DUNEDIN CYCLING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 25 February 1892, Page 30

DUNEDIN CYCLING CLUB.

ANNUAL SPORTS. President, Mr James Allen; vice-presidents-Messrs J. H. Chapman, S. Myers, H. Rose, Drs Batchelor, Fulton, and Jeffcoat ; captain, Mr A. G. Melville ; deputy-captain, Mr E, H. Reid ; committee—Messrs J. Stone (jun.), G. Crow, F. M'Kechnie, W. Matthews, J. M'Donald, and R. A. Ewing ; hon. treasurer, Mr E. 11. Reid ; lion, secretary, Mr H. Inglis.J

The annual interprovincial race meeting of the Dunedin Cycling Club was held on Saturday afternoon on the Carisbrook ground, where a large number of sj>ectators, attracted by the fine weather and by the prospect of witnessing some good sporb, assembled. The ground proved to be in a very dead state, and the track was heavy, so the possibility of good " times" being recorded was militated against. The racing was of an interesting description, with the exception of one event — that for the Five-mile Chamionship of Otago — which should have been the feature of the gathering. The recent accident to Stedman made this a gift to Kingston, whom only one competitor ventured to oppose. This competitor was the 'club's handicapper, M 'Donald, who is a stranger to the racing track, who never can have hoped to defeat Kingston, and" who did not possess pace sufficient to make the latter exert himself. The result was that the race was run at a funeral pace all through, and the spectators were not slow to express their dissatisfaction. Ifc is unfortunate that the club had not fixed some reasonable time limit for tho event, with the provision that the title of champion should not be granted if the limit were exceeded. Such an exhibition, however, as was given in the championship event was a degradation of sport. It is worthy of note that while the time consumed in the Five-mile Championship Race was 18min 7 l-ssec, a roadster event over the same distance was subsequently covered practically by the scratch man in 16min 36isec after a grand tussle, the handicapper having splendidly guaged the capabilities of a field of eight competitors. The winner of this event was Bate, a member of the North Canterbury Bicycle Club, who also secured the special prize offered to the competitor who scored most points in the roadster events. A speoia.l prize was similarly given to the winner of most points in the open events, and this was secured by Truman, of the Timaru Tourists' Club, who, winning the Ladies' Bracelet and running second in three other events, scored 14 points, while Kingston, in virtue of two wins and one second, ran him closely with 13 points. Three running events were included in the programme, and two of these— the quarter-mile and half-mile — were rendered noteworthy by the capital form exhibited by young Batchelor, who was in each case, however, thrown into the event, and was thus not called upon to extend himself. A fault which he displayed was that of frequently looking back, which must have lost him several yar.cfs. In the half-mile event he was placed on the 40yds mark' } put on the form exhibited by himself and the others he could have won from scratch. His time both for this event and for the quarter-mile was capita], the latter being won easily in 51 4-ssec. Here again he had a large handicap, being thrown in at 20yds, but he actually was placed on the 18yds mark, being penalised by the starter (Mr W. Mills) a couple of yards for a break-away in which he was not the only offender, for the other three starters, though none of them were penalised, were equally at fault. The officials performed their duties very efficiently, and admirable time was kept, the last event being despatched punctually at the hour appointed on the programme. The Engineers' Band performed a number of selections during the afternoon. The following are details of the sports :—: — ! O>E-MILE MAIDEN MCVCU: (llOADSTXll) SC HATCH

E. W. E. Godward

J. Wilson

W. Speight and W. Matthews also competed. Wilson piloted the field for a couple of laps, and then Speight went to the front but fell, bringing

down Paul and Matthews. Of these Paul quickly remounted and passed Wilson, but Uotlward had a commanding lead at the commencement of the last lap, and must have won hail he exerted himself, but Paul caught him napping and won cleverly by a couple of yanU ; Wilson an indifferent third. Time, .'ton in 41.scp. one-milk opk.v nicvei.r. handicap (opex). J. F. M'Carthy, 150 yds I I<\ Truman, 30yds 2 D. Xcoular, KOyds 3 G. M. Kingston, 30yds behind scratch, also started. The limit man was never overhauled and never troubled, beating Truman by three or four yards. Time, 2min 49.sec. lOOvns handicap. J. Turnbull, 6'yds 1 W. <J. Crane, -Iyds 2 A. J. Sullivan, 3Vyd.s 3 W. A. Low sor, W. L. Hooper 3yds, W. EThomas 4iyds, T. J. Lynch syds, and W. Parhuie 7yds also started. A splendid rare resulted in four or five of the competitors finishing in a bunch. Turnbull and Crane almost made a dead boat of it, and Sullivan was just behind them. Time, llsec. THKKK-MILE HICYCLK (ROADSTKII) HANDICAP. J. Bate, 90yds 1 J . Buchanan , iKtyils 2 J. Brassell, scr 3 R. A. Ewing 60yds, It. Emmerson 120 yds, J. Currie lSOydn, J. Millie 180 yds, E. W. E. Godward 210 yds, and W. Mathews 210 yds also started. The | limit competitors were soon out of the running, and when there were four laps to go, Buchanan held the lead, with Bate close behind him, and Milne third. There was no change in the leading positions till the last lap but one, in which Bate dispossessed Buchanan of the lead, and Brassell pedalled into third place. Despite a strong challenge in the straight from Buchanan, the lead was maintained till the finish by Bate, who won by a couple of yards, with Brassell, 20yds away, third. Time, ihnin 34sec. , KIVK-MH.K IHCYCI-E SCRATCH RACE (CHAMPIONSHIP OF OTAliO). G. M. Kingston 1 J. M'Domdd 2 M'Donald was indulged with the lead till a lap and a-half from home, when Kingston went to the front and easily won a lamentably uninteresting and slow race. Time, 18min 7 l-ssec. 880 yds handicap. F. S. Batchelor, 40yds 1 A. J. Sullivan, 40yds 2 W. L. Hooper, (syds 3 W. J. Burk scr, It. Bauchop 20yds, A. Napier 35yds, W. E. Thomas 45yds, 11. W. Hellycr 50yds, and A. Bain 55yds also .started. Batchelor cut out the running, and after going clean away from the field cased up, but won in hollow fa->hion by about 35yds from Sullivan, who boat Hooper by several yards for second place, while Burk was fourth. Time, 2min 4-ssec. onk-Mile lticvci.i: (koadstkh) handicap. It. Appleby, 50yds 1 J. A. Bate, 30yds 2 J. Buchanan 30vds 3 J. Brassell scr, R. A. Ewing 20yds, J. F. M'Carthy 40yds, R. Emmerson 40yds, J. Currio 60yds, and J. Paul 100 yds also started. Appleby won in good style with something to spare. Time. 2min 59sec ONE AND A-HVLK MILE LADIES' JIHVCELET. F. Truman, 40yds 1 G. M. Kingston, scr 2 It. Apple))y, 200 yds 3 R. A. Ewing 150 yds, and J. F. M'Carthy 155 yds also competed. The scratch man joined the field early in the event, and at the entrance of the last lap Appleby, Kingston, and Truman were in close order, and a capital race ensued to the finish. At the home turn Kingston attempted to pass Appleby, and simultaneously Truman made his effort. Appleby swerved and unintentionally interfered with the others, both of whom passed him, however, Truman getting in front and beating Kingston by a yard, with Appleby a splendid third. Time, 4min 23isec. 250 yds handicap. W. A. Low, scr 1 W. C. Crane, 10yds 2 T. J. Lynch, 12yds 3 A. Napier . l )yds, W. E. Thomas 10yds, S. Straehan 12yds, W. Parlane 15yds, and W. Norton lfiyds also started. Low ran through the field in splendid style, and beat Crane, who finished strongly, by 3yds. Time, 28sec. TWO-MILE BICYCLE HANDICAP (OPKN). G. M. Kingston, ser 1 F. Truman, 45yds 2 D. Scoular, 90yds 3 These wore the only starters. When half the distance was accomplished the three were in a bunch, Kingston being slightly in front, and the latter was 4yds or syds to the good at the entrance of the last lap. The racing then commenced, and Kingston drew away from Truman, whom he defeated by about 20yds, Secular being beaten off. Time, 6min (Jsec, FIVE-MILE BICYCLE (HOADSTEiI) HANDICAP. J. Bate, 120 yds 1 J. Brassell, kci 1 2 It. Emmerson, 170 yds 3 R. A. Ewing 80yds, J. Buchanan 150 yds, J. F. M'Carthy KiOyds, K. Appleby 200 yds, and J. Currie 240 yds also competed. This proved a very exciting event, the field drawing together in the third mile. The riders passed aud repassod each other amid the encouraging cheers of the spectators, as no one held the lead for any length of time. At the commencement of the last lap Brassell spurted to the front, but Bate wore him down at the back of the track, and drawing away won by about 20yds, while Emmerson was a fair third. Time, lthnin 36£ sec. 440vns handicap. F. S. Batchelor, 20yds ... 1 W. A. Low, scr 2 W. L. Hooper, oyds 3 T. J. Lynch 22yds also started, but did not finish. Batchelor was penalised 2yds at the starting point, and thus started from the I.Byds' mark. He at once assumed the lead, and, never being headed, won comfortably by a dozen yards from Low, who was half a dozen yards in front of Hooper. Time, 51 4-siec. Tlinr.K-MiLK BICYCLE HANDICAP (OPKN). G. M. Kingston, 50yds behind scr „. 1 F. Truman, (JOyda 2 J. A. Bate, 300 yds 3 These wove the only starters. In the seventh lap Kingston was .second, and in the next round he deprived Bate of the lead, He never left the jsMic in doubt, for, drawing away, lie won by # 150y(|s from Tr-unian, who had passed Bate and }iad nn advantage qf 25yds from him. Time, i»in 9-45s.ee, Th.B presentation of prizes won at the Dunedin Cycling Club's sports took place at a very successful smoke concert held at the Shamrock Hotel on Saturday evening. There were over 50 persons present, and Dr Jeffcoat (vicepresident of the club) ably carried out the duties of chairman. Each prize-winner on coming forward received a hearty round of applause, and the chairman, in presenting the prize, made a few remarks appropriate to the occasion. After the presentation of prizes had terminated a good toast-list and musical programme was gone through. The following were the toasts :—": — " The Visitors," proposed by the Chairman (Dr Jeffcoat), and responded to by Mr Goldstone (Timaru Tourists) ; " Successful Competitors," proposed by Mr W. Crow, responded to by Messrs Bate (North Canterbury Cycling Club) and Truman (Timaru Tourists), the winners' of the gold medals for most points gained in the ordinary and open events at the meeting, and F. S. Batchelor (D.A.A.C.) ; " The Dunedin Cycling Club," proposed by Mr Truman (Timaru Tourists), responded to by Mr A. G Melville (Captain D.C.C.J ; " Kindred Sports," proposed by Mr H. Inglis (secretary D.C.C.), responded to by Messrs P. J. Ness (Athletics), and W. Strong (Aquatics) ; "The Ladies," proposed by Mr J. M'Donald, responded to by Mr R. Emmerson. A quartet party consisting of Messrs Packer, Crawford Thomson, and Manson rendered some part scngs in a very acceptable manner ; and Messrs A. G. Melville, Manson, J. Deaker, W. Strong, E. Godward, A. Crawford, and Zacariah (secre-

tary Groymonth Cycling Club) gave songs, Mr D. Cooke, lent efficient aid by opening tho evening's amusement; with a piano solo, nml accompanying the vocalists. After the toast of the health of the chairman (Dr JefYcoat) had been received with musical honours and chceis, the evening's amusement was terminated by singing " Auld Lang Syne."