SURPRISE AT SPORTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 449, 15 December 1930, Page 7

SURPRISE AT SPORTS

RIDER AMONG SPECTATORS REPRISAL FOR COMMENT [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. With complete suddenness and un expectedness a disturbance occurred in a section of the crowd lining the banked cycling track at ”etone at the conclusion of the Laykold Cup event on Saturday afternoon. Several hundred people stood agape as one of the cyclists, who had just competed in the event, went round the track, slowing down, and when in the straight again appeared to ride directly into the crowd. The incident developed with swiftness, preventing event immediate bystanders from grasping what was happening. It seems that the rider finished in the middle of the group, tumbled down, established contact with a neighbour as he was rising to his feet, and was promptly set about by ethers nearby. The explanation of the incident seems to lie in remarks called out by a group of those on the bank as the riders were competing in the race. The competing cyclists wore under control of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, and the bevy on the bank were n sympathy, it is said, with the New Zealand Union of Cyclists. The rider who started the trouble objected, apparently, to the remarks which were made, and decided upon a reprisal at the conclusion of the race. It is difficult to find whether the remarks, either offensive or inoffensive, were made by those on the bank, but they have nevertheless lodged an official protest. Quite a number seemed to join in the actual fracas, ..nd the crowd naturally rushed to see what was going on. Police intervention brought the incident to a close, but no arrests were made.