CYCLING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143769, 18 April 1912, Page 7

CYCLING.

CLARKE’S REMARKABLE CAREER. A. J. (“Jackie”) Clarke, the famous Australian rider, who at present disputes the world’s championship with Kramer, and who is riding in Australia under the direction of Mr. J. D. Williams, has had one of the most successful careers in the history of cycling. He is one of the youngest champions riding, and his first bid -for fame was when he won the “Austral” in Melbourne in 190-1. His riding took the fancy of Floyd MT'arland, who was then in Australia, who claimed he saw a future champion in the young Australian. Having secured Clarke’s services, he took him to America. Clarke’s American career has been one continued round of success, until he now stands on a pedestal equally high with the world-famous Kramer. Not being satisfied with the wonderful successes in America, Clarke undertook to conquer Europe. How he did so, and how it was done, is told in the following article, as related by Clarke:—

“1 knocked Taylor,” ho says, “in a big match at Boston one Christmas night, and caught the steamer nexy morning for Paris, where 1 was under contract for eleven match races in Paris, and was at the same time negotiating for match races jn Brussels and Bccllin. Experts ridiculed my chances, and prophesied a most dismal failure against their local cracks, while the management to which I was under contract bogged of me to climb out, as 1 would have no chance against the local riders in that paidicular style of racing. The papers nick-named me the ‘Flying Kangaroo,’ and on arriving at the A'elodroiiic D’Hivcr, the track where 1 was to perform, I war, surprised to receive a notification to pay in advance for my dressing and training room for myself and trainer, a fee almost equally as great ns a guarantee. 1 was surprised, and immediately came to the conclusion that morning that it was the way they tool; to get some of their guarantee hack. This sort of treatment did not suit hie, and i immediately gave orders to the baggage man to take my baggage back to the boat, and went immediately and notified the manager of the contract that I was leaving for New York. This hit of bluff worked, and the management took much pleasure in foregoing -the rule No. 499, and said that they had asked the committee on this one occasion to extend an invitation to me. The dressing-room and training-room would be free of cost during my stay in Paris.

“All was smooth sailing for the time being, and I was matched to race Dupre, who at that time was the world’s champion, for a distance of 2000 metres (approximately one-third of a mile), best two out of three heats. This style of racing required wonderful head-work. Dupre won, but I profited bv experience, and commenced to learn the requirements of this particular style of speeding. “I was again matched with Dupre to race on the hollowing Sunday, ami this time the tables were turned. To the utter amazement of the bicycle experts of Paris, I won, and won decisively. Aly match-racing career now began in earnest. I defeated tho Continental champions one after another with clcck-iike regularity. After Dupre came Van Deuborn, who was the champion of Belgium, and no small fry in that part of the world. 1 beat him in two straight heats. The next sufferer was Ellcgaard, who has held several world’s championships, and who won the world’s championship again this year. Then followed Mayer, champion of Germany, and Rutt and Poulain. The match with the latter afforded great excitement. Poulain came specially over from Germany to race, as it was-, up to sonu'hody to redeem the reputation of the Continental riders. He was as you might say, the last straw. Poulain was not bashlul, and he openly declared, to use an American expression, chat he wouLLmake me look like thirty cents. The night of this matchrace there was an immense crowd of people present, and the first heat was won by Poulain. The Frenchmen, wild with excitement, saw visions of the championship still being retained on their side of the water. Poulain received a wonderful ovation on his appearance on the track for.the second heal. 1 don’t think they have yet recovered from the blow, and they cannot quite understand how 1 won the second and third heats.

‘ X had now defeated every champion in Europe, and it goes without saying that this was a performance unrivalled in the history of cycling.” After conquering all in Franco, Belgium, and Italy, Clarke went to Germany. The Gorman riders c 1 aimed that on their own ground they would reverse things. To their utter amazement of Clarke, on his arrival at Berlin there was a large crowd of people on the station. Clarke was asking M‘Far-lan-d, his manager, where the Emperor was. He was very much surprised on being told that the crowd was there to see him, as his reputation had preceded him from Paris. The Berlin racing was a'repetition of the Paris successes, only, as a matter of fact, he was even more successful in Germany. Besides winning other match races, he defeated all the local champions, and won the Grand Prize of Berlin. For this performance he was complimented by the Crown Prince of Germany, and presented with a pair of diamond cuff bnks by the Princess. This prize ho still possesses. Clarke, while in Germany, competed in five match races and many other events, and was never onoo defeated, another performance which will stand as a record for some considerable time.

As the time was drawing npar for tile American racing.season, Clarke had to turn down numerous offers of visiting Russia, Austria and Italy, and set sail with Manager M’Farland for America after one of the most successful and sensational racing seasons ever enjoyed by a foreign champion. Australians will be pleased to know that lie left a name excelled by none for fairness, and was tremendously popular with all the crowds before whom he performed. In appearance money and Erize-money Clarke won over £2OOO for is four months’ campaign on the Continent.