CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 325, 15 October 1896, Page 3

CYCLING

[By

Rim.]

The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club’s “ victor ludor.um” goes to the wheelmen this meeting, and should attract keen competition. A. new and welcome addition to our amateur ranks will be Mr Dexter, of Honolulu, who, we understand, “ ruled the roost” in those parts, and can muster up a lot of pace. He starts here as a cycle manufacturer. “Mr G. Nordon, one of the leading members of the Auckland Cycling Club, paid a visit to Christchurch a week ago to endeavour to get some of the cash riders in the South Island to compete at the Auckland Club’s big carnival on November 14. Mr Nordon was hospitably entertained in Christchurch, and the cash cyclists there promised to send a representative to the Auckland carnival.

A. R. Barker has already signified his intention of coming to Auckland, and riders here will have to train hard to have a show of beating the speedy Canterbury rider. Last year Barker won several championships, and succeeded in beating Martin, Harris, and Pither in races at Christchurch.

A. G. Wilmot, the ex-amateur champion of the colony, who is now employed as salesman in a Christchurch bicycle firm, has stated that he intends riding for cash this seasan. Wilmot is one of the fastest riders ever produced in New Zealand, and will in all probability make his appearance in an open race in Auckland next month.

The Auckland cyclists held their annual opening run on Saturday last, and a most successful function it proved, too, some 150 riders, including about 20 ladies, taking part in the manouvres. Shortly after half-past two the procession, two deep, set out on its journey from the Queen-street wharf, where a large attendance of spectators gathered to watch their departure, in fact right through the city and suburbs they were watched by hundreds of people. After wheeling up and down Queen-street, they passed round Custom-street West into Hobsonstreet, through Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road to the Three Lamps. From this point they returned back through Ponsonby, Karangahake Road — being joined at Pitt-street corner by several ladies — Upper Symonds-street, down Kyber Pass, through Newmarket to the foot of Mount St. John’s, where they dismounted and were photographed. After resting for some little time, they set out on the return journey, via Remuera, to Newmarket. The Northern Cyclist Touring Club are responsible for the arrangements, and are to be congratulated on having brought the run to such a successful issue

“ Wheeler,” of the Sydney Referee, has the following to say about the muddle over the Cyclists’ Union test match : — “ I hardly think that anyone who is ordinarily well Informed on the subject will consider that the best man has come out on top as the result of the Cyclists’ Union test races and championships, arranged to choose a representative to be sent to race next season in England. Goodson is an undoubtedly promising rider, and a jolly good-natured one, who is deservedly popular, but I should say that Simpson and Kerr are each superior. Though not strictly trained to the hour, the young Rockhamtonite was strong and well, as he showed by scoring in the three miles (the second time) and the five and ten miles. Kerr was decidedly off, going from bad to worse much as Megson did at the time of the Zimmer man Carnival. His win in the mile was a flash in the pan, only a suggestion of what he was capable of if fit enough to saddle up repeatedly. As it was, he was weak and tired, and as he remarked on the day, “ If they can’t beat me now they can never beat me.” Simpson, too, was short of condition, having been chosen at the eleventh hour, and not improved by a sea voyage, more particularly as he he had that distressing large wheel and big gear to push on the grass. It is claimed that it is very easy, but the

way in which Simpson laboured at times, and his ungainly action generally do not bear that out. It may be all right on a fast track. Anyhow, the points scored are now counted —Goodson 9, Smith 8, Kerr 7, Simpson 4. That is striking out the three miles as first run, and counting the run-off, in which Kerr started under protest, and Simpson refused to go to the post, the victory thus being secured by Goodson, who did not complete the course on the first occasion. Had the race not been re-run on Monday (which, I think, was a very unfair proceeding, only making confusion worse confounded), the scores would have been Kerr 8, Simpson 7, and Goodson and Smith 6 each. But to arrive at that Simpson was deprived of 3 points, through very properly being disqualified in the half-mile final. So that, reckoning without the disqualification, and the result of the three miles’ being allowed to stand, Simpson would have had 10 points, Kerr 7, Goodson 6, and Smith 5. But as a real test of merit, as the competitors are at present even, that would be misleading, for very possibly Goodson would have won the three miles on the first day but for the fiasco. Still, to give him a chance the second time was not fair to Simpson and Kerr, who completed the course on the first day, and to make up their lost ground after the accident they took so much out of themselves that they were positively at a disadvantage in meeting comparatively fresh men in the half and five miles events later on.”

At the Cyclists’ Union sports, held on behalf of the Hospital at Sydney on Saturday last, the mile race was won by Cameron, with 10yds start; Simpson (New Zealand), scr., 2; New, 25yds, 3. The finish was very exciting, Cameron winning by a quarter of a wheel. Time, 2min 13 2-ssec. In the Half-mile Race, Kerr put up the Australasian competition record, covering the distance in Imin 2 4-ssec. Simpson was badly beaten in his heat. York won the Two-mile Flat Championship in lOmin 24sec, beating Wigg Three hundred cyclists attended the opening parade of the season at Dunedin.

An attempt will be made this month by Mr C. Von Ledebeur to lower the Dunedin to Christchurch record.

The Lawrence Club is offering a trophy to the rider who makes the best record from Lawrence to Waitahuna and back this season.

A proposal has been made that a French team should visit Australia during the season. “ Demon,” of the Otago Witness, thinks that a lady rider who wears a bonnet should not wear knickerbockers. The same authority also gives the following interesting information:—“lt is-impos-sible to wear a very large hat upon the machine. . . A small hat means sunbrown. . . Spotted nets attract the sun. . . Black veils are dreadful things for freckling.” The embarrassing question is thus suggested, What are the fair creatures to wear ?