OTAGO CYCLING CLUB'S ANNUAI SPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 45

OTAGO CYCLING CLUB'S ANNUAI SPORTS.

The eighth annual interprovincial race meeting conducted by the Otago Cycling Chit took place at the Caledonian ground on Saturday last. As was the case last year, the day was beautifully fine, and with the trifling ex* ception that the wind rose to a fairly mode, rate breeze late in the afternoon, the weathes

could not possibly have been more favourable. It is remarkable that since the club was instituted it has not had d really bad day for its annual sports, having been in this respect, it Hjust be admitted, singularly fortunate. The arrangements in connection with the meeting were of the customary character. An excellent band — the Kaikorai — had been engaged, 'and there was no lack of good music well '[played, the programme including a number of .patriotic items, and being sufficiently varied ,to suit all tastes. Games of chance were tmore numerous than usual, and quite a thriving business was done on apparently ruinous terms to the proprietors, who, however, manage to live on their losses and pursue their "calling with the same disinterested persistence as other professional philanthropists. ''A booth at which other than strictly blue Vibbon beverages could be obtained was open for the convenience of the public, and, without the assistance of the licensed gambling machine, every facility was offered by means of private enterprise to gratify the desires of .those who had inward yearnings for the totalisator, and in one or two events the " bookies " must have lost heavily. The attendance was not as good as formerly, the falling off being no doubt due to the number of patriotic sports which the public have been invited to patronise, but about 2000 persons must have been present, and the sports were excellent. There was a slight falling off in 'number of entries, owing to a lack of local interest, but the visitors were m^re numerous 'than last year, and included competitors from Hawke's Bay, "Wanganui, Wellington. Ohrisfcclvurch, Timaru, and Invercargill. The big events were both won by visitors, A. Stocker (of Timaru) winning the Wheel Race, and E. •i\. Wall (of Christchurch) the Championship. The events were all well contested, as the finishes showed they were races right through, and there was a complete exemption from anything in the nature of serious accidents. The various competitions resulted as follows : —

Half-mile Bicycle Race. Prizes : £4, £2, and £1— First heat: N. Ralston, 40yds, 1; A. Stocker, 45yds, 2; W. E. Anderson, 70yds, 3. Also started: M. Bennett scratch, H. Gunthoipe 60yds, H. Anscombe 85yds, A. Morrison 90yds. Time, lmin 4sec. Second heat: D. Bray, 85yds, 1; A. Sangster, 75yds, 2; R. ITurie 55yds, 3. Also started: Wall syds, Huston, 25yds, H. Holland, 45yds, E. Crawford 60yds, J. Grant 70yds, and M. C. Elliott 9Syds. Close finish. Won by a yard. Time, linhi 4 3-ssec. Third heat : A. Randell 75yds, 1 ; T. Jj. Begg, 90yds, 2; W. M'Ke.oh, 70yds, 3. Also started: T. Kirkwood 35yds, Willis 45yds, Blackwell 55 yds, and M'Mullen 65yds. Won easily. Time, lmin 4sec. Final: N. Ralston 1, ,W E Anderson 2, A. Stotker 3. All those qualified started, and the contest was exciting. Anderson" was leading at the last round, but Ralston made a fine spurt, and, crossing close to Anderson, got the inside running, and won after a hard tussle. Time, lmm 4 2-ssec.

One-mile Bicycle Handicap (Amateur). Prizes : £2 10s and £I.— C. G. White, 50yds, 1 ; <K. Melville, 50yds, 2: C. Rouffe, 120yas, 3. Also started: Grierson 15yds, Pearse 30yds, Muir 30yds, J. Hills 60yds, J. Lethaby 100 yds, and G. Moore 100 yds. The event was won easily by White, who rode strongly from the first. Time, 2niin'*32 2-ssec. 220 yds Handicap Run. Prizes: £2 10s and •10s. First heat: IST. Macleod, 9yds, 1; G. •21'Kay 4yds 2; W. L. Colvin, scratch, 3. Also started: D. M'Laren IJyds, J. Dey 7yds, P. ■Mason lljyds, G. Binnie 13yds, J. Phee 14yds. sWon by a yard and a-half. Time, 25 sec. 'Second heat: L. M'Kay, 10yds, 1; A. Bennett, Syds, 2; J. Nagle, . 84yds, 3. Also started: ■Mowglie lyd. J. Dey 4yds, ""Loft 12yds, and "Lewis 14yds. Won by two yards. Time, 24 2-ssec. Final: N. Macleod 1, J. Nagle 2, A. iM'Kay "3. All qualified started, and there was 'an exceedingly close finish, four of the comWtitors being within a foot at the tape. . Otago Wheel Race. Two miles. First 'prise £30, second £10, third £5, fourth £1.~ •Fn&t heat: A. Ralston, 45yds, 1; T. Kirkwood, 1 40 yds, 2; A. W. Humphries, 90yds, 3; A. Stocker, 180 yds, 4. Also started: M. Bennett be- E. A. Wall 25yds, H. Holland 160 yds, W. 'Blackwell 190 yds, H. Gunthorpe 200 yds, J. ■M'Mullen 210 yds, W. E. Andeison 250 yds, A. Sakgster 270 yds, 11. C. Elliott 310 yds. M'Mullen having paced Bennett up to the field atthe ehcth lap retired, and the scratch man might liave been placed if he had made use of an opening he got when there was half a lap Co g"). The finish was pretty even. Time, smm u.3sec. Second heat: A. Huston, 115 yds, 1; ®. Murie, 190 yds, 2; N. Ralston, 150 yds, 3; 'P. Ralston, 290 yds, 4. Also started: C. C. (Willis 160 yds, E. Crawford 200 yds, G. G. Body 210 yds, a ." Grant 245 yds, W. M'Keich 250 yds, 'A. Randall 270 yds, D. Bray 300 yds, H. Kop•oert 32&ydf». Randell, P. Ralston, and Bray •led all the way up to the last lap, when they were overhauled by the field, and the heat reBulted as above mentioned. Willis had the misfortune to break his chain at the fourth lap, and had to retire. Time, smin 15sec. Final: 'A. Stocker 1, A. Ralston 2, A. Huston 3, T. iKirkwood 4. All qualified' started. P. Ralston '(limit) went away with a dash r and increased ihis lead. With five laps to go, however, Humphries and A. Ralston were in the van, followed' by Kirkwood. r . This position was nraizstained for another round. With' three laps to go Humphries was still in front with Stocker coming tip. In the second last round the field 'l>unched, and the pace began to get hot. Coming up the straight Stocker, who was lying close up to the front, came away with a splendid run, which landed him winner by a couple of lengths. Time, smin 14sec. Two-mile Bicycle Handicap (Amateur). First prize £3, second JEI. — C. G. White, 95yds, 1; C. W. Rouffe, 230 yds, 2; J. Hills, 110 yds, 3. Also started: A. R. Grierson 25yds, W. J. Pearse 50yds, K. Melville 95yds, J. Lethaby 190 yds. Rouffe had this race won, having a lead "of some 40 yards on entering the straight. .White, however, who was riding in great form, came on with a fine spurt, and beat Rouffe in the last few yards. Time, smn 42sec.

Half-mile Handicap Run. First prize £2 10s, second £1, third 10s.— C. Bowie, 65jds, 1; N. Macleod, 10yds, 2; J. Burke, 25yds, 3. Al&o started: D. M'Laren '15yds, W. M'Donald 25yds, C. Roberts 40yds, P. Mason 45yds, S. 'Lewis 30yds. Maeleod cut down everyone but ths limit man, but he (Bowie) was going too strong to be passed. Time, 2min ssec.

One-mile Bicycle Handicap. First prize .£5, second JE2 10s, third £I.— First heat A. Randell, 125 yds, 1; H. Gunthorpe, 90yds, 2, M. Bennett, scratch, 3. Also started : A. W. Humphries 40yds, N. Ralbton 70yds, R. Murie 90yds, J. Grant 115:'ds. Time, 2mm 28sec. Second heat : H. Holland, 75yds, 1 ; A. Sangster, 125 yds, 2; E. A. Wall, 15yds. 3. Also started : A. Hustoiv, 45, yds, W. Blackwell 90yds, J. M'Mullen >95yds, W. M'Keich 120 yds, A. - Morrison 150 yds. Time, 2min 28sec. Third heat: A. Ral&loi), 25yds, 1; E. A. Ciawford, SOyds, 2; W. E. Anderson, 120 yds, 3. Also started: T. Kirkwooil 63yds, A. Storker 80yds, G-. Gr. Body 95yds, P. Ralston 140 yds, C. F. L~etha*by 165 yds." Time. 2min 25 2-ss>ec. Final : H. Holland 1, A. Randell 2, E. A. Crawford 3. Holland took the lead- with half a lap to go, and-, won comfortably by liolf a dozen lengths. Time, 2mui 2l 4-siec. ' One-mile Bicycle Handicap (open to volunteers and permanent force, and in uniform). First prize £1 10s, second 10=5 — C. C. Willis [Ashburton Guards), sci.itch, 1; C. W. Rouffe (Dunedin -Cycle Corps), 65yds, 2; 11. Koppeit vHampflen/ Eifleai, 16yda, 3. Also stsurted: C.

J. Lethaby (Dunedin Navals) 35yds. Time, '2min 51sec.

Officials' Handicap. Half-mile. — W. Begg, scratch, 1; A. Alloo, 10yds, 2; B. J. Finnegan, 50yds, 3. Also started: M. Higgins, scratch, T. Cole 35yds, C. Morton 50yds, G. Brown 60yds. Alloo was gojjig strongly, and coming up on the outside looked as if he had the race in hand, but Begg evidently was m better form, and won the race in the last few yards. Time, lmin 16 4-ssec.

Three-mile Championship. — E. A. Wall 1, A. Ralston 2, A. W. Humphries 3. Also started : M. Bennett, A. Stocker, H. Gunthorpe, N. Ralston, E. Crawford, A. Huston. Lap prizes of 2s 6d were offered in this race, and had a stimulating effect. Gunthorpe and Crawford retned after four laps had been covered. Stocker and N. and A. Ralston did most of the pacing, the first mentioned and N. Ralston securing three lap prizes each, and A. Ralston two. In the last lap Wall came up with a magnificent spurt, reminiscent of Zimmerman, and wrested victory from A. Ralston by a length and a-half. Humphries was a very close third. Time, Bmin 10 l-ssec.