they invariably do when they are in sufficiently strong numbers, freely hooting, and thus increasing the confusion. The whole thing arose from an unfortunate mistake, which might have occurred under any circumstances, and the management cannot be blamed for the misunderstanding.

The stand was well patronised. Mr Shout, the Exhibition caterer, provided luncheon and afternoon tea, and did good business. The following are the results: Two-mile Roadster Handicap (Cyclists' Alliance). First prize, £2; second, £l. F. Castle, 190yds 1 H. Juriss, 1 lap and 102yds ... 2 E. Fitzgerald, 160yds 3

Also started—C. W. Johnston, 1 lap and 27yds ; H. E. Crease, 1 lap and 2yds,- and G. R. Bell, 1 lap and 77yds. Castle came with a well-timed run in the last couple of yards, and won by about two feet. Time, smin 21 2-ssec.

Two-mile Roadster Handicap (Cyclists' Union). First, £2; second, £l. J. Young, 160yds 1 W. J. Adnams, 160yds 2 G. P. Feeke, 180yds 3

Also started —D. Rowe, 105yds; A. Stringer, 200yds. Stringer kept his advantage for the greater part of the first mile, at the end of which distance Feeke was leading. Entering on the second mile, Adnams went to the front, and soon afterwards Young came, and later on Feeke again held first place, all the competitors riding in company, except Rowe, who was out-distanced. In the last two laps, Young, by brilliant riding, cut the others down, and finished an easy winner by about four lengths. Time, smin 35sec.

One-mile (open) Handicap (Cyclists' Union). Prizes, £2 and £l. First Heat. F. Hunt, scr ... 1 G. H. Goodall, 70yds 2 O. Gardner, 120yds 3 Also started—D. Rowe, 75yds, and A. Stringer, 110yds. Hunt had the field beaten in the fourth lap. He took charge, and practically ran away from his field. U.e won by about sixty yards from Goodall. Time, 2min 32sec. Second Heat. 11. Peacock, 70yds 1 J. A. Lisle, 135yds ... ... 2 W. J. Adnams, 100yds 3

G. P. Feeke, 100yds, also raced. 11. Peacock led the field after the fourth lap had been got round and won easily. Time, 2min 37 2-ssec.

Three-mile Firsi-class Scratch Ra.ce F. Hunt 1 Barker ... ... ... .-. 2 Peacock ... ... ... ... 3

Goodall, Adnams, Lisle also ran. Won by a lap and three-quarters. Hunt ruado the pace very merry at the outset, and at six laps had a lead of fully 80yds. It got to Goodall eventually pacing Barker, who was a very bad second. In the eleventh round Hunt had absolutely lapped Barker, and there was great cheering in consequence. Hunt improved his position considerably and won by nearly two laps. When the unplaced three saw they had no show they paced the leading men. Time, Bmin 3 2-osec.

Ladies' Bracelet —Three-mile Maiden Roadster Handicap (Cyclists' Alliance). E. N. Grove, 130yds 1 W. Castle, 1 lap and 7yds ... 2 T. L. Herbert, 2Soyds 3 Eight wore scratched. Castle led until the last two laps, when Grove ran past him. He won comfortably at the finish, Herbert a fair third. Time, Bmin 18 2-usec. Two - mile (open) Handicap (Cyclists' Union). Prizes, <£3, .£2 and £l. First Heat. F. Hunt, scr ... ... ... 1 J. Young, 210yds 2 G. H. Goodall, 150yds 3 Also started D. Rowe, 150yds; O. Gardner, 240yds ; A. Stringer, 250yds. At the eighth lap Hunt had gone up third, and at the tenth he was about 35yds behind the leading man. In the eleventh he was going like the wind, and in the last the favourite simply laughed in. Time, smin 21 4-ssec. Second Heat. H. Peacock, 150yds ... ... 1 J. A. Lisle, 250yds 2 W. J. Adnams, 200yds 3 Peacock was last until the eighth round, when he took the lead. The pace was necessarily very slow, as all three took part in the final. In the last lap they put on

the pace to some tune, but Peacock won by two lengths. Time, smin 41 3-ssec. Final Heat. Hunt 1 Young ... ... ... ... 2 Peacock ... ... ... ... 3 Hunt rode a great race, and had got second in the seventh round. In the eleventh he caught Young, amidst great excitement, and won easily. Time, smin 16 2-ssec. 100yds Flat Race. Prizes, £2 and JBI. M.R.Herbert, syd* 1 W. F. Larkin, 4yds 2 C. Bridge, 6yds 3 Also ran—J. McGuire, A. J. Abbot, J. Pudney, A. J. Rintoul. Won by a yard. Time, Usee Exhibition Handicap.—Second distance, one mile (Cyclists' Alliance). Prizes, £2 and .£l. First Heat. C. W. Johnston, 135yds ... 1 W. Castle, 95yds 2 L. T. Herbert, 75yds 3

Also ran—J. O. Shorland, A. H. Hunt and T. M. Lucy. In the fourth lap Lucy passed Hunt, Shorland improving his position but little. In the last lap Johnston had a good lead and could not be caught, winning by 20yds from Castle, Herbert third, Shorland last. Time, 2min 31 4-ssec.

Second Heat. E. Fitz Gerald, 75yds 1 F. Castle, 85yds 2 E. N. Grove, 40yds 3 Also started —F. B. Muir and J. W. Harker. In the last lap Fitz Gerald took the lead and won easily, Castle just beating Grove for second on the post. Time, 2min 31 2-ssec. Exhibition Handicap.—First distance, three miles (Cyclists' Alliance). Prizes, £3 and £2. Fitz Gerald 1 F. Castle 2 W. Castle 3

Also started —Shorland, Lucy, Herbert, Muir, Harker. Fitz Gerald had a lap ahead of Muir and Lucy in the fifteenth lap, the scratch men being quite out of it. Shorland had knocked oil. Won easily. Time, 7min 40 l-ssec. 440yds Flat Race. Prizes, £2 10s and .£1 10s. M. R. Herbert, 18yds 1 C. Bridge, 15yds ... ... 2 A. J. Abbott, scr ... ... 3 Also started A. J. Rintoul, 15yds. Won by about a foot. Time, 52sec —great time, even with his start. Best Decorated Lady's Bicvcle. Prize, gold medal. Miss Bannister... ... ... 1 Miss V. Field ... 2 There were only two competitors. Miss Field was awarded a silver medal. Final, One Mile (open) Handicap. Hunt 1 Peacock ... ... ... ... 2 Goodall 3 Also started —Lisle and Gardner. Hunt seemed to have a hard race before him, but he got up in the fourth lap, was ahead in tho fifth, and won anyhow. Time, 2min 33 l-ssec. Exhibition Handicap, one mile (open). Final Heat. Fitz Gerald ... ... ... 1 Herbert ... ... ... ... 2 Johnston. .. ... ... ... 3 In the fourth lap Fitz Gerald went up, and in the last lap took the lead, and won by four lengths; Johnston third. Time, 2min 27 2-ssec. Five-mile Open Handicap (Cyclists' Union). Prizes, £o, £2, £l. Hunt, owe 1 lap ... ... 1 Adnams, 1 lap and 117yds ... 2 Lisle, I lap and 207yds ... 3 Also started —Peacock, 130yds; Goodall, 130yds; and Young, 240yds, Time, li-min 13 2-ssec. This was a 30-lap race. Hunt passed his field once, and in the eighteenth lap had caught them again and was racing with Peacock, who was in the samo lap as Hunt. Lisle was leading though, Adnams second. After two more laps Hunt was third, and had Lisle and Adnams to catch. There was 70 yards between the leader and Hunt at the twenty-fifth lap, but two laps later Hunt got in tho same straight, passed Adnams, and got on the leader's wheel, going easily. In the last round Hunt went to the front, and got home, amid cheers, iniawalk. His performance was meritorious; he rode 31 laps, as per handicap.

Exhibition Handicap.—Third distance, five miles (open). Prizes, £A, £2, £l. F. Castle, 1 lap and 162yds ... 1 E. Fit/iGerald, 1 lap and 67yds 2 L. T. Herbert, 1 lap and 127yds 3

Also started —Muir, Grove, Lucy, Hunt, W. Castle and Harker, This was another 30 lap event, and'tho initial stages did not much interest the public. There was a lot; of manoeuvring until the last lap, when F. Cuslie, who had been lying a patient stole a complete inarch and romped in. Fitz Gerald was second, Herbert third. Time, 13min 17 2-ssec. Five-Mile Scratch Record Race. Prize, £3, with £2 extra if the time is under 13min lOsec; no prize if existing Wellington record, 13min 39sec, is not broken. Barker ... ... ... ... 1 Hunt 2

Only the two started. Goodall, Adnams and Young did the pacing, but it, was of a very poor character. The pacers seemed to be in the way all the time. Hunt was in front of Barker the first 10 laps, "che Christchurch man hanging on until close on the second mile, when ho went to the front and divided the pace. At the sixteenth lap Hunt stole a 3mall march on his opponent, and banged away to the front. That made the pace. There was great cheering. In the twentieth lap Barker was right on his wheel, and the pacemen were endeavouring to do iheir duty. In the twenty-third lap Hunt appeared to be done, but kept close up and looked anxious. The pace was now very slow, but when the bell rang Hunt dashed to the front. There was then a great race.

Barker went after him, and, getting down from the back bank with a rush, won by three yards. Time, 13min 5836 C.