CYCLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12989, 2 June 1904, Page 7

CYCLING.

' Bi "Dehok."

— Cyclists in and around Duucdiu will be pleased to hear of the steady recovery of Mr H. B. Courtis, tho genial president at tho Otago Cycling Club. Mr Courtis-will bo confined to the. liouso for about a month yet, but his improvement is going on nicely. , I' goes without saying tiiat this year's Tiniaru-Christehyirdi road race- will eclipse any cycle event over held in- tliis colony, and it is even expected that last -year's enormous entry of-160 will bo beaten. In cycling circles, from Auckland to tho Bluff, tho Big event is tho main topic of conversation. Tho prize list is the richest over offered, and it is expected to roach £180.

— A very largo number of motor cyclists attached to the Christcnureh Cycling and Motor Club took part in a run op. the 2ht nit.,' to Amberlcy, returning to town 'via Ifongiora. Tho distance covered w,as about 70 miles, and although somo 25 .motorists took part, it is significant as to tho perfection of ihe present motor cycle" to know that tho wholo number returned in good time.

—■ It -is reported ■ that Andresv Caldor. will bo a competitor in the Thiaarufa Christchurch road race, and that ho k alr&dy in. fair form, Should he face tho starter, aaditional interest will be added , to the event, as a comparison between the old stager anil tho young blood will be interesting. CaHfr in tet year's ovent was given an impossible task by the handieapper, as ho was trie «$o representative on the scratch mark, pdi tois called upon to give away goocl starts to snch champions as tho Arnst Bros. — Tho motor 'bus has made- its opfiearaneo in Christchureh, and one is tfow prang for hire betwesu Cathedral square and tho railway station. .From appearances it is Evident that the experiment is bound, to be financially' interesting to thethe 'bus has been splendidly patronises to far, and it is safe to predict that at no yisy distant dat<j tho motor, 'bus will becvjjfte &> corrimprj in tho City of the Elate as to create little or no comment.

The Dtinlqp Company announce that it has been decided than an entrance fe&.of 5s will bo charged in flwf Timattt'Cbristchurcli Road Race. Tlio whole of the jnonsj received from entries is ip be allqiiM to the sending of a team of the fastest iifyets. (exclusive of the rider estahh'sMng the fastest time) to Melbourne, to compete ma tlio Wavrnambool-Molbournei race, pii Satnrday, Augu3t 20. It is expected that fay adopting the use of enfcran.ee money for jKs purpose* New Zealand will be represented; t>y a team of not less than four of our; "best road riders hv the greatTace in Victoria.

It in reported that the' Melbourne Bicycle C!ub has approached tlio Melbourne Exhibition trustees with a view o( holding the 1901 Austral Wheel Race carnival 6ffl the Exhibition track, which is to undergo considerable improvement during- tho-comiirg winter months.

It is likely that F; Kramer, one -of. Major Taylor's greatest opponents, will be brought to Australia next season I>y a Melbourne syndicate. — Mr J. ~W: Bath, one of the Adelaide referees who recently resigned'"because 'he objected to tho reduction by tho Appeal Board of penalties imposed by tho' rofewSes on Schepa and Pjfe, has submitted a motion for the appointment of a stipendiary s'teward in the place of referees.

— • P. S. Berry won the mile amateur championship of Queensland at the recent meeting in Brisbane.

Private matters may keep Major Taylor and his wife from getting away from Sydney on .lune 6, as at first proposal. Should Taylor be. unable to jfot away 'by the middle of .TunCj there is, it js said 1 , .'a probability of hie remaining in Australia until n«xt season.

The WarrnambooUhire, which recently issued an edict against motorists and cyclists travelling more than 16 miles an hour on their open roads, has granted permission to. the Dunlop Tyro Company for tho big road race from WaiTnambool to Melbourne, which is to be held om' .Saturday. August 20.

A couple of years back tho Melbourne amateur cycling authorities would not allow amateurs to compete in the Warrnambool Road Race, but they have since modified their views, a3 they have decided to allow a. Jeam of amateur riders to compete in the Victorian inter-club road contests over 25 and 50 miles, to bo held on the Sydney rood 'in July. Tho probabilities are that the ainatoui- authorities will yet allow their rpad cracks to compete in tho greatest of all Australasian road events, the Warrnambool-to-Melbourno race. The Paris-Boubaix road Taee, one oE the most coveted road contests of Europe, has again been decided over the fine stretch of road lying between the two French cities named. This event, by a strange coincidence, is exactly the same distanco (165 miles) as the now famous Dunlop road race held over tho Victorian course from Yfarrnambool to Melbourne. Tho ov-ent under notice attracted a large field of W ridorsy including mast of tlie crack road ridors ot the Continent. Gko the Victorian race, tho French one is unpaced; in fact, is practically a duplication of tho Australasian bine ribbon road contest. Particulars of fho French race just to hand show that oxacfty similar conditions were experienced as thoso mot with by the Australian cracks last August, when heavy rain fell ovor 75 miles of the course, and the riders had , tho assistance of a strong favourable- wind. Such Ireing the fact, a very interesting comparison can be made between tho performances oE the winners of both events. Tho French race, a scratch one, was won by Aucouturicr, tho champion road rider of Encope, in fchß record time of Bhr his avorago pace being' slightly over 20 miles an hour throughout. Ho also won this event last year. TJio winner'a performance is claimed by the Continental pr&ss to bo a remarkably fin* ono. Now, let us compare tho performance of J. Arnst, tho New Zealand representative, who carried off last year's road race from scratch. Arnst rode the 165 miles in 7hr 43min—some 30min faster than Aiicouturier, his avorago pace being over a mile bott-or an hour than tho French crack's performance J. Arnst, on these figures, would probably more than hold bis own against tho creamof European, road riders. Two other Australian , road men also bottered the P-aris-Roubaix time—viz., R. Arnst (Bhr 52seo), and C. Qee (Bhr 6mia 25scc)~further evidence that Australia can produce road ridors of endurance and stamina equal to any in the world.