CYCLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13268, 27 April 1905, Page 5

CYCLING.

BT "DEUOtf." — George. Sutherland, the well-known Now Zealand rider, who lias just completed Ids term ot 12 months' disqualification, experienced a bit ot hard luck at tho Christohurch Club's animal sports meeting on Friday. Sutherland had won the Enfield Challenge Cup on two previous occasions, and a third win was only necessary to make tho cup his property. The race this year was run under the condition that the last man past tho post in each Hip had to retire. There wore live start-ore, and passing- (lie grand stand two laps from home, Randrup and Sutherland raced behind J. Arnst for second place, and what looked like a dead heat was decided in Kandrup's favour. Sutherland, however, remained on the track, and in a tight finish beat Randrup (or first placo by a wheel. Tho rcforeo then announced that-Jlandrun had won the race, as Sutherland should have left the track two laps before. '' Sutherland states—and other riders corroborate this—that bofore- the race the contestants were told that tho last three riders left on the track, after the elimination process had removed tho others, would fig-lit out the finish in tilieir own way. Tho official, however, who issued the, instructions denies this, and states that only two were to be loft in for the last lap. At the Christchureh meeting on Friday J. Arnst put up a good day's riding, In tho Kobcrtson Trophy Handicap there were throo distances of half-mile, quartcrmilo and one mile; and in the final of the Half-milo Arnst, with 20yds, won from B. Campion (40yds) and L Huston (40yds); he secured third place in the Quarter, with] 10yds,. ,7. Stevens (20yds) and A. Huston (20yds) being first- and' second respectively, and in the final of the third distance, tho -Mile, receiving 30yds, he won from tho only other two starters, B. Campion (75yds) anil J. _ Conncll (75yds). Arnst'fi number of! points thus came to nine, and he therefore j holds (ho trophy for 12 months, in addition I to securinj; prize money amounting to £9. ' Arnst also secured second money in the Royal Enfield Cup.

— Tho consensus of opinion was that tlio sport provided at the Melbourne Eight Hours celebration was the finest witnessed during the session. The attendances, on Monday particularly, were exceedingly laiye, tlio afternoon showing somo 20,000, while in the evening the rcctangle was crowded with upward? of 30,000 spectators. Tho pubio highly appreciated the quality of tho racing, the anplauso lieing frequent and loud, especially when any favanrito annexed first place, Lawson undoubtedly proved himself champion. Ho won two out of three scratch races, and would ccrtaiply have won t-ho third but for a puncture in the second last. Lan, and this in a 10-niile race. His victory in tho Wheel Rticc, of £100 to tin first man. was most brilliant. Tho men were well strung out over the field, and a notice,il>!o feature whs tho lour cracks—Tawpon, Kilegaa.rd. Rutt. and thoscrateh mark. There was also a strong division at the, front, and those constituting it bad won thci'' heat iu 4niin 5 4-sscc. their semi-final iu 4min 6scc. and it was scarcely thought possible for the back-markers to better this time, provided the limit; men ran consistently. This they did. however, for t-hey wort! not caught until the hell sounded, which gave tho crocks little or no time for a breather. Indeed, tho last lap was covered in 22 3-Sscc—a.t the rate of luiin 53srt per mile. At tho Aquarium comer T-aw«on shut round the field, mid camo cleanly away from them. Ellogaard was third, heine lv>aten by J. G, Walker, who wiw 300 yds mark, for scconcl place. lvaster falling rather late in the season this year, combined with the recent ram, was somewhat disadvantageous for motor touring, and, so far as I can learn, thoso who attempted touring farther south than Clinton had some very bad roads to contend against. -—Mp.ssvs Gordon and Root left Duncdui on Thursday afternoon for Invercargill, but so far I have not heard how they got along,

Mr Gordon lias parted with bis ?. h.p. Clemcnt-Garrard in favour of a ditto 3-h.p. twin-cylinder. Mr Cardalo is doing likewise, Both these riders will l» able to apprccrato the advantages of the two-cylin-der drive under all conditions.

— U. Howlison and A. Price (of Conke, Howlison, and Co.) and Mr William Sutherland (of Paimorslon) took a tour on t,h»ir 2| h.p. Records round tho Waihcmo County, and report all the roads in splendid order. They experienced very good weather, and the whole tour could bo put down as a non-stop run, as not a thing had to bo adjusted on any of the three motors. The North road, though more interesting, does not peem to ho patronised so much as the South, and this is probably owing to tho thought of the Junction and Kilmog Hills being exceptionally stiff: but I might point ont that theso hills are easily ascended with any reliable motor cycle, and that very little pedalling is required. — Mr James Waldrus, of Gore, is a motor bicycle expert of the first- order, or perhap? I should sav a mechanical genius. Though only a youth lie lias already built for himself a really fine 2 h.p. motor bicycle. Tho entire machine, excepting accumulator, coil, sparking plugs,- saddle, and tyres (Michelin), was made bv Mr Waldrus's own hands—a very crcditablo performance indeed. Th coil used is one of the famous Bacho-Miclicl coils, and works beautifully, even though under tho disadvantage of being used in conjunction with an ordinary makc-and-break contact instead of a \rine coil tact. . The engine is fastened to the frame in a cradle after tlio same style as the " Brown " engines, Two local motorist* set out-on Fri. day last to motor through to Invercargill, but as one of the machines was not developing much pace the rider of the slower macliino suggested pushing on to save time, while _ the other was assisting a brother motorist who was temporarily stuck up. The motorist with the slower machine got a very long start, and. added to this, he had got his machine going well again, and had covered a big lot of ground before the rain camp on. while the other motorist struck rain early, and could got up very littlo pace owing to slippery roads, and being soon overtaken by darkness, ho mado for the south' express train to chase his comrade, with the result that he passed him. and these two motorists spent tho rest of the Easter holidays looking for one another between Dunedin and Invercargill. They eventually mot at Henley. ~—As petrol is stockod -in only the larger towns in this colony, it will'be'interesting to know what the rider of a' twin

Clement-Ciarrard did when lie found that his supply of naphtha, wis giving out and he • was a. great manymiles from anywhere. Tho motorist-at onco made for tho nearest house, asked the good lady for somo kerosene, emptied it into the tank, and RWay with all-hasto while the engine 'was hot. The kerosene went splendidly, the only difference noticeable being a little weakness on heavy nils, -and the auxiliary air.had almost to be 1 dosed off. _If a stop/-was made the engine was -a bit .sluggish in starting up again, oven though hot," If the engine was quite cold it is very doubtful if the kerosene would oxplodo at jail,. ]- — One thousand seven hundred Oldsmobile6 are reported ■;as'having been sold at tho' last Paris show. .

One very ; 'gbo(i advantage that the motor cycle has;over the ordinary cycle is that the rider, tjirough never being heated, can stop for long or short intervals, just as inclination or occasion demands. On the, other "hand, if tho push cyclist is journeying along in tho country he invariably gets heated, and' if he docs not wish to court a chill all long stops are, if possible, sliuhned. — One day recently, whilo Father Dclaney was riding up Saddle Hill :on his motor cycle, tho driver.of a trap refused to make way for him to pass,- with the result that Father Delnney was thrown heavily—an act which speaks little'in favour"of the driver of- the vehicle!

~—Horses met anywhero between Dunedni and Hcrilcy arc getting quite used to motors, and rarely (Sake any notice of them now,

■ —The following letters explain themselves

( "Ashburton. Friday evening. ' Dear Demon,—Tho road was so bad, that I could not leave the train until I reached Oainr.ru. I left the train there, and found tho road very bad to Waimate; ran through Waimato, via St. Andrews, to Timaru; reached thero about 7—the last 10 miles very bad. Left Timaru this morning, ran to Tcmuka, 'Winchester, Geraldine, and down to Orari—road had. Trained from Orari to Hinds; reached Ashburton about 5. I trailed.my daughter all tho way, and was only stopped onco, when I adjusted the i was amazed to sec the little cngino making good time over the heavy roads; in fact it was wonderful. I am

going to Christchurch to-morrow* but will rail Rakaia to Rollcston, as the road is impassab'.e. I have bcen on the heels of heavy rain tho whole time; this accounts for tho state of tho road. I had the worst drivo from Hinds for six miles, From Oamaru

to Orari it is all right'; after that I want to meet the man who has travelled over it. We have had a glorious time, and enjoyed ourselves splendidly." " I got here [Christchurch] all right. Had to rail Rabia to-Rollcston, then xnotorcd on. The road was very, heavy, but I find thero is no slip in tho mud here. Wc got into Christchurch, mud from head to foot,* after a real'y enjoyable ride. Only railed Dtmedin to Oamaru, Orari to Hinds, Raltaia to Rolleston, From what I can judge the motor cyclists here have not the experience of the soul horn men, and the machines are etc., John F. M, Fuasei;." -The meeting just concluded in Melbourne was wonderfully free from mishaps until the second semi-final of tho Eijht Hours Wheel Race was run (says "Tangent" in the Leader).. At the Aquarium bend, in the last lap, Slieehari ran Matthews up the bank. Matthews collided with another rider, and men and machines were at once mixed in a. hopeless tangle. Mat-thews, Shcchan, Yerney, F. Smith; A. FJaek, and C. Rivers all came down heavily, but fortunately the

injuries were confined to surfa-oe wounds. — During the past- two or three mor.tlis I (says "Fortjs" in the Australasian) have had several inquiries regarding the twospeod gear, and more than ono of those who contemplated adopting it thought it a fair ohanee to raiso tho,gear which they had ordinarily been using. As a. general rule this is a mistake, for there is scarccly moro than one rider in a hundred but who pushes as high a gear as ho comfortably can, t thinkfi he can. Yet while t-ho great mn- ! jonty will rcout tho infercnoo that speed | is an object with them, so many will scizo : th-j first opportunity of going a niche highet in tho goarmg which they think the vari-able-speeded hubs afford, Tho changeable gear is the outcome of a desire to nullify the effects of hill-climbing or driving the machines against- the wind—to reduce the effort. Therefore, if a rider hut sticks to what ho has already boon driving, he will, "y the operation of tho low gear, obtain a reduction of about 23 per cent., and ho • will Ijon-ofit moro by this method than by j raising his gear when there is really no occasion for it. Thoro is a movement among the motor clubs in the United Kingdom, which had its inception from a speech made by Sir John M.icdonpld, president- of the Scottish Autqmobita Club, "to demonstrate tho vast and increasing, importance of (.ho motor movement," Ho sugfjesls that, durint/ the ; summer just commencing in the Old Coun- ; try, on an appointed day all clubs through- ! out- the l<uid should organise meetings at | central spots. Tho object is to show (in view of tho fact that 1806 will usher in ;i now Motor Act) that the automobile army is ready to take ib'- political field. Marquis do Dion, one of the leaders of tlio automobile industry in Franco, speaking of tho recent motor show at Olympia. London, said he was disagreeably surprised when ho realised at the exhibition tho immense strides accomplished by the British makers. Another visitor, of a large Gcrnian house, said that Great Britain is racing neol; and neck with Germany iu industrial vehicles, and Franco has been left behind. lie says, however, that a lack in design in pleasure automobiles is tho main British fault. France views the position with alarm, and in order to meet- tho keen competition she will hold a magni--ficent sports competition and exhibition in 1907 Tho Automobile Club of Franco is the moving spirit, and lias called together a syndicate of the. Paris newspapers (not the cyclo press), and these .-'ether are collaborating to organise an exhibition of such magnitude as the world has never seen. It is projiosod that this exhibition shall he hold on tlio spacious Champs do Mars, in Fan's. Tho following statement was made at tlio meeting of tlio club and the press: — "Foreign manufacturers are overtaking us by leaps and bv bounds, and are making supreme efforts to pas.? us in the race. They possess that all-important qualification, pcrsoveraneo, thanks to which they arc accomplishing marvels. ' For this very reason it behoves French constmcto'rs to maike an effort to prove that their goods are superior to rival productions." A largo building is to he constructed in the Champs do Mars, in which every seotion of automobilism will lie shown to advantage. A huge dock is also to be formed, in whioh motor boats will be floated,

—■ Arrangements are being made in Melbourne for the holding of a 100 miles Nonfilop' Motor Contest- on the 25th of Mav next.- The test, wiiioh will be open to all carists,.will lie'held over a circfdar route from Melbourne to Laiicefield. thence across to Carlsrulie, and back to Essendon, via Woodc-nd, Gishorne, and Kailor—a distance of 101 i miles, Tho conditions of the contest are that tonncau cars ni'nst carry four people, and single-seated cars two people— an observer will accompany caoh car. Contestants will each nominate an olserver, who Wilha'ot as an official aboard another competitor's car. - The "non-stop" conditions to bo carried out ar« that the engine must be kept running from tho time of starting to finish of run, and the observers' duty will be to record cause and duration of stop. Repairing of tyrps'will not count a stop, but tho engine must continue running, Changing of a sparking plug on multiole cylinder care will bo taken as'a stop. The course, which is fairly level and comprises good roads, must be covered in 6hr 30min or under—an average of 15£ miles, and must nor, , be accomplished under provision being deemed necessary by the organisers—tho Dunlop Tyro Company— to prevent racing along tho route. Direction and danger boards will bo erected where deemed nfecessary. To all contestants who scoro s. "non-stop" run will be presented an artistic certificate suitable, for framing. The nominator ■ must accompany his oar throughout tho run. NEW ZEALAND CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS. Glorious weather at Temuka on Montlav contributed to one of tho. most successful cycle championship meetings that has been held m tho colony. . The racing .w'as fast, keen, and oxeiting. Popular opinion | favoured the chances-of G.- Sutherland, who for a Jong term of years has held pride of place in Nov . Zealand racing, but on the present occasion the old adage, "Youth will be served," was amply demonstrated, and the champion that was had to give place to the younger riders. J. Arrist and M. Randrup. Eaoh of the trio was well up. to championship form, and the contest in each event was desperately fought.out and produced brilliant racing. Tho championships resulted as follow: — HALF-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND. First prize, i'i, second £*2,.-third 1 fl.—J. Arnst' (Temuka) 1, G. Sutherland (Christchurch) 2, Jl.'Handrup (Timaru) 3. B. Campion (Wanganui) also started. Arnst led from the flash of the pistol, with' Sutherland, Eandrup, and Campion following ■ in' that order. With 220 yards to go'Eandrup jumped and drew level. with Sutherland, tut could not head Arnst, who drew'away in the straight and won by a short length; Eandrup a wheel behind Sutherland. -Time, lmin 193ec. ONE-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP. First prize £6, second £!, -third'fk-iT. Arnst'(Temiika) 1, G-. Sutherland (Christchurch) .2, M. Eandrup (Timani) 8. B. Campion fl'fanganui) also started. The ~ by riders on*

singles./ The .positionVfor"; the first half-mile wa3 Arnst, Campion,/ Eandrup, Sutherland. A faulty change rearranged places, and wlien the pacers drew off Sutherland led, with Arnst, Campion, and Randiup following in'that order. With 400 yards to- go' Arnst, Campion, and Eandrup sprinted;, .The first-named took the lead, with Sutherland at "his wheel.' Two hundred yards from -home Bandrup made a dash lon the outside, and improving his position made a grejit finish with Arnst and Sutherland. Arnst;finished-up -his grand effort by an extra effort, and : beating'.oft both opponents won by three-quarters of n length from Sutherland, who beat Eandriip by a wheel for second place. Titne, 2tnin llsec.' : THREE-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP. First prize £7, second £3, third, £I.—M. Eandrup (Timaru) 1, ,G. Sutherland. (Christchurch) 2, J. Arnst (Tcmuka), 3. . B. Campion (Wanganui) also started. Single pacers were provided and set up a'.faßt, : steadv gait. The order throughout wai Arnst. Sutherland, Campion, and Eandrup. As the bsll rang Campion jumped for the lead, but Arnst at once responded. .With 320.yards still to go Campion collided with .Anisty a nd fell heavily. This interfered with both Arnst's • and Sutherland's chance. Thirty yards from the finish Sutherland reached his opponent's rear wheel, but Eandrup had an. extra effort left, and managed to keep in front till the tape was crosscd, rinnine by a foot. Arnst was 10 yards behind. Time, Gmin 41 sec. ■ FIVE-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP. First prize a second £4, tliird £-2.—11. Eandrup (Timaru) 1, J. Arnst (Tenmka) 2, -,T. Connell (Temuka) 3. G. -Sutherland (Christchurch) and J. Stevens (Christclpch) also started. Single pacers were again employed to set a fast rate of speed. For three miles the order' was J. Arnst. Sutherland, Eandrup, Connell, and Stevens.- Just as the bell rang Eandrup

I " jumped,". beating Sutherland for Arnet's I wheel,. fhe" Christchurch rider was forced'on 110 the grass, and dropped to tho rear,' Arnst sprinted • magnificently, w-ith liandrup at his wheel, Council and Stevens next, and Sutherland last. Timing, his effort nicely, Randrtip made his_ final sprint 200 yards from home, and, passing Arnst\ tpiickly, ho went on'and won by two lengths; Connell, close up, third. Time, lSmiii 35seo; \ ! H. E. Mehrtcns won tho One-mile Handicap with 130 yds start from J. Stevens (120vds) and J. Connell (75yds), and;ilie Two-uiilo Handicap i w v ent to .J. Stevens (130 yds), ivith H. 13. Jlolirtcns (200 yds) and F. H. Arust (200 yds) a dead heat for second place, Waipahi.—Maiden riders aro quits eligible to ride Timaru to; Chrietchurch road race. No, it is not necessary ,to belong to a cycling club or hold I understand tho Otago Centre' of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen will again supervise a road race this year,-the rider putting . up fastest time in same< to receive a sum of money from the Dunlo'ii Tyre Co. to'onable him to defray his ex-penses to Timarn to compote in the Timsru-Cirristchurcli race. Last year the Otago race was run from Henley to Milton and 1)3011, the course being traversed twice, and M'Moliou finished first and likewise put up the. fastest time, thus taking the Dimlop Tyro Co.'s £5 for fastest time, and also tho prize for tho first mail past tho winning post. The competitor receiving the Dunlop Cp.'s cliequo has to compete in the Timaru-Christchtirch'race, and i! he is unable to do so, tho money is given to the ritler putting up $ic. second fastest time, and so on. in tho. TimarU'Christchuroh race,'hut was not successful in being tho rider chosen to represent Now Zealand in the great Warrnambool to Melbourne road race.