CYCLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17230, 22 December 1923, Page 2

CYCLING.

XMAS DAY MEETING. What will be easily the biggest cycling meeting held in Christchurch since before the war will take place at English Park on Christmas afternoon, when the Maixehau Cycling Club will hold a meeting. *h© sport of cycle racing has increased immensely In popularity with the public of recent ’-ears, while so far as riders are concerned it- has only to be mentioned that the entries for this meeting constitute a record for New Zealand to show what a boom has taken place from an all-round point of view. The star item on the programme will be the one mile New Zealand championship race, the presence of such riders as P. O'Shea, J. Henderson, C. Bel! and W. amongst others, will ensure an exciting contest. Patrons of the meeting held a fortnight ago for the benefit of English Park will recollect what a fine race Henderson rode when he defeated O’Shea iu the final of the three mi!© event, and he should keep the champion very busy to retain the title. Maekie won two races and rode second to O’Shea in the wheel race at Cust last Saturday, and is at the top of his form. Great interest will also centre round the appearance of C. Bell, who rode third in the • Warrnambool to Melbourne road race, and who is a. very fine track sprinter. The championship alone, for which there are twenty-three entrants, should he worth going to see. Fifty-four entries have been received in the two mile wheal race, and fifty-one in the three miles. Other events include a half-mile dash, one mile Derby, half-mile ladies’ race, and one mile members’ handicap. The racing will commence at 1.45 p.m.