WHEEL NOTES BY DEMON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 27

WHEEL NOTES BY DEMON.

Dunedin Cycling Club.— ln last week's notes the items about this club were not headed, so appeared in a loose and airy general fashion, as if appertaining to nothing in particular. If readers of last week's notes will just imagine the heading as above, all should be plain. The present time seems to be mainly occupied by club men in discussing the club's social, which is fixed to come off on the 4th October, the evening before the opening run. The social is to take the form of a Ciaderella, to be held in Girton Hall, and some 35 members have already signified their intention of coming. A pleasant evening is bound to result if the club only work it with the same energy that is given to their race meetings. The roads jnst now are in first-class order, and a good deal of riding is being done. The all engrossing claims of football can now be forgotten till another season, and we shall again see its votaries astride the whr si. Saturday saw several riders off "to Milton, and others went shorter trips. Soanes, the Christchurch crack, was out with a party to Outram this week, and there several Taieri men were met, including Steadman, making, quite a club meet at the Railway Hotel.

The Invercargill Cycling Club held its fifth annual meeting on the Ith inst. The committee reported that nothing more had been done than to keep the club alive during the past season, although the annual 21 mile 3 road race had been run. The result of the season, however, was the banding over to the incoming committee of a credit balance of £1 83 and assets amounting to £8 13s. After the meeting some 20 riders gave their names to the secretary as members for this season, so it seems as if Invercargill was again coming to the front. The officers this year are: Captain, J. G. Petrie; depnty, W. Marie; secretary and treasurer, J. F. Wilson (re-elected). All Dunedin men will wish a prosperous season to the I.C.C.

The Oamaru Cycling Club held its annual meeting on the 6th inst., about 20 members being present. The report and balance sheet shows a credit of J67 ss. Eleven new members were elected. The officers for this year are Captain, Dr Todd ; deputy, T. Watson ; hon: secretary and treasurer, W. Lawson (re-elected). The membership last year was 64, and this year it is expected to be considerably increased. The Invercargill Club will probably combine with the Athletic Club, and have a day's racing this year.

Oamaru men are aga'n trying to get a track. With the number of men now riding in Oamaru, it i 3 a pity that the only available thing of the sort is the makeshift up at the Bhow grounds. If only the track could be made, the ground on the North road would be a splendid site; level, sheltered, and with plenty of room, no ground in Dnnedin is so well adapted for the purpose. I hope Oamaru will soon have a track. •

North Canterbury is to have a sports meeting at Rangiora on New Year's Day, at which the Australians will compete.

Nelson also is to have a race meeting for their benefit.

The Dunedin Club purpose making the projected afternoon's race meeting on December 21 a provincial meeting, as the Christchurch men could hardly be expected to come down 'so near to the 27th.

The club intend giving some three or four events open to. the N.Z.A.A.A., and these will probably draw a good many entries from men who come to the championship meeting on the Saturday previous.

If the new track is only built, some good racing will resnlt, as our men only want a suitable track to improve their speed. There- is plenty of stamina and pluck amongst the menL The proposed 100 miles road ride of tha D.C.C. is causing a lot of discussion, and already t is said that no entries will be got for it. Surely amongst our hard road riders enough will go to make a race of it. Plenty can do 100 miles in the day in only ordinary trim and think little of it, and with training they would make a good race of it.

The Redfern (Sydney) Bioycle Club held their annual 50-mile road race the other day — from Redfern to Rouse Hill and back. The winner was A. Allen. Time, 4hr 32min sseo. In 1887, the time of the same rider was 3hr 55min. The bad state of the roads near Parramatta accounts for the slow time.

The One Mile Championship of England — the race that is looked upon as the Blue Ribbon of English racing — was run on 20th July at Paddington. The event was competed for by 12 riders, and run in four heats and a final, and resulted in a surprising win for 'A. Lehr, a German youtb, who rode a German machine. The English cracks, Messrs Osmond, Synyer, and Illston, who with Lebr were the competitors in the final heat, never dreamt of the German being dangerous, and while they rode quietly along on the " loafing " principle, intending to make the race in the last 300 yds. the German 600 yds from home went up to the front, and haviDg previously trained for 600^d sprints, he went all the way at tip-top speed and won the great event hands down. He was loudly cheered by the public, while the three English riders got a good hissing for their miserable attempt at " loafing."

The race for the Five-mile Tricycle Championship at the same meeting was won by H. H. Sansom with Dr Turner second. Dr Turner's riding waa very popular. He cut out the pace in grand style, and was seen at the head of affairs in everything but the ultimate Placing. If he had won, the delight of the spectators would have been unbounded ; as ib was, they cheered vociferously. The lasb quarter was ridden in 37 l-ssec— record time. The time for the full distance was 17min 15 2-ssec.