CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1854, 3 June 1887, Page 27

CYCLING.

By Demon.

WHEEL NOTES.

Wheel racing is over so far as the autumn season in - Victoria, is concerned, and a very successful season it has been too, but the' pulse of the pastime arid the sport beats as strongly, •as ever, 'for 'the clubs are taking to the, roads' and enjoying winter wheeling in the proper way. Besides this, several tournaments are announced] to be held in the Exhibition Building, where the track is to' be altered to' admit of fast riding without fear of dangerous falls. Wood and,, James -have. engaged the Building for the first contests,- which will embrace amateur as well as professional events. The 'Victorian Cyclists' Union has been .asked and'refused to grant its patronage to the first of the , meetings, as the .intention was to run profes-j siorial and amateur events,, so that the latter class would be on the track onehour a day with - the professionals., In this, way, the professionals ■ - were to ride six. hours a day, finishing. at 9 p.m., and the amateurs three hours a day, commencing at 3 p.m. ■ . -^ , t," The fourth annual, meeting of the Victorian Cyclists'. Unionwas held at the Oriental .Hotel, Collins street, a fortnight ago. ; After the prices won at the recent races held under the auspices of the Union- had been presented, the nomipa-' tion and election of, officers for , the - ensuing year was proceeded with, and'resulted-as;fol-lows:—Patrons, Justices A'Beckett and WJlliams ; ; President, Sir, William J. Clarke ; Vicetpresidents, Mr' Frank Grey. Smith and Mr L. M'Kinnori; Secretary, MrJ.W.H.'BuSst,; Treasurer, MrF. ; H." Sliackelfprd ; Handicapper,, Mr jGeorg^ Spicer ; Timekeeper, , Mr , ,T. Gaunt ; ■> Cpjpur s Steward, Mr H. C. Bagot; Executiv'er-MessreJ, B<;~ot, Stewart, Argall, Pangars," ; Llew,ellyn,, fiubst and Shacbelford; Appeal CommitteeMessrs Spicer Lewis and .Anderson. ; The' Facile Bicycle Company offer 'value £50, to any. rider who can- accomplish a ride of. 300 miles>in- 24 hours on one of Messrs Ellis and Company's admirable* little machines. The offer is not quite as liberal as. that of Messrs. Hillman, Herbert^, and Co., as the journey' in" ' this instance must either be straight away or out and home. At no time must the same 'portion' of the road be° covered more than twice. This takes a lot of the gilt off the gingerbread/ but who knows what maybe accomplished on one of ttte'jadw geared up Faciles. . ~ "(. Cycling is about to be utilised for the first time by the War Office. Colonel Stanley, who commands the- Dover, marching column, has : asked officers commanding regiments of volun-, teers to send in the names of not more than one officer and four non-commissioned officers, and menwhorwill be willing to serve in a, cycling corp3 for employment in general service on the" march down. ' '", A couple of- London ' clubs have comedown handsomely towards the Lifeboat Fund. The Pickwick and London ' Social ; have each' over £20 in 'hand which has been" collected for this deserving object. ' The ■ amount j already ■ subscribed is £286 Is lOd. Could not some of our 3Tew Zealand clubs send in their mite ? ■' Greenwich Park, was thrown open ,to cyclists in March last. Few .wheelmen availed themselves of. the privilege on the . opening day, which 1 was about as uncomfortable as could be, ~ snow| s hail, and rain, accompanied by a bleak norti'rAvind, keeping wheelers within doors. < '- The' petition of - the East ' London cycling 'club&td the Chief Commissioner of the Police, asking for an increase -in the force at Temple 4 Mills 1 and' other resorts of the, playful rough, has been presented, and a promise has been obtained -that the matter shall receive attention. Over 2000 cyclists, representing ,120 clubs, signed the petition. • .. , , A cable message from Loadon states that a series of matches have been arranged to determine the bicycle championship of the world. In the first of five events at' Leicester, Howell beat the American' champion (Woodside) in a 20-mile race.