Cycling Sports

Southland Times, Issue 14798, 15 November 1900, Page 3

Cycling Sports

The first local cycling sports of the .season were held on the Union Grounds yesterday afternoon, when the Invercargill Club provided a complimentary race meeting. The weather was fine but a westerly wind made riding along the north end a little stiff. The military mamvuvres, the unfurling of the flag at the Middle School, and other [amusements were strong counter-at-tractions, the attendance being only about 400, including a fair sprinkling of ladies. The entries were not large and the racing was scarcely fast enough to intensify the languid interest manifested by the spectators. The almost total absence of money prizes was no doubt responsible for the small fields, as few riders consider a trophy, no matter how valuable it may be, a sufficient reward for arduous training and entrance fees. Several riders showed a good turn of speed, noticeable among them being Richardson. This rider has improved greatly since last he was seen on an Invercargill track, and his sprint'iig on various occasions proves that he is a man to be reckoned with. R. Murie was not quite up to his usual brilliant form, being evidently under-trained. A. Ralston who won the wheel race, also appeared to suffer from lack of training. Of the limit men A. Harris was the pick and, the scratch men, not being in the best " nick," succeeded in securing the lion's share of the prizes. The City Band, under Conductor P. H. Mohr, enlivened the proceedings with a number of tuneful selections. The officials worked well together and got the races off without a hitch and close to time. They were as follows : — Referee, Mr L. A. Bone ; judges, Messrs A. F. Hawke and McNatty ; starter, Mr R. G. Speirs ; lap takers, Messrs R. J. Roach and C. Todd ; result board, Mr C. Dykes ; clerks of course, Messrs C. H. Roberts, Gresham and Gerstenkorn ; umpires, Messrs E. Norton and D. A. Mitchell; handicapper, Mr 1.. A. Bone ; league consul, Mr A. E. Smith ; secretary, Mr B. Denly. The results were as follows : — One Maiden Maiden (first prize, butter cooler, from N.Z. Hardware Co. ; second, inkstand, from Mr L. A. Bone) — 1, A. Harris (65yds); 2, A. Tulloch (85yds); 3, W. Whittaker (65yds). Harris, quickly passing Tulloch, took the lead, a position lie maintained to the finish, winning easily. Time — 2 mm. 45 sees ; five starters. One Mile (first prize, cake dish, from Mr F. W. Gresham ; second, acetylene lamp, from Mr R. Murie) — First heat: 1, A. F. Masters (90yds); 2, W. Whittaker (150 yds). Masters got away well, soon overtook Whittaker, and won easily. Time — 2 mm. i 35 sees; five starters. Second heat : 1, Geo. F. Richardson (30yds) ; 2, E. Hill (105 yds). Richardson, who rode every inch of the way, came up and won comfortably. Time— 2 rain. 33 sees ; four starters. Final: 1, W. Whittaker ; 2, A. F. Masters ; 3, Geo. F. Richardson. Masters pushed forward and at the end of the first lap was only a matter of 40 feet behind Whittaker. When another lap had been covered Masters was in the lead, a position he maintained to the finish. Time — 2 mm. 29 sees. Quarter-Mile Dash (first prize, pair pictures from Mr C. R. Edmunds ; second, acetylene lamp from Messrs McKenzie and Roach ; third, bell, from Messrs McKenzie and Roach)— First heat: 1, A. Harris (30 yds) ; 2, R. Murie (set). Harris, with his liberal handicap, could not be caught, and won as he liked. A good race for second place between Murie and Christie, the former passing his opponent on the post. Time— 3s sees ; five starters. Second heat : 1, A. F. Masters (20yds) ; 2, E. Hill (30 yds). Won easily. Time — 36 sees ; six starters. Final : 1, A. Harris ;2,A. F. Masters ; 3, E. Hill. Harris's liberal handicap again proved too much for the others and he won all the way, passing the judge three wheels' lengths ahead. Time— 33£ sees. One and a Half Mile Handicap (first prize, pickle jar from Messrs Broad, Small and Co ; second, case of razors from Mr D, A,

Mitchell)— First heat: 1, R. Murie (scr) ; 2, G. Cuehnie (scr). Murie and Cushnie paced each other Bkilfully until they had caught and passed the field, when a magnificent race resulted between the pair, Murie winning by a couple of feet. Time — 3 mm 54 sees ; six started. Seoond heat : 1, A. Harris (145 yds); 2, A. F. Masters (110 yds). Harris kept in front from the start and won comfortabty. A good race for second place between Masters and Cuff, the former winning b}' a couple of wheels. Time — 4 mm 6 sees ; three starters. Final : 1, Harris; 2, Murie; 3, Cushnie. Murie and Cushnie again showed their ability in pacing each other, but Harris won by a couple of chains. Time— 3 mm 45 sees. Two Mile Wheel Race (first prize £3, second £1 10s, third 10s)— 1, A. Ralston (scr); 2, G. Cushnie (60yds) ; 3, Geo. F. Richardson (120 yds). Ralston, after covering a mile, had caught the field, and when the bell rang for the last lap, Harris, Cushnie, Masters and Ralston were in a bunch. A real ding-dong go then took place, Ralston passing the mark a few inches ahead of Cushnie. Time — 5 mm. 3 sens; seven started. , Half Mile Handicap (first prize, barometer from Mr A. F. Hawke ; second, acetylene lamp from Mr P. H. Vickery)— First Heat : 1, E. Hill (85yds) ; 2, A. Ralston (scr). Ralston wore his opponents down with the exception of Hill, who stuck manfully to his machine and succeeded in geting homo about six inches ahead of Ralston. Time — 1 mm. 9 sees ; four entries. Second Heat: 1, A. Harris (85yds) ; 2, A. F. Masters (65yds). Masters made desperate efforts to get on terms with the limit man, hut he romped home a winner by three-quarters of a chain. Time — 1 mm 7 sees ; five started. Final— l, Harris: 2, Hill; 3, Masters. Won all the way. Time — 1 mm 5 sec. Three Mile Race (first prize, pair tyres, tubes and pump from Mr R. W. Jones ; second, copper kettle from Mr R. G. Speirs ; third, bell from Mr R. Murie) — 1, R. Murie (80yds); 2, G. F. Richardson (135 yds); 3, YV. Whittaker (270 yds). Ralston, who started from the back mark, retired after covering a mile and a half. Murie and Richardson, pacing each other, passed Whittaker and left him far behind. A good race between the pair then ensued, Murie winning by a few inches. Time 7 mm 5 sees ; four started.