CYCLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6161, 14 February 1888, Page 3

CYCLING.

Lancaster Park Meeting. The popularity of cycliug in Christchurch was. shown by the fact that about 1000 people assembled at Lancaster Park at the not very convenient hour of six o'clock test evening to witness the meeting got up by the two Bicycle Clubs of the city in order to afford Messrs Wood and Brown a final opportunity of displaying their skill before leaving the Colony. Those present had no reason to complain of want of entertainment, for they were treated to a programme of ds events, to which Wood added an extra one by a successful attempt to break the record for a quarter of a mile on grass. The events, however, were not got off with that punctuality and promptitude which are especially necessary in an evening meeting, and, consequently, the last and principal one, Fred Wood's essay to lower the 10-mile grass-record did not start till half-an-hour titter the advertised time, and darkness set in before it was finished, a circumstance which, perhaps, had something to do with the failure of the attempt. Nearly as much interest was taken in the three-mile race between Brown, the English amateur, and Bean. The latter's defeat was expected- by many, as he has not had time to get into first-rate condition since his recent accident, and, in the opinion of some, he was riding too large a machine. On the other hand, there were not a few who believed that he would prove too much for the Englishman. Their anticipations, however, were doomed to disappointment. Messrs T. Ritchie and F. Cooper acted as judges, Mr N. Oates as starter, Messrs Francis, England, and Sandstein as timekeepers, Mr J. Oates as referee, Mr C. S. Gill as clerk of the course, and Messrs N. Oates and Cooper were the handicappers. The Christchurch Bicycle Club's band was on the ground, and played at intervals. The following were the results : — Half-mile Bicycle Kace, Ecratch. Nine entries — First heat : W. Brown, 8.E.8.C, 1 ; N. F. Hall, P.8.C., 2. C. Amyes, C.8.C., and A. J. Smith, P.8.C., also started. Brown took the lead at the start, but almost immediately gave place to Hall, who was quickly supplanted by Smith. The last-named led past tho stand, with Hall, Brown, and Ainyes following in order. Amyes now fell behind. Hall and Brown left Smith at the back of the course, and raced together to the tape, which Brown reached a couple of feet in advance. Time — luiin 323-aec. Second heat : W. J. Hayward, P.8.C., 1; T. H. North, C.8.C., 2. J. F. Best, P.8.C., also started. North went off with tho lead, Best being second and Hnyward third. They went past the stand in this order, and after rounding the next corner Hayward took the lead. He kept it tu.ovighnut, winning by a couple of yards from North, Best finishing a yard behind the latter. Time— limn 29f-sec. F ; nal heat : N. F. Hall, 1 ; W. J. Hayward, 2 ; W. Brown, 3. From a good start Haywnrd was tho first to appear in front, with Brown second, Hall third, and North last. The four were, however, close together until they had passed tho stand the first time, after which North fell behind. Hall passed Brown at the next corner, and turning into tho back of the course disposed of Kay ward. He waa never afterwards headed, and won by about four yards. Brown went into second place on the east side of the course, but when turning into the straight Hayward spurted, and a fine struggle resulted in his gaining second honours by about a foot. Time — luiin 26-Jsec. Three-mile Bicycle Kace, scratch. — W. Brown, 8.R.8.C, 1 ; W.D. Bean, C.8.C., 2. Both men got well away. Bean took a length's lead on passing the stand the first time, and kept it for three laps, both men apparently riding a waiting race. Brown then passed his opponent, securing a lead or a couple of yards. This he maintained till half round the seventh lap, when Bean closed on him. The pace was now made hotter, and on the next and final lap both men did their best. Turning into the straight for the run home Brown put on a tremendous spurt. Bean responded gamely, but the Englishman drew away when approaching the grand stand, and won by about a yard. Time — lOmin 7sec. Brown rode a s'iin Rudge machine, weighing 24ib ; Bean's was a 56in Singer, weighing 241 b. Two-mils Roadster Handicap. —EL Soanes (C.8.C.), scratch, 1 j C. P. Duncan (P.8.C.), 140 yds, 2; C. M. Suckling (P.B.C), 80yds, 3. The other starters were— H. Dyer (P.8.C.), scratch ; W. G. Carl (P.8.C.), 80vds; R. Brown (P.8.C.), 140 yds; E. Button (C.8.C.), 180 yds; W. Mitchell (P.8.C.), 180 yds ; G. Dobbs (P.8.C.), 180 yds; L. Hinge (C.8.C.) 200 yds. Soanes worked his way to the front by steady, determined riding, but Duncan managed to keep the lead till the commencement of the final lap, when Soanes passed him, and, rapidly increasing his lead, won as he liked. Suckling was , an indifferent third. Time — 6min 15§sec. Quarter-mile Race, on grass track. — F. Wood did the qxiarter-mile in the remarkable time of 37|sec, thu3 beating the record, 30cec, by If sec. Five-mile Bicycle Handicap, open. — H Soane3, C.B.C. 2Sojds, 1 ; CM. Suckling, P.B.C, 240 yds, 2; N. F. Hall, P.8.C., 60yds, 3. The other starters were — W. Brown (8.R.8.C), ecratch ; W. Hayward (C.B.C), 60yds; T. H. North (C.B.C), 80yds; T. Godfrey (C.B.C), 170 yds; J. Best (P.B.C), 180 yds; W. S. Charleaworth (C.B.C), 200 yds; A. J. Smith (P.B.C). 280 yds; S. F. Dyer (P.8.C.) 500 yds, Soanes and Suckling raced together for more than half the distance, the others tailing off behind. Brown, the scratch man, and Dyer, the limit man, both retired after going three miles. The finish was a splendid one, Soanes winning by hardly a foot. Time — 16min 50sec. Fred. Wood's attempt to lower the world's record for ten miles on grass, viz., 32min 26sec, was started at 7.30 p.m. The distance was made up of 32 laps. Wood started at a rattling pace, covering the first lap in 603 e c; the second was done in 62 see, after which the rider slowed somewhat, as the time for the third was 2sec longer. This rate he maintained, on the average, for several laps, but towards the end of the distance he spurted, and covered the .27th lap in 61sec. He fell away again, however, and the three following laps i occupied 65sec each. When a third of the 31st lap had been covered, the timekeepers announced that the record time had been ! reached. The final lap was done in fast j time, 61-J-sec, making the total time 34min 6£sec, orlmin4oAsecmoro than the record, ' which thus remains with the present J holder, Mr P. Furnivell, England. Wood I did not appear much distressed at the conclusion of his task. i Wood will attempt to-night to reduce the one-mile record for New Zealand. He will run on the cinder track, and not on , the grass. " [