CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 351, 15 April 1897, Page 2

CYCLING

[By

Rim.]

Auckland, October 27th, 1896.

To the Proprietors, Sporting Review, Auckland. Dear Sirs, —I have pleasure in advising you that the Sporting Review has been appointed the Official Organ of the Auckland Cycle Club. Yours faithfully, J. P. HOWDEN, Sports Secretary.

PACED OR UNPAGED CYCLING RACES-

The League Carnival just concluded (remarks the Sydney Referee) for the first time introduced paced cycling to the public on something like up-to-date lines. It was novel, and, therefore, interesting, but it served to demonstrate what we knew in theory before—that it is not an unmixed blessing. The problem yet to be solved is how best to make scratch races exciting. Without pace they are always liable to a funereal crawl and a sprint home, and, however the spectators may hoot at it, the competitors would be blind to their own interests if it were otherwise. No rider with any pretension to a winning chance can afford to throw it away by doing what the Americans call the “donkey work” for the field, and in the ordinary course unpaced scratch races, no matter whether they take place in America, England, France, or elsewhere, must in the early part prove stale, flat, and unprofitable to the ordinary onlooker. Pacing by quads, etc., has been hailed as a relief from the dilemma; but, while there is no doubt about the acceleration of the speed, things are hardly what they seem in muticyclepaced events. “ The trade” is such a powerful factor that it can practically say who shall and who shall not win, and the rider who has this influence against him may as well try to fly as to get home first, no matter what his merits are. “ The oracle” is so easily worked that leagues and other bodies are impotent to escape the trade incubus — a fact that has long been recognised in other countries, but the solution of the problem is yet far off. It has been suggested that the only way to absolutely control pacing —which, if it could be perfectly worked, would be the salvation of scratch races—is for the League or other body to own the pacing machines, and have full power over the riders who mounted them. But even that would be of little use. The pacing teams are composed of weak human beings, who are liable to lean to the rider of a particular brand of machine, according to consideration made and provided, apart from pure friendship, and it is the simplest thing in the world to arrange, beyond danger of proper proof of wilful intention, that a certain rider’s pace shall be unsatisfactory, and altogether too fast or too slow for requirements. Until the steam, electric, or other up-to-date pacers are introduced (and even these will have their special drawbacks), the evil will exist, and even then the steerer of the motor cycle will be amenable to “ argument.” So that it seems as if there is no way out of the difficulty. So far, paced racing has passed off here without serious trouble, but enough was seen to know what to expect, and it seems to us the League will do wisely by leaving well alone and not introducing any more of it. Australian sport lovers are peculiarly genuine in their tastes compared to those in America and other countries. They want the real thing (no exhibitions or hippodrome required ', whether in boxing, rowing, or any other events, and it is a fact that paced races can never be such genuine tests of merit as those without the extraneous and partially applied aid? The medium course to steer appears to be to provide substantial prizes for the winners of heats in scratch races, and also liberal consideration for lap leaders in longer events, so that the interest is sustained throughout, and a series of races serves to bring out the cream of the cyclists for the final struggle.

REYNOLDS’ PROPOSED VISIT TO ENGLAND.

The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club has decided to send E. Reynolds to Glasgow to compete at the World’s Cycling Championships in July if sufficient funds can be raised for the purpose. The club will head the subscription list with the handsome donation of £5O, and as the round trip will cost something under £2OO, it is hardly likely that there will be any little difficulty in collecting the necessary amount, several of the subscription lists out already being* nearly filled. All who take the least interest in cycling know what Reynolds (present New Zealand amateur champion) is capable of on the track, and I hardly think that anyone will differ with me when I venture the opinion that he would not disgrace the colony he has been chosen to represent amongst the amateur cracks of the Old Country. On one point, however, I have some doubt, and that is as to his prospects of being seen at his best by July, the visit of the New Zealand athletic team of some years ago having taught us that a man should be at Home fully three months before he can be expected to thoroughly adapt, himself to the climatic change and other circumstances, and thus be seen at his best. As matters stand at present this could not be done, and if he is to be sent things should be pushed forward to at least allow of his leaving by the next outgoing mail. Should he go, 1 feel certain that all wiU join with me in wishing the popular wheelman bon voyage and every success.

Latest Sydney files state that Wally Kerr, the Australian amateur champion, who recently sailed for England, may be expected to take part in the orld s Championship Meeting at Glasgow in July Should the Cornstalk do so he will doubtless meet the New Zealand crack, Reynolds, and the question as to which is the better man of the twain will then be set at rest. It will be remembered that when Kerr visited New Zealand some time back he expressed himself as disappointed at not meeting the Aucklander; also that, when Reynolds went across to Australia and won the Five Mile Australasian Championship Kerr was unfortunately not amongst the competitors. With reference to the championship meeting at Glasgow the London Sportsman says The World’s Cycling Championships of the International Cyclists Association will be held on the track of the Celtic Football Club at Parkhead, Glasgow. The Scottish Cyclists’ Union is making strenuous efforts to have a strong representation of the Englishspeaking race at these championships next July in Glasgow. Favourable replies have been received from America, Canada, and Cape Colony, who have promised to support the meeting. Australia has also been invited to join the International Cyclists’ Union, while the

support of the National Cyclists’ Union and the Irish Cyclists’ Association is certain to be extended to Scotland in order to make these world’s championships one of the features of Her Majesty’s record reign. The annual road race from Papakura to Parnell, under the auspices of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club will be held on May 24th (Queen’s Birthday). The event is open, as usual, to all amateurs, whether associated with the club or not. The latest thing in bicycles is the “ buck-jumper,” and as might have been expected, we have to thank the land of the Stars and Strips for its introduction. The machine is made with elliptical wheels instead of round ones, and is said to rear and jump about in a most startling fashion. Its first public appearance in New Zealand will be made at the Christchurch Cycling Club’s sports to-morrow (Good Friday). The New South Wales Cyclists’ Union will send B. Goodson, of Rockhampton, to represent Australia at the Glasgow Championships. An asphalt cycling and running track will, it is anticipated, be laid down at Hamilton shortly. I understand that Reynolds is not going down to the Wanganui Meeting on Easter Monday. Influenza has prevented his training.

At the Canterbury Athletic Club’s meeting on Saturday last, R. B. Benson (220yds) won the One-mile Bicycle” Handicap in 2min 15sec, V. Alexander (140yds) the Three-miles in 7min 38 2-ssec, and H. Amos (200yds) the Five-miles in 12min 35 3-ssec. Our Napier correspondent wired as follows on Tuesday : —Last evening at a quarter past five, on the Recreation Ground, Jas. Caughley attempted to lower Reynolds’ unpaced mile record of 2min 18sec. The evening was splendid for the attempt, hardly a breath of wind stirring. From a good start Caughley accomplished the first quarter in 35sec, the half mile in Imin 7 2-ssec, and the full distance in 2min 18 4-ssec. Though he failed to lower the New Zealand record put up by Reynolds, he beat Petersen’s local record of 2min2o 3-ssec, made a fortnight ago, and is therefore at present leading in the competition among members of the Wanderers’ Bicycle Club for Mr Reynolds’ medal. G. Petersen afterwards rode a quarter mile from a flying start in 31 sec. To-night at five o’clock James Caughley and G. Petersen will attempt to ride half a mile and one mile in the New Zealand standard time, and thereby gain a standard badge, the times being respectively Imin 6sec and 2min I6sec. On Wednesday night both riders will try and lower the unpaced New Zealand mile.