OTAGO CYCLING CLUB'S ANNUAL SPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11643, 29 January 1900, Page 7

OTAGO CYCLING CLUB'S ANNUAL SPORTS.

-. The ■, eighth annual interprovineial race meeting conducted by the Otago Cycling Club ■ took place- at tho Caledonian ground on Saturday last. As was tho case last year, the day ■was beautifully fine, and with the trifling exception that the wind rose to a fairly moderate breeze late in the afternoon, the weather could not possibly have been more favourable. It is remarkable that since the club was instituted it has not had a really bad day for its' annual sports, having been in this respect, it must be admitted, singularly fortunate. Tho arrangements in connection with the mealing were of the customary character. An excellent band—tho Kaikorai—had been engaged, and there was no lack of good music well played, the programme including a- number of patriotic items, and being sufficiently varied to suit all tastes. Games of chance were more numerous than usual, and quite a thriving business was done on apparently ruinous terms to the proprietors, who, however, manage to live on their losses and pursue their calling .with the same disinterested persistence as other professional philanthropists. A booth at which other than strictly blue ribbon lieverages could be obtained was open for the convenience of the public, and, without the : assistance of the licensed gambling machine, every faciHty'was offered by means of private enterprise to gratify the desires of -"those who had inward .yearnings for the totalisator, and in one or two events the "bookies" must have lost heavily. The attendance was not as good as formerly, the falling off being no doubt clue to the number bf patriotic sports which the public have been invited to patronise, but about 2000 persons must have been present, and the snorts were excellent. .There was a slight falling off in number of entries, owing to a lack of local interest, but the visitors were more numerous than last year, and included competitors from Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, Wellington, Christ church1, Timaru, and Invercargill. The big events were both won by visitors, A. Stocker (of Timaru) winning the Wheel Race, and E. A. Wall (of Christcluirch) the Championship. The events were all well contested, as thefinishes showed they*were races right through, and.there was a complete exemption from anything in the nature of serious accidents.

~■ The various competitions resulted as follows:—

.-.Half-mile Bicycle Rnce. Prizes: £4, £1, and £I.— First' heat: N. -Ralston, 40yds, 1; A. Stoeker, 45yds, 2;' W. E. Anderson, 70ycls, 3. Also started: M. Bennett, scratch, H. Gunthcrpe. 60yds,' H. Anseoinbe 85yds, A. Morrison 90yds. Time, lrriin 4sec. Second heat: D. ■Bray, . 85yds, 1; A. Sa-ngster, 75yds, 2; B. Murie, 55ydo; 3. Also started: Wall syds, Huston, 2oyds, H. Holland, 45yds, E. Crawford 60yds, J. Grant 70yds, and M. C. Elliott 95yds. Close finish. Won by a yard., Time, lmin 4 8-58&.V. Third heat: A. Randell 75yds, 1; T. L. Begg, 90yds, 2; W. M'Keich, 70yds, 3. Also started: ■T. Kirkwood 35yds, "Willis 45yds,. Blackwell 55 yds, and il'Mullcn 65yd5... Won easily. Time, lmin 4sec. Final: N. Ralston 1, W. £. Anderpon 2, A. StocKer 3. All those qualified started, and the contest was exciting. Anderson'was leading at, the last round, but Ralston made a fine spurt, and, crossing close to Anderson, got the inside running, and won after a hard tussle. Time, lmin -1 2-ssec. ''■One-mile Bicycle Handicap (Amateur). 3Prizes:; £2 10s and £I.—C. G. White, 50yds, 1; K. Melville, 50yds, 2; C. Rouffe, 12pyds, 3. Also started: Grierson 15yds, Pearse 30yds, Muir 30yds, J. Hills 60yds, J. Lethaby 100 yds, and G. Moore 100 yds. The event was won. easily'by'"White, wiio rode strongly from, the first. Time, 2rain 32 2-ssec. x '220 yds Handicap Bun. Prizes: £2 10s and 10s.—First -heat: If. Maeleod, 9yds; 1; G. M'Kay,'4yds, 2; .W. L. Colvin, scratch, 3. Also started: D. M'Laren, Hyds, J. Dey 7yds, P. Mason-UJyds, G. Binnie 13yds, J. Phee 14yds. "Won by a, yard and • a-half. Time, 25sec. Second heat: L; M'Kay, 10yds, 1; A. Bennett,. syds, 2;, J. Nagle, Siyds, 3. Also started: Mowglie lyd. J. Dey 4yds, Loft' 3£yds, and Lewis 14yds. Won by two yards. Time, 24 2-ssec. Final: .N. Maeleod 1, J. Nagle 2,A. M'Kay 8. All qualified started, and there was an, exceedingly close finish, four of the competitors being within a foot at the tape. Otago ."Wheel Race. Two miles., First . prize .£3O, second. £10, third £5, fourth £I.— First heat: A. Kalston, 45yds, 1; T. Kirkwood, 140 yds, 2; A. -W. Humphries, 90yds, 3; A. Stbclxer, 180 yds, i. Also started: M. Bennett ecr, B. A. Wall 25yds, H. Holland 160 yds, W. Blackwell 190 yds; H. Gxmthorpe 200 yds, • ,J. M'Mullen 210 yds, W. E.'Anderson 250 yds; A. Sangster 270 yds, 31.- C. Elliott 310 yds. M'Mullen. having paced Bennett up to the field at the sixth lap retired, and the scratch'man might have been placed if he had made use of an opening he got when there was half a lap to ■ g-3. The finish wns-pretty-even. - Time, smin - 13sec. Second heat: A. Huston, 115 yds, 1; E. Murie, 190 yds, 2; N. Halston,' 150 yds, 3; P. Ealston,' 290 yds, 4. Also started: C. C. . Willis 160 yds, E. Crawford 200 yds, G. G. Body 210 yds, J. Grant 245 yds, W. M'Keich 250 yds, A. Randall 270 yds, 1). Bray 300 yds, H. Koppert -320 yds. ' Randell, P. Ralston, and Bray led all. the way up to the' last lap, when they \vere overhauled by the field,: and the heat resulted as above mentioned. Willis had the misfortune to break his chain at the fourth lap, and\had to retire. Time, smin 15sec. Final: A. 'Stoeker 1 ; -A. Ralston 2, A. Huston 3, T. 1 Kirkwood,4. All qualified started. P. Ralston (limit) ;went.away with a dash, and increased his ' lead. With five laps to ■ go, however, Humphries and A. Ralston were in the van, fql.owed by Kirkwood. This position was maintained for another round. With three laps to go Humphries was still in front with Stoeker coming up. In the second last round the field" . bunched, , and tffe ' pace began to get hot. Coming up the straight Stoeker, who was lying" close'lip to the front, came away with a splenxlid run, -which lauded him winner by a couple of lengths. ' Time, smin 14sec. Twojmile Bicycle Handicap (Amateur). First prize £3," second £i.— C. G. White, 95yds, 1; C. "W. Rpuffe, 230j-ds, 2; J. Hills, 110 yds, 3. Also started: A. R. Grierson. 25yds, W. J. Pearse 50yds, K. Melville 95yds, J. Lethaby 190 yds., Rouffe had this race won, having a : lead of,come 40 yards on entering the straight., White, however, who was riding in great form, . came oh with a fine spurt, and beat Rouffe in .the last few yards.. Time, smin 42s$c. ..Half-mile Handicap Hurl; ■ First prize £2 10s, second;' £l, third 10s.-r-C. Bowie, 65yds, 1; N. Maeleod, 10yds, 2; J. Burke, 25yds, 3. Also started: D. M'Laren 15yds, W. M'Donald 25yds, 'C. Roberts'4oyds, P. Mason'4syds, S. . Lewis 60yds.'' Maeleod cut down everyone but tb.3 limit man, but he (Bowie) was going too . strong to be'passed. Time, 2min ssec. One-mile' Bicycle Handicap: First prize' £5, second £2 10a, third £I.—First heat: A. Ran-

doll,^ 125 yds, 1; H. Gunthorpe,' 90yds; 2; 'M; I :Benhetfc, scratch, 3. Also started: A. TVv Humphries 40yds, N. Ralston 70yds', R. Murie SOydsj tJ. . Grant 115 yds. Time, 2min 28sec. igecond heat:. H. Holland, 75yds, 1; A. Sang'Bi^i, 125 yds, 2; E.-A."Wall, isyds, 3. Also started:;A. Huston, 45yds, W.'Blackweligoyds JJ. . M'Mullen, 95yda, W. M'Keich 120 yds, . A. Morrison 150 yds. Time, 2rnin 28sec..: Third heat: '&. Ealston, 25yda, 1; '■ E. A.' Crawford 30yds, 2; W. E. Anderson, 120 yds, 3. Also started:, T.'Kirkwood 65yds, A.-Stocker 80yds, G: G::Eody 95yds, P.- Ealston 140 yds, C. P. Lethaby 165 yds. Time, 2min 25 2-ssec. Final •'• H. Holland 1, A.. Eandell 2, E. A. Crawford 3; Holland took the lead with half a lap to go,' and won comfortably by half a dozen lengths' Time, 2vnin 21 4-ssec. . . ~,.■: - One:mile Bicycle Handicap (open" to volun-: teers and permanent force, and in uniform). .First prize £1 103, second 10s.—C. C. Willis TAsliburton Guards), scratch, 1; C. W. Eouffe (Diuiedin Cycle Corps), 65yds, 2; H. Koppert (Hampden. Rifles), 15yds, 3. Also started- C .T.- Lethaby (Dunedin Navals) 35yds. Time, Sm.in 51sec. .-''.' :•' Officials' Handicap. Half-mile W Beee' Eciafch,'l; A. .Alloo, 10yds, 2; B. J. Finnegan) 80yds, ,3. Also' started: IM. Higgins, scratch,' T.; Cole, 35yds, C. Morton 50yds, G. Brown. 60yds. ■, Alloo, was, going, strongly, and coming, iip on -the outside looked as if he had the race' in hand,,but Begg evidently was in better form, and; won'the race in the last few yards. Time . lmin 16 4 ; ssec. :. ~ .. ■■■..'■ ' Three-mile'Championship.—E. A. Wall 1 ,A. .'EaJston 2, A. -W. 'Humphries 3. Also started-; M. Bennett, A. Stocker, H. Gunthorpe,' N, Hal Eton, E. Crawford, A. Huston. Lap: prizes of 2s 6d were offered in this race, and had a "stimulating-effect. Gunthorpe and Crawford, retired; after four laps had been covered Stocker and N. and A. Ralston did most of the pacing, the first mentioned and N. Eahton securing three lap prizes each, and A. Ralston two. In the last lap Wall came up with a magnificent spurt, reminiscent of Zimmerman and wrested : victory, from A. Ralston by a : iength and a-half. Humphries was a very close' third. Time, Bmin 10 l-ssec.