WHEELING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1610, 7 January 1903, Page 56

WHEELING.

(By “Austral.”)

The Wellington Cycling Club have fixed Friday night, the 16th instant, fox* the christening of their handsome'new piano. The function will take the shape of a smoke concert. Members are invited to send along a list of items towards a musical programmer to the committee. The club is possessed of a galaxy of talent, so a good night’s enjoyment is to be expected. By cable we learn that R. H. Waine, the virtual scratch, man in the Austral Wheel Race final to be run this Saturday, had a severe fall whilst following a motorpacing machine. C. A. Best, another rider who is qualified to start in the final of the great wheel race, fell heavily at a race meeting in Ballarat, Victoria, last weeis. Waine is one of the best backed riders for the Austral final. The talk cf the week in cycling circles in Wellington has been in reference to tbe possibility of Dan Plunkett capturing tbe final of the <£4so handicap. Experts state that barring accidents Plunkett will score a victory. So Don Walker had to talc© second"" place last Saturday to the champion “Major” Taylor, from U.S.A., in a dingdong sprint. Certainly Don turned the tables on the negro in the five mile scratch but it is unsatisfactory to read that “Taylor was blocked.” According to an Australian exchange “In Walker lies Australia’s main hope of downing the flying Yankee, ‘Major’ Taylor, who is now in Sydney preparing fox* his Australian engagements. It is stated that should any Australian rider defeat ‘Major’ Taylor, the victor will be offered a large sura to take a trip to the United States for a month’s racing there.” Taylor receives £ISOO from the New South Wales League of Wheelmen under a contract which binds him to ride in only 16 races, on occasions, according to the -dictates of the League. Questions have from time to time arisen with respect to the effect of oil upon roads on rubber tires, such as the tires of bicycles, automobiles, etc. In reply to inquiries on this point it has been ascertained that, provided the roads are properly treated by immediately following the oiling with a sanding, after a week or ten days the oil and sand will have packed down bard and smooth with an asphalt surface. The oil, it is admitted, will injuriously affect rubber tires if tbe vehicle goes on wet oil, but with the sanding process the roadbed is left dry, and it is stated no complaints have been received in this direction. The report refers to the recent experiments made in Sydney, and states that these experiments, the primitive and laborious method of application notwithstanding, have so far proved successful in effectively laying dust is beyond question, and they have fully justified the action of the Mayor in proceeding with the matter. The Tasmanian crack, F. S. Beauchamp, and G. H-. Morgan, of Victoria, have been chosen as the two most likely Australian ridel’s to develop into pace followers. They will be pitted against Robl and Dickentman at Melbourne at the end of this month.

MEETING OF CHAMPIONS IN

- SYDNEY.

SYDNEY, January 3. The Cycling Carnival at the Sydney Cricket Ground opened in fine weather. The fame of the world's- champion “Major” Taylor, and the expected contests between him and Don Walker, the Melbourne rider, who has been showing phenomenal form, was responsible for the bumper attendance, which was estimated at 25,000. Taylor made his debut before the Australian public in the fourth heat of the Wyalcmg Handicap (half mile). The negro started five yards behind scratch, but only managed to get third to McLean (55yds) and Drinkwater (60yds). Taylor, however, beat E. Wilksch (South Australia) and several other first-class men in that event. The champion had the misfortune to slip his pedal just before the finish, but came home with a magnificent sprint.

The final (prizes .£lO, £2 and £1) result-; ed—Don Walker, scratch, 1; Ben Goodson (Queensland), 25yds, 2; C. Boidi (Italy), 40yds. 3. The winner was blocked until the last lap, but came through wOth a rush and won by nearly two lengths. Time, 57 3-ssec. The Quarter-mile International Championship brought out most of the cracks, including J. Chalmers (late of Wellington), who won his heat in S3sec. In their respective semi-finals "Major” Taylor covered the distance in 30 S-ssec and Walker in Slsec. The final (prizes £l2 and gold medal, £2 and £l) resulted —

Taylor, I; Walker, 2; Lewis, 3. Taylor went to the front, followed by Walker, and each watched each other. Lewi# then sh»ot to th® front. Taylor and Walker went in pursuit ami, leaving Lewis behind, made a great finish, Taylor winning by a clear length. Time, 32 2-5 sec. The Walker Plate (five mile scratch; prizes <£lo, <£3 and <£2) produced another splendid finish, Walker winning by half a wheel from Goodson, with Mutloelc third. Taylor, who was blocked, cam® fourth. Time, llmin 23sec