CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 181, 6 August 1886, Page 26

CYCLING.

WHEEL NOTES.

By Demon.

At a meeting of the National Cyclists' Uni^n held in May it was decided to aid a cyclist iv taking proceedings for the recovery of damages caused by the unskilful management of a horse and cart by a driver on the Bath road.

The Gainsborough meeting at the Crystal Palace was very successful. The Open Mile Handicap was the piece de resistance, and afforded many interesting features. Owing to the number of entries, pp less than three rounds were run, and this was all against the winner, who is a lad of 15, named S. E. Williams. He has been for some time training, having placed themselves under the care of Charlie Wilson, the axperienced track-man, and came to the mark fit and well as the result showed. The machine he rode was a beautiful little racer by Marriott and Cooper, of 65, Holborn Viaduct. In the first round the lad had an easy task, and rode in comfortably without distressing himself forthe last lap ; but in the heat of the second round his task was not so easy, as E. Mayes (a brother of E. M. Mayes), riding very strongly, was overhauling him. In the final, after a good rest, the boy dashed off his mark in fine style, but, through over anxiety, slipped both his pedals three parts through the first lap. E. Mayes, who had qualified as fastest loser, began to overhaul him rapidly ; but the boy, getting on his pedals again, put in a tremendous piece of riding, and drew away from his big pursue!?. Sticking to it with immense pluck and determination, he finished a haudsome winner by 4 yards ; Mayes second, and Fenlon, from the scratch mark, third, having covered his mile well inside 2min 43sec, thus developing unexpected form.

There was some record breaking at these races but it is questionable -whether the performances will be accepted by the Union, aB the races were started on a slight downward in. clino.

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