CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1910, 29 June 1888, Page 27

CYCLING.

WHEEL NOTES. ■ >• •• By Demon. >, , The Dunedin Cycling Club paraded at the Palace Skating Rink last week,' and the graceful . evolutions which they went' through were much admired very favourably commented upon. ; . . ■ -• . 1 I Hear there is to be a race for members of the club at an early date, also a slow race and an obstacle race on bicycles in- the> rink. .'This should prove interesting and perhaps amusing. - , . % ROWE'S DEFEAT.' '. „ By the list 'mail I received n'e'wVpf the defeat of W. A. 'Rowe; Lynn, Mass.', U.S.A!, by, Richard Howell, of Leicester, England, in the One Mile International Championship Race for £20 t O. ' 1 'Though this race did not furnish a' very .close* finish, the excitement waa/^at fever heat when ' the' representative champions of England and America were f r at the 1 post, ' then there Was a breathless silence, followed by, at the close of the race, a demonstration of approval, the like of which has not been witnessed in Wolverhampton for some time.' The'betting was riot very spirited, for the 1 Americans did noi] gamble heavily, -and the' weight of money soon made Howell a good favourite at 2 to "1 on. These odds were slightly increased before the pistol , cracked, ' and the "starting price may be fairly quoted at 5 to 2 on Howell, It was exactly 20 minutes past 6 when Howell emerged from the dressing room,preceededby Mr Walter Phillips (Rudge and Company's manager), with Mr Howard (one of Howell's backers) bringing > up the rear. ' The crowd "made way for these distinguished personages, and so soon as Howell appeared on the track he was greeted with a cheer. Then all eyes were turned. towards the dressing room, expecting Rowe to follow. The American champion, ' however, peeled on the track. Howell rode round once or twice in order to, see that his old and trusty iron steed was in proper racing tritp. Rowe also had a pipe-opener. The machines then were handed over to those deputed to push off. , Meanwhile Senator Morgan and Mr -Phillips tossed for choice of sides. Howell's representative won, and, contrary to " his custom,, selected the in<ide< position.. It waa agreed' that ' they should , start by first report of pistol, but in the event of the start 1 " not being a 'fair one, the referee' was empowered tb call them back, Luckily, Frank White got them well away, but Howell did not try for, the lead, so Rowe took up the running, and the first lap was run at a very good pace, the time to the post being 29sec. No change occurred in the next lap (time, lmin 6sec), iHpwell , contenting himself by' hanging ' on? to Rowe'siback wheel. In the third lap (lmin 41|sec) the pace slackened slightly, but, there was no change. "■ The crowd now 'began to manifest "their desire -to see a bit of a brush, shouts resounding all over- the. ground, "Now then, Dick!? &o.,.but the British representative took no notice. . He nevertheless, it was evident,' was ready, for an effort when the pinch came, _ A lap anda-half from home both spurted in earnest, and, served by the inside position, Rowe fairly held his own. When the bell rang Howell came out to challenge for the lead, 1 and made a great effort to secure it, but Rowe entered the lost lap (time, 2min 17sec) with a slight lead— very Blight too — at most nob more than 4in. Bounding the bend, Rowe increased' bis lead to half a length, but this was an expiring effort, for at the dressing room Howell came* again with a grand rush, and took the lead, and gradually drawing away he entered the : straight three lengths ahead. The 1 yells at this period were deafening, and when Howell broke the worsted some 30yds ahead, the crowd gave vent to their feelings in the wildest 'fashion. Hats were tossed in the air, and those who, invaded the centre of the ground cut the most comical capers we ever witnessed, indulging in a sort of triumphal war dance, the like of which for ludicrousness even Buffalo Bill's < Indians could not have surpassed. And when the exciter menj; subsided somewhat, and Rowe was seen leaving the track, he also was cheered. Although Howell won by 30yds, had Rowe finished all out, probably not more than 10yds would have separated them, but Rowe pulled up in the*Btraight'when he saw his chance of success was gone. The time for the full mile as registered by Kendal and Dent's chronograph was 2min47sfic. Howell rode his old 58in Rudge, and Rowe a 55in Columbia. - FRED WOOD INTERVIEWED. • HIS VISIT TO THE COLONIBS. The London „ Sportsman of April 23 contains the following which will be interesting to colonial wheel men, about Fred Wood's visit : — n . *• • ' , " The Leicester professional bicyclist, -Fred Wood, reached home, after an absence of a year and eight months, last Wednesday, and, as stated in the Sportsman of the following day, was enthusiastically received on his arrival at the scene where he had won such lasting fame. Our correspondent on Saturday had an interview -with the famous cyclist, who said that his ■ trip had given him considerable experience and knowledge of the world. Continuing,- Woods stated: I left Leicester on Thursday, August 26, 1886,j0r the purpose of taking part in the tournaments of Springfield and Hartford. . This was my second visit to the States, and I was > ■very successful, taking the mile from scratch in Smin 3Sseb, the fastest time ■on record. After this,, illness greatly interfered with my: training, aftd I was under the care of Dr ,Rice, who advised me not to get. up, but this I disre-. garded, as I did mot wish to lose my forfeit, and suffered defeat by the Yankee by 2yds, and not 10yds as stated. During the remainder of my stay in America I met and defeated Rowe on four or five occasions. What made you conceive the idea of visiting the other side of the world ?— I was not altogether satisfied with.the results of my American racing, and for many years have had a desire to see the distant countries. I started from San Francisco' on October 24, 1886, and reached Sydney on November 18, just in front of the racing season. During the .voyage I put on over a stone, and had all my work cut out to reduoe myself- to racing form. The reception which was accorded me was extremely pleasing. I .was entertained by the Sydney 8.C., and after- ; wards at a reception at Beach's picnic. What is your opinion of the tracks in the

rcolomes f— Wellj there are very few, and f whafchave been laid dowri^are not'up to much> I '***.< In what race did you first ppett r the»baJlj?~l>. firfcfc mefr the I 'Australian champion; Rolfei ton New.'Yeat'B;Dayi l and.vvety; ; eaßily^defeftt6d*im/ ! A littl<j%;later;l> tobk^pWt in the teatWea,' and was successful in landing^tho first prize of £50, 1 but in the interest of .the Humberfirm, for which •I was riding,' l took a cup of 'the value mentioned' instead of the£ s'd.\~ . , ,• '«•■" ** ,^ > uC: > -Whilst . in • Australia you had an offer to ride a colonial make ?— Yea 5' for the test races I had .45100 offered; me to ride- another machine; bdt this I declined.:. My stay, in Sydney eitehdedi over 16 weeks.:, I left for Melbourne oil March 2 with the English cricketers, and had a rare time of it. -My , reception here was to.tally different from what I ■ had received- at Sydney. I had done nothing wrong that I'fwas aware of, but I afterwards discev«red<that it was because I had. beaten some; of their bekt riders. [The people of that city and the cyclists were ivery\ "stand off'? because I had chosen Sydney for' making jaiy .first appearance. :-I rode at some spoxts at the Melbourne groauds^and did a 'mile in 2min 45 2-ssec, the world's' record fdif grass, but a mizedsreception was accorded me; \ < '"^ What about the Melbourne ease?— Ther whole] affair was " got up "• for me. . Saving to'deiqnd thia most unjustifiable aetidrij^nay funds yrete' nearly exhausted. I - was "dhly -in Melbourne five weeks and was heartily glad to leave. H Thej thought I was a £10^000" man, and was'Wrth plucking, 1 but afterwards discovered their imistake. n I- next went to Adelaide,' where ; the wheelist* and others gave me a fine welcome. I rode three races against Clarke andlWybujrd, doing a'mile off soratch' in>2mih'4Ojßeo7 and also, won a five miles, 1 and ran second in a three.* We J had a delightful road ride 1 of 28 miles up-opuptry^ I stayed a week, and then went backtb Melbourne, where; I* was located from April 19 to December 7. I had to 'spend the time as best 1 could, but was determined to see' the legal iprooeedingt through. Itook part' in a six days' (six hours per dayV race*, and covered 534'miles,3" laps, beating- Wyburd, after a 1 -sharp finish, by five yards. During my prolonged ; stay4t jMel-, bourne I had plenty of opportunities- of 'getting a passage, but would notruA away. 4 [ What else did you do ?— Very little beMdes the six days. To show you the generosity of the Melbournites, I was offered £5 if I would train l or! a month and then establish a record at the union, meeting^ 'Needless to say, I refused. They dub', the new country the Land of the Golden Fleece, but as regards' Melbourne,*it's the Land of the" " Golden Fleecer You:" -1 left for New Zealand, accompanied by W.. Brown, ; of thef Brixton Ramblers B. C, on December 1 7, and thoroughly enjoyed the seven days' voyager 1 Arriving at, Lytteltan on the 15 th, I was met: by 'the members of the Pioneer B. 0., who during my -s.tay,, made me welcome. At their sports I rode in, three races against the 'best amateurs'— viz., one, five, and ten miles, and won all three. For this I received £50 in addition to a pre-, sent&tionof some silver plate. '-.<<• ' What other racing did yori do in New Zealand ? —I paid a flying visit to Dunedin 'and won a' pony in a test race. Returning to Ch'ristcbiurch I was presented with a "silver- card-tray, and a member who had won nearly £200 at the Pioneer B. C. meeting handed me a purse containing When did you leave New Zealand?— 'On the 21st February, as I had fully, imade ,up! my mind to land in England in time to' compete at Whitsuntide, and I had a good send«off from Christchurcb. On March 1 the steamer arrived at Melbourne, and havinga few; days to spare. I gave an exhibition -race at'Ballarat on March £. On the 9th of the aame month I boarded the' Victoria for home, having a pleasant trip. ,1' took the 1 opportunity of visiting Aden, Port. Said, and other placet), and reached London, Docks on- Tuesday,- feeling well, and* if any thing, better than when I left > English soil a year and eight months before. . ■ "•,-,•;--, \ ' ( ," ' ' Relative to racing cyclists at .Australia, Wood is of opini6n that Charley- Wood -is the best amateur at the colonies, whilst. among the professionals the. pick of the lot is < Wyburd. ' Sport is promising,, but cycling is hampered with being' mixed up with trade* There are two firms there representing' different makers, and each firm runs a club.' ,The consequence of this is that the best of feeling does not prevail. In Sydney, Adelaide, add the South Island' the sport id in a very healthy condition.- Speaking- of his future' actions, Wood stated that, it was his intention, tq', settle down at Leicester/ He >is a stone- over his usual ridiog. weighty but will/do<a lot of 'road, work. I do f . not consider .that the two cans, Rowe arid. Woodside, should be looked lipon, as champions, and I .greatly desire that I; may. have .the opportunity of meeting fi both of these riders during this' season. J l ".shalh,, however, 1 meet' my 1 formidable opponent Howell, who!-' is, now the English professional; champion, first, and if he is willing I will; ride him, three races for £50 eaoh match; As Howell w.«n the' Ten Miles Championship I will ride him a first match over that distance at the Leicestershire: Cricket Company's inolosure on the Saturday preceding Whitsuntide, and Howell can have, tis.ch'oice. of ground for the other two-events. After I jhave done with the .present .English champion I will attend to Rowe and' Woodside,* or any other American rider- at- present in this country. -,I have not yet had. the pleasure of. becoming ac-quainted-with the new star, ' Wood, of 1 North" Shields, but by his performances .he must be a hard nut to crack. Rest assured,"l will have,a cut at him at ,the earliest opportunity, and on His own track if he chooses. Business will^allme, to London for a few days, but afterwards I mean ,to get to work _hv earnest, and- you bet T shall , try to lower the colours of 1 everybody that gets up against me. , t '