CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 330, 19 November 1896, Page 4

CYCLING

[By

Rim.]

Auckland, October 27th, 1896. To the Proprietors, Spobting Review, Auckland.

Deab Sies, —I have pleasure in advising you that the Spobting Review has been appointed the Official Organ of the Auckland Cycle Club. Yours faithfully, J. P. HOWDEN, Sports Secretary.

AUCKLAND CYCLING CLUB’S CARNIVAL.

The first cash carnival of the Auckland Cycling Club, held on the Domain on Saturday last, was a pronounced success, and notwithstanding the powerful counter attraction at Potter’s Paddock there must have been quite 8,000 persons present, and they were rewarded with an excellent afternoon’s entertainment. The officials carried out their duties well, and the competitors themselves materially assisted in the success of the carnival One event followed quickly on the other, and the interest of the spectators was well maintained from first to last, and the performances of Mr A. R. Hunter’s band increased the pleasure of those present. Besides the racing during the afternoon, A. R. Barker, champion of New Zealand, gave an exhibition ride of one mile. He was paced for three laps by Wilmott and Forbes on a Rambler tandem, and in the fourth by Hunt. He did not get going well at the start, and his time was 2min 34 l-ssec. Reynolds is credited with an unpaced record of 2min 30sec, but this performance has not been officially recorded. Messrs. Kerr and Kingsley’s trick riding proved to be one of the features of the day’s entertainment, while the fancy costume race was very amusing. Following are the results of the cycling events : — One Mips Maiden Bicycle Handicap. A. Campbell, 10yds behind scratch ... ... 1 H. Risler, 15yds ... •• ••• ••• 2 W. Irvin, 85yds ... ... ••• ••• 3 A dozen starters. Won easily. Time, 2min 48 3-ssec. Auckland Cycling Club Handicap. F. Hunt (Rangitikei), 13 points ... ... 1 A. R. Barker (Christchurch), 11 points ... 2 A. C. Forbes (Manaia), 4 points 3 The handicap was decided in three distances—one, three, and five miles —and all three events were well fought out, particularly the mile, the finish of which was most exciting. Following are the details One mile: A. R. Barker, scr., 1 ; F. Hunt, 10yds, 2; R. Hendry, 75yds, 3.

Time, 2min 35 2-ssec. Won by about half a wheel. Three miles: F. Hunt, 30yds, 1; A. R. Barker, scr., 2; A. C. Forbes, 45yds, 3. Time, Bmin, 51 3-ssec. Won by about 25yds. Five miles : F. Hunt, 45yds, 1; A. R. Barker, scr., 2 ; A. C. Forbes, 50yds, 3. Time, 14min 51 4-ssec. Won by a quarter of a lap. Five-Mile Bicycle Scbatcii Race. A. R. Barker 1 F. Hunt 2 A. C. Forbes ... ... --• ••• ••• 3 Won by six inches. Time, 14min 57 4-ssec. A lap prize, consisting of a pair of “ G. and J. tyres, presented by Messrs. Dexter and Crozier, was won by Hunt, who led in fifteeen laps.

Half-Mile Bicycle Handicap. A. C. Wilmott, scr. ... ... ••• 1 A. C. Forbes, 20yds ... ... ••• ••• 2 C. Curteis, 35yds 3 Won by a few inches. Time, Imin 16sec. Five-Mile Bicycle Handicap. A. Campbell, scr. ... ... ••• 1 G-. Hyauiason, 35yds ... ... ••• 2 A. Skeats, 120yds 3 Won comfortably. Time, 15min 13sec. Two-mile Tandem Race. North Island (Hunt and Forbes) 1 South Island (Barker and Wilmott)... ... 2 Won by a wheel. Time, smin 48sec. Fancy Costume Race. R. Hendry, 30yds ... ... ••• ••• 1 J. McDermott, 80yds ... ... ... ••• 2 C. Curteis, 40yds 3 Cycling seems to have reached its zenith amongst lady riders here, and I notice that no less a body than St. Barnabas’ Church is issuing a programme for an afternoon’s spree at Mr Heather’s grounds, Mt Eden, shortly, and advertise races for lady riders —with the Kirk’s consent, mind you, and right under the clerical eye. The wheel events in connection with the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club s Carnival bear a very open aspect, and I feel disposed to leave the selection of the winners in the hands of my readers to use their own judgment. As a matter of fact, I do not feel inclined to take a “ parcel ” of abuse when the show is over. On Saturday next, at the Amateur Athletic Club’s Carnival, Mr. E. Reynold’s, the local amateur, will go for a mile record on grass, and it is anticipated that he will easily capsize the time put up by Barker on Saturday last. The cash visitors carried off all the plums at the Auckland Cycling Club’s Carnival last Saturday, Wilmott being the only man who did not realise a tidy sum. Rather peculiar, is it not, that Mr Coldham, a Victorian barrister, who does not himself disdain to shoot at pigeons for money prizes, strongly objects to cyclists competing for cash. Why is this thus ? Surely the ever-smiling W. T. C., barrister-at-law, would be mortally offended were anyone to insinuate that he was not an amateur sbootist. Yet he does not hesitate to denounce any cyclist who competes for cash as a professional. Guiseppe, the Italian, has challenged J. Shearer, the winner of the S A. League Handicap, to race two miles for £2O. There is a flood tide in wheeling at Coolgardie. where £451 was taken on the first day of the cycle sports. A correspondent in The Wheelman credits the Grey town Club with being asleep. J. S. Johnson, of America, Jaap Eden, of Holland, and Palmer, of England, are all champion skaters as well as cyclists. Goodson, the Queensland amateur, who is to represent Australian trophy seekers in England next year is only 18 years of age. He is sft 10in in height and weighs lOst 101 b. In the last week in October, on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, J. W. Parsons made a successful attempt on the half-mile record on grass, with an unbanked track, and reduced his previous record, Imin 3 2-ssec, which is also the world’s record for a similar track, to 59 l-ssec. He ran the first quarter in 29sec, but in the second quarter the triplet did not appear to go fast enough The quarter mile record is 28 4-ssec, also by Parsons. The cable informs us that the prospectus of and Australian Cycle Motor Company, with a capital of £75,000, has been issued in London. Don Walker, paced by a triplet, recently established a new record for Australasia over a quarter of a mile, which he traversed in 26 2 sth sec, thus lowering Kerr’s record by two-fifths of a second. The Wheelman states that the Christchurch pot hunters and the Christchurch cash grabbers are making-up to one another in quite a brotherly fashion.

Dr. Crosfield an English lady doctor,, in a lecture on cycling for women, before the Royal Institution, Liverpool, laid especial stress on the great necessity for moderation in wheeling for women. Dr. Crosfield recommends cycling in her practice, but says that she finds difficulty in getting her patients to use just the right amount of it. She also advises the disuse of the corset, and recommends wide shoes, an upright position, and woollen underwear. With regard to food she says —“ Food should consist of a fair amount of meat and vegetables. Starchy foods are no good. New bread, pastry, and alcohol are to be avoided. The best things to take on a tour are plain chocolate and biscuits, of which there should be a supply in case of emergency. Noone should ride on an empty stomach, nor directly after a meal. Thirst may be lessened by keeping the mouth closed.” Harry Bailey lowered the 100-mile record for Tasmania on the 12th inst.,~ covering the distance in 4hr At the Wellington Exhibition track on November 10th J. O. Shorland made an attempt to break the one, three, and five mile local records. He was paced by Wellington riders: Muir, Hunt, Grove, F. Castle, W. Castle, and Wilkins. He was not successful in the mile or three miles, but in the five miles he reduced the time from 13min 39sec to 13min to 32sec. Muir subsequently went for the mile record, but only succeeded in tieing the existing record, 2min 30sec. There was a great deal of bar* racking, and Grove had a shot at the six laps also, but he only did 2min 31 l-ssec. Subsequently F. Castle went for the record, and, amid great cheering, he put up 2min 29sec. He was rushed, and carried round the track shoulder high, and well he deserved it.— N.Z. Mail. A number of English professionals are expected to visit Australia this year. The success of the Rambler bicycle was marked at the meeting held in the Domain last Saturday. These machine® are for sale at Dexter and Crozier, Victoria Street. On the 18th October, T. M. Lucy rode from Wellington to Masterton in 5£ hours, returning to Wellington the same day. The Quadrant machine he rode stood the strain without requiring any attention. This is the first time any cyclist has done this trip in a day. Smith and McCallum rode from Petone to Masterton and back to Wellington on a tandem one day last year. The directors of the Wellington Athletic Park are pushing on with their new track, and expect to have it completed within a month A large number of cyclists and others waited at the Cathedral steps, Nelson, about 6 o’clock on October 26, for the return of Mr W. A. Thomson (Oamaru Rovers), who was expected back from Foxhill. Mr Thomson did the distance to Foxhill and back in 2h 14m 48sec, beating Mr A. Leaver’s time by 15min 12sec. Mr Thomson was favoured by excellent weather. —N.Z. Wheelman.

The Hutt County Council are prohibitionists in spirit. The Council has determined that no cycle road race shall be allowed on any of the roads under its control.