ROAD RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2497, 22 January 1902, Page 56

ROAD RACING.

The following letter regarding road racin; lias bo«n forwarded to Mr George Capstick the secretary of the Otago Centre of th TS T ew Zealand League of Wheelmen. Th. matter is one of wide interest to cyclists and full publicity is givep. «o that the; •may be a.ware of what is going on in re gjard to this important branch of the sport ChristchuTch, January 15, 1902. The Secretary Otago Centre. Dear Sir,— The position of the League witl: regard to road racing having been brought for •ward by the Auckland Centre the council has decided that, aa it is * matter of importance tc the centres, the centres shall say whether the rule shall be altered in any way, or remain as it is. Road racing is an offence against the law, •lid mainly for that reason the League, following tne example of the National Cyclists' Union of England, decided some years since to completely ignore the sport. Subsequently it recognised the necessity for providing in its rules that should any of its members choose to compete in a road race they must accept prizes in accordance with the rules governing their class. The holder ,of » League amateur license :s able to compete against tfce holder of b cash license, an unlicensed rider or a professional m any other branch of sport, and still retain his status. Hitherto no exception has been taken to this, but the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club has now raised what may be regarded as an important point. The Auckland Club is a member of the Athletic Association as well as of the League, and under the association rules an amateur athlete •who competes with ot against a professional in any branch of sport , ipso facto becomes a professional. It will thns be seen that an amateur athletic member of a League club, who is also a membe* of the Athletic Association, is unable to take part in a road race under present conditions unless he competes amongst amateurs only. The Auckland Club, desirous of preserving the status of its Amateur Athletic members, now requests the League to take up the control of road racing. In the opinion of the council the only possible means of preserving that status, even if the League controlled Toad racing, would be a rule preventing competition in road races except between amateur and amateur, and piofessional and professional. Such a rule, 'f workable— which is problematical— would obviously not be m the interests of cycimg, for under the present rule road racing is an excellent recruiting ground for track riders. As the question of controlling road racing vitally affects centres the council ha= therefore decided, as before stated, to obtain the views of the centres, and, in consideration of the great importance of the question, the council trusts your centre will give it full and caieful consideration from every point of view I would request your centre meet immediately on receipt of this, and that its decision be forwarded to me not later than February 17 — Yours, etc., F D Kestevejt Secretary L.X Z W