CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 27

CYCLING.

WHEEL NOTES. Br Demon. The 20 miles race for the championship of the North London Club was won by Furnival. The race, after the first lap or two, resolved itself into one between P. Furnival and M. V. Cassall, the others.dropping back. The pace was so good that from 11 miles upwards the best previous amateur times were eclipsed, and, as Cortis did on a similar occasion, Furnival continued his ride up to 25 miles, thus placing to his credit new record times, from 11 miles to 25 miles inclusive, with the exception of that for 18 miles, when Cassall was leading. Mr G. P. Coleman took the following times; the asterisks denote fastest on record. Mis. m. s. Mis. H. h. s. 1 Furnival 247 14* Furnival 041 3 1-5 2 „ 541 15* „ 043 59 3-5 8 „ 835 4-5 16* „ 046 55 1 5 4 „ 11 33 1-5 17* „ 0 -19 65 1-5 5 „ 14 26 2-5 18* Cassall 052 53 2-5 6 „ 17 23 1-5 19* Fumival 0 55 50 1 5 7 „ 20 19 1-5 20" „ 0 58 50 3-5 8 „ 23 6 3-5 21* „ 1 I 'so l-5 9 „ 26 13 1-5 22* „ 1 4 51 1-5 10 „ 29 11 23* „ 1 7 51 2-5 11* „ 32 7 3-5 24* „ 1 10 52 12* „ 35 4 2-5 25* „ 113 49 3-5 13* „ S8 2 4-5 The first race for •' cycling scouts " was held in connection with the First Surrey Rifles' Sports. Nine men competed, (and a once well-known rider, C. W. Coe, was scratch, but did not get placed. Button, with 50 yards start, proved to be the winner. The annual contest for the 50 miles road championship of Ireland took place in September in the Phcenix Park, Dublin. The weather, which had been very unsettled throughout the week, was again unfavourable, rain falling very heavily during the earlier part of the race, and, as a consequence, the going was so holding that good time was out of the question. The lot included the holder, A. M'Cormack, of Portarlington, and W. M'Pherson, the 10 miles champion ; but the winner turned up in J. M'Cormack, of Belfast, whose stamina stood him in good stead in a struggle which was rendered more than usually trying by the disagreeable weather in which it had to be fought out. Only two of the nine starters completed the distance, Berry finishing some five miles behind the winner. Soon after starting A. M'Cormack wenj; to the front, followed by Cowley, J. M'Cormack, Martin, and M'Pherson, with Berry bringing up the rear, but beginning the second lap J. M'Cormask was showing the way to his namesake and Cowley, with Martin next, and Hamilton now last. M'Pherson had retired owing to the tyre of his machine becoming disarranged, and before 14 miles had been covered Martin deprived J. M'Cormack of the lead, whilst the holder had now dropped back amongst the rearmost division. Martin continued to act as pioneer f<yr the next lap, but at 30 miles M'Cormack wai again in front, and increasing his command tha further he went, eventually finished about five miles in front of Berry, the only other competitor who completed the journey. Time, 4h 23min 53sec. The following are particulars of the bicycle track at Christiania, Norway, where the recent international meeting was held :— The ground is prettily situated, well laid out, and surrounded, by a tall, close wooden fence. There are two handsome and wide entrances, and little or no crush was observable at these, although about 9000 people at least must have entered the premises. The track is square, 400 metres in length and 7 metres in width, rounded at the corners, which slope at an angle of one in seven, therefore no difficulty presents itself at the turns. In its construction a foundation of broken stone, 35cm thick, was laid, over which a layer of macadam, 15cm thiok, topped with fine gravel, at a total cost of. nearly £1700; a figure which in England might be considered cheap, but there represents a good round sum. The track appears to be admirably laid, and is probably the best on the Continent, eren if it does not surpass most of the. English ones,