CYCLING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XVIII, 3 November 1900, Page 824

CYCLING.

AUCKLAND CYCLING CLUB. J SPRING CARNIVAL. The Auckland Cycling Club opened the eeuKon on Saturday afternoon with a carnival in the Domain Cricket Ground. The attendance was very moderate, numbering about sixteen hundred. Doubtless a good many, especially of the fair sex, were kept away by the threatening appearance of the weather, for, although no rain actually fell, the sky clouded over rather ominously during the afternoon. As regards the racing, the fields In most of the events were large,- but there were too many runaway victories to make the finishes very exciting. Among the cash cyclists, D. J. Plunkett, the Wellington rider, was head and shoulders above anyone pitted against him, scoring a win in every race in which ho started. He finished first in his heat in the Mafeking Plate (i mile) from scratch, and won the final with ease, following this up with an easy victory from scratch in the Auckland Wheel Race (2 miles). In the Kitchener Handicap (1 mile) Plunkett was placed 30 yards behind scratch. Nevertheless he won both his heat and the final without overexerting himself. He rode exceedingly well, and his style was much admired. In the amateur section, W. Reynolds won the Half-mile Bicycle Handicap from scratch, and al£b scored a runaway victory in the Mile Scratch Race for Mr L. Marshall’s ihedals. E. A. Thomas signalised his first appearance on the racing track by winning the BadenPowell Wheel Race (2 miles) from the 210 yards mark, besides getting second place in the mile, and third in the halfmile. The Auckland Handicap (3 distances), for pedestrians, was annexed by 11. Feurnley, who carried off the 100yds and 200yds. 11. M. Smith also ran well, g ■•Hing second in the 200 yards, second in the 300 yards and third in the 100yds. The Half-mile was won by W. Farquhar, and J. Kean scored a very hollow victory in the Mile, finishing about 30 yards ahead of Piro Piro, who just beat Farquhar for second place after a smart sprint. Several competitions for members of fire brigades drew a large number of entries and excited keen competition. So many teams, indeed, were competing that these events were not completed until nearly six o'clock. Mt. Eden Fire Brigade won two events and Auckland the third.