SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Southern Cross, Volume 6, Issue 35, 10 December 1898, Page 6

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

[By “ Pan.”]

The date of the Cycling Club's sports gathering has now been altered to Tuesday, 27th Dec. The officials have been well advised in this, for the other fixtures arranged for that dry would have told against a complete success. * =& * The weather of late has been perfect for cycling, and devotees of the art appear to be more numerous than ever. * * An Italian engineer estimates that there must be as many as 10,00,000 cyclists in the world just now. If only half of them were to mount their machines on the same \ day, each travelling about miles, their combined distance would represent a distance equ'd to 2500 times the circumference of the earth. * * R Walne is striking form and appears to retain his position of Australia’s champion. His riding at the Hibernian sports was brilliant, and it was bad judgment on Walne’s part that he did not win the two scratch events, instead of wdnning one and running second in the other. Another rider that is gaining his old form is Jack Parsons, and if Walne is to have his colours lowered this season it will be by Victoria’s erstwhile champion. * The influence of pneumatic tyres on the relative speeds of a bicycle has been shown to be very great; in fact, much greater than would be thought by those who have not investigated the matter by actual measurements. The whole question is of course one affecting resiliency, and by experimenting with the different brands of tyres that eminent English authority, Professor Carpenter, has been able to show that at a pace of fourteen miles an hour the driving power required by the different tyres varied to the extent of 18 per cent. Cyclists will thus see what an important feature resilient tyres are in cycle riding, and will perhaps use more discretion in their selection of tyres. In this respect cyclists cannot make any mistake in pinning their faith to the ‘Dunlop,’ a tyre that is famous for its great resiliency and reliability, * * * The Melbourne Century run, on

Prince of Wales Birthday, was partly spoilt owing to unpropitious weather, the riders who ventured out having to contend with a gale of wind on the outward journey, interspersed with light showers of rain. The start was made from the general post office, Melbourne, at 7 o’clock, some 105 cyclists facing the ride ; but owing to unfavourable weather, this number was thinned down to about 80 at the finish, three cyclistes being amongst those to complete the distance. * * * Appended are the individual times established by the Christchurch Cycling Club. N.Z., in connection with the Dunlop 100 miles relay ride. Each section 10 miles.

* * * Owing to the disqualification of the Pivot Cycling Club’s time, the above now stands as the best; but there is still a chance of it being lowered, as the Pivot Club are to be given a chance of making another attempt. The Christchurch team comprises the pick of New Zealand road and track riders, so that it is little wonder, considering the fine roads they have to chose from, that such good time was established. * * * At the Athletic and Cycling Club’s sports at Auckland on Wednesday, the Australasian amateur hammerthrowing record was exceeded by W. Madile, who hurled a 161 b hammer 124 ft. 4£in, The provincial bicycle championship (two miles) was won by H. Coates in 5-| minutes ; J. Grunson, 2 ;'H. H. Brooke, 3.

Left a.m. H Eitchie Wood end 5.30 C Gray Leithfield 549 E Wall Woodend 6.16 15 W Clarkson Leithfield 6.45 A E Barker Woodend 7.10 17 G Sutherland I eithfield 7 38 W Trengrore Woodend 8.02 30 D Price Leithfield 8.32 T Clarkson Woodend 8 56 30 G Henwood Leithfield 9.24 Time. Arrived a.m. m. sec. H Eitchie Leithfield 5.49 29 0 C Grav Woodend 6.16 15 27 15 E Wall Leithfield 6 45 28 45 W Clarkson Woodend 7.10 17 25 17 A E Barker Leithfield 7.38 27 43 G Sutherland Woodend 8.02 30 24 30 W Trengrove Leithfield 882 29 30 D Price Woodend 8.56 30 24 30 T Clarkson Leithfield 9 24 27 30 G Henwood Woodond 9.49 30 25 30 4 29 30