SPORTS IN SPORT

NZ Truth, Issue 978, 23 August 1924, Page 9

SPORTS IN SPORT

Past and Present GEORGE SUTHERLAND, George Sutherland, who only a comparatively few years ago, was a crack cyclist on whom the eyes of all New Zealand rested, was born at Palmerston South, Otago, and, by the time he was 25, had a handful of, cycling honors to his credit. The first wheels he straddled were of the old-fashioned high type, and it was on one of those monstrosities that at Palmerston he received three minutes' start and won a three-mile road race. He was the only man m the race ' mounted on such a; cqntraption. The victory Influenced him m putting aside his coin and eventually purchasing a | cushion-tyred "fiiickey Oates," after which he Bwanked some more, and indulged In a "Beeston Humber." Between 1894 and 1896 he took part \n several road races, and pretty well cleaned up the lot. His first real track | race was at Dunedin on Labor Day, 1895. He wa& an "also ran," however, and later he had a go on the Oamaru Showgrounds track, where, m his first race, he collided with the fence, the latter having the worst of the argu-i ment. However, h« saddled up again and won the next race. In 1896 G.S. went to the West Coast, and at Westport won all his races, notwithstanding hefty handicaps (1400 yardsj m the I five-mile). At that nieetlng he also had the distinction of putting up the record mile (uripaced) on the Coast In 2min 23sec. Sutherland next rode at Reef ton! where he met Barker, the New Zealand champion, and ran him two seconds^ Going on to Greymouth, he had his first mount on a racing "Stirling?' and won the mile event off 90 yards. The win caused perturbation among the officials, who considered the Palmerstonian a "ring-in," and he was disqualified. However, Arthur Franolß, or boxingr fame, eventually fixed matters up. Hlb handicaps were then drastically readjusted, but m spite of that fact, he paced the redoubtable Barker throughout the big three-mile journey and finished second to him. ; The . cycling fever having a good hold of him, Suthy went to Dunedin iri 1897 and took part m his first bis championship meeting, the big attractions at which were Maxwell, Don Walker (Australia), Sutherland, R. S. Reynolds (Ireland), and Barker. He had his successes there, and' m the same year won races all over New Zealand, including the one, five and ten-mile chariiplonship and a 100---Bruinea cup for the five-mile scratch race. Pushing a Stirling bicycle, he was placed first m 62 races during the, year, and then }n 1898, when he atraddleq an "Osmona," his, .success was just aa.^ phenomenal.: ', He again won the New Zealand championship, and was alsp a. member of the Christchurch CycUngrGlub/s team to win tho 100-mile road championship of Australasia. In 1899 Suthy went v to Australia and was giving a good account of himself wheh.it was decided to send the New Zealand champion to^ Paris to compete In. the. .^world's championship. The New Zealand; Leasrue out: Reynolds as cHa/tnp}on, but the Wellington Cycling Chip considered Chalmers a better man and said so. The Chrjatch.urch Cycling Clttb then contended that Sutherland could beat the pair named, and it was on that club's suggestion that the Palmerstonian returned to New Zealand. First of all he raced,' Chalmers and beat him, and after that he cleaned up Reynolds and became New Zealand's representative for the world's championship honors. A lot of money, however, had been subscribed m Auckland to send Reynolds, and, as the majority were averse to the money being diverted to Sutherland's expenses, Reynolds also made the trip overseas, but never rode m any of the races. While m Europe, Sutherland acquitted himself creditably, and won many more times than he was defeated. In the early stages, however, he was rather at a disadvantage, on account of the Improved machines and big gears of the world's Champions, but towards the end of the tour he held his own with the best. Gn returning to New Zealand he went on with the cycling game for some time and cleaned up just about all before him. He pulled out of the business about 1910, after 13 years on top. hia last' big meeting being at Oamaru, where he won the two-mile, five-mile and ten-mile championships all m one afternoon. Settling m the Globe Hotel at Nelson, Suthy helped In the trainIng of Dick Arnst when he won the £200 handicap on the Wanganui River, and he also fixed up the trip and accompanied Arnst to Africa, where he met and beat Barry on the Zambesi. For 68 days Sutherland and Arnst took part m a big game shooting expedition Into the heart of the African jungle, and, on coming back/to New Zealand, Suthy took on the motor car business m Chrlstchurch. He is still a young fellow, keen on all sport, and pig-shoot-ing" and deer-Btalklng In particular.