The Reporter.

Southern Cross, Volume 3, Issue 3, 20 April 1895, Page 5

The Reporter.

CYCLING AND ATHLETIC ' SPORTS... On. Easter Monday the Cycling and Rowing Clubs, conjointly, held an athletic and cycling meeting on the Union Grounds. Large entries had been received for every event, from about 20 cyclists and as : many running men, and competition for footballers and cricketers were also included in the programme. It was therefore a great disappointment to those immediately interested and also to a large section of the community, that the weather was so unfavorable, :a drizzly rain falling during the greater part of the day and preventing many from attending. Those in .attendance—between 400 and 600— took an enthusiastic interest in the warious events and appeared to enjoy themselves very well. The grand.stand was filled with ladies, and the asphalt path along the front of the -track was fully utilised as standing •ground, and was a decided improvement on the wet grass. The City Guards’ Band gave good service by their playing and, no doubt, -would have been more comfortable if there had been a platform for the band on the ground. Punctuality is one of the features of the Cycling Club’s meetings, and there was no exception made on Monday, when long intervals would have been rather unpleasant,

The Tug o£ War, for want of sufficient entries, did not come off, and the weather precluded the holding of the fancy parade. The other ten -events were all well competed for. The Mile Maiden Bicycle Race proved very interesting, P. Muir (15yds) winning by about a yard ; J. E. Jones (scr.) 2nd, and J. A. Wesney (55yds.) third. Seven started. The Hundred Yards Plat Race was run in heats, in all of which the finishes wei’e very close. R. Donaldson secured first, B. Sutherland second, and J. Pres haw third.

The long drop kick was a good item, and might have brought out more competitors. Rallingshaw, with ,151 ft. Ilin., proved the best of the seven who competed ; J. G. Manson, 151 ft., second; Rodgers, 149 ft sin., •third.

Three Mile Biejcle Roadster Race. This was won by E. R. Godward (scr.), time, Brain. 54|secs., who carae up very neatly at the finish, with Edmunds (35yds.) and P. M. Muir ■(l2syds.) respectively, about a wheel behind as first and second. Eight started, and made a good race.

Nineteen entered for the 220 Yards Elat Race, which was run in heats. The final was very close. Donaldson ,(12 yds.) first, and F. Wilson and J. Jenkins tying for second place.

In the Cricketers’ bowling competition, out of 15 balls T. Kingsland took 6 wickets, and J. Sims 5 ; three others being a tie for third place. The best bicycle race was the One Mile, competed for by seven riders. McPherson, who led for the second last round, looked as if he would win, but W. A. Masters swept round the outside of three or four, and won in a splendid spurt. McPherson, second ; Godward, third. Time, 2 min. 34 secs. Donaldson, (22yds) who was in •splendid form, came snort of winning the 440yds flat race by about two feet, H. T. Dickson (12yds) breasting the tape first. I. Jenkins, third. Nine competed. Only four started in the Five Mile Roadster event, and although places were frequently changed it was generally considered to be an easy win for Godward, (scr.) who led in at the finish followed by A. B. Edmonds, (50yds) and P. Muir, (150yds), the only other competitors. Special interest was created in the Ten Mile Club Championship by the .announcement that an extra prize would be given to the rider who passed the post first, at the end of each mile, the most times. Mr Shetland, who holds the 25 mile championship of Australasia also rode, as pace maker in this race, and must have been highly satisfied with the

manner in which Godward, (who won the race) McPherson, and Masters kept going. The spurting of Masters at the end of each mile was a matter of surprise to most present and after he had passed the post a sufficient number of times to entitle, him to Mr Northcote’s special, he had rather a nasty spill which should be a,warning to one 6r two, who have acquired the habit of looking behind when racing. The time, considering the heavy nature of the track, was very good — 29min, 22secs. A number of the prizes were presented to the winners by His. Worship the Mayor (W. B. Scandrett Esq.) in the Theatre in the evening when the drama “For Honor’s Sake.” was played by the Irish Dramatic Society in aid of the funds of the Rowing Club.

THE CYCLING BOOM. The new local industry of cycle manufacturing seems to be going ahead and keeping up with the times. The machines Godward and McKenzie are now manufacturing are right up to date in every detail, the finish being quite equal to the English standard. The tires, the famous “ Fleetwood detachable,” look like real serviceable and fast tires, and are certainly the most easily detachable tires we have seen. These machines are bound to become very popular, as they are built up of the best quality fittings obtained direct from the “Abingdon Works, England,” and the bearings are all absolutely dust proof. Mr Godward himself has been employed in some of the best cycle and engineering firms in the Old Country, including Surrey Machinists Co., Shand a,nd Mason and Ennis and Co. His chief mechanic, (Mr Lisle) well known throughout New Zealand, served his apprenticeship (7 year’s) with N. Oates of Christchurch," and was twelve months with Kent of Jubilee fame, after which he was for a year chief mechanic with S. R. Steadman, Dunedin. We understand that the firm have ordered some of the latest machinery for cycle construction from England, and have just extended the works to make room for the new plant, so that they will be quite qualified to compete with other New Zealand manufacturers. They also keep a large and varied stock of imported machines of all the best makes of which they have usually a supply of from 60 to 80. Some of the novelties for this season in sundries were lately shown us. They should prove a great boon to the cycling fraternity of Southland.