ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 447, 16 February 1899, Page 6

ON THE WHEEL

[By

Cyclos.]

LEAGUE OF NEW ZEALAND WHEELMEN. The Governing Body of Cycling in New Zealand, AMATEUR and CASH. Federated with National Cyclists Union of England. The Leagues of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia. AFFILIATED CLUBS. Club. Seobetary. Au'’ Cycling Club ... ... G. Peace < art Cycling Club W. McKenzie Danevi he Cycling Club J. Holt Feßding Cycling Club M. S. Brunette Foxton Cycling Club C. T. Austin Hawera Cycling Club ... ... A. M. Conroy Huntly Cycling Club W. Ellison Manawatu Cycling Club J. E. Manning Otaki Cycling Club ... ... A. Knocks Rangitikei Cycling Club ... ... J". Robson Wellington Cycling Club R- Hood Wanganui & W.C. Cycling Club H. R. Woon Wairarapa Cycling Club ... ... P. C. Reynolds Woodville Rovers Cycling Club H. P. Horne Weraroa Cycling Club C. Thompson New Plymouth Cycling Club ... H. H. Mace Petone-Hutt Cycling Club ... F. Packard Ariel Cycling Club ... J- Muller Christchurch Cycling Club ... F. D. Kesteven Hokitika Cycling Club ... ... E. J. Dorreen Denniston Cycling Club ... ... J. T. Jaspers Greymouth Cycling Club F. W. Keddell Invercargill Cycling Cash Club... W. E. Gladstone Jubilee Cycling Club T. G. Jamieson Kumara Cycling Club R- Rouse Marlborough Cycling Club ... J. H. Scott North Otago Cycling Club ... J. E. Hood Reef ton Cycling Club B. P. McMahon Riverton Cycling Club D. McKenzie Selwyn Cycling Club G. 0. Derrott Amberley Rovers ... ... ... J. Blain Alexandra Cycling Club ... ... J. R- Cairns Otago Cycling Club D- Duncan Roxburgh Cycling Club W. George Vincent Cycling Club T. Beveridge Invercargill A.C. & A.C.... ... E. Norton Dunedin Cycling Club A. C. McLeod Lawrence Cycling Club ... ... J. B. Rinley Middlemarch Cycling Club ... J. Robertson Star Cycling Club J- W. Manchester Mataura Cycling Club ... .. T. G. Smith Gore Cycling Club .. G.F. Morison Westport Cycling Club J. S. Webb Wyndham Cycling Club .;. ... D. J. McLauhlan Balclutha Cycling Club J. W. Mitchell Otago Railway Cycling Club ... L. Barclay Stratford Cycling Club ... G. Pritchard Wanderers Cycling Club ... W. Copeland Nelson Cycling Club ... N. B. Levien Wanganui Cycling Club ... J. T. Muir Thames Cycling Club ... ... A Williams Port Nicholson Cycling Club ... A. E. Homer Gisborne Cycling Club R- Cole Kaiapoi Cycling Club J. E. Brockelbank Tapanui Cycling Club W Butcher Pioneer Cycling Club ... .. B. O. Duncan Waitemata Cycling Club ... E. G. Skeates Oxford Cycling Club W H Alford Waihi Cycling Club E. Joll Bruce Cycling Club J. McLeod Geraldine Cycling Club ... P. Boarke Temuka Cycling Club C. A C. Opie Winton Cycling Club F. Moore Leeston Cycling Club W. Dent F. D. KESTEVEN, Secretary. 7, Chancery Lane, Christchurch. League of New Zealand Wheelmen’s Definition AMATEUR SECTION. A League Amateur is one who is the holder of an amateur license from the League, and who has not since November 4th, 1897 1. Engaged in, nor assisted in, nor taught any cycling exercise for money or other remuneration. 2. Knowingly competed with or against a person who does not hold a license under the Amateur Definition of this League, or a person under suspension, for a remuneration of auy description, or in any cycle contest in public (except where permission is granted by the Executive). 3. Made pace for, or been paced by a person who does not hold a license under this League, or for or by a person under suspension by this League. 4. Sold, realised upon, or otherwise converted into cash any prize won by him. 5. Accepted directly, or indirectly any remuneration, compensation, or expenses whatever from a cycle manufacturer, agent, sport promoter, or person interested in the trade or sport, for cycle riding, except where special permission is granted by the Executive. CASH SECTION. Any member of the League outside the Amateur Section is eligible to hold a Cash license, which is forfeited by —1. Competing aglinst any person who does not hold a license under the Cash Section of this League, or against a person under suspension, or at an unauthorised meeting, except where permission is granted by the Executive. 2. Making pace for, or being paced bv, a person who does not hold a license under this League, or for or by a person under suspension. 3. Racing for a bet, stake, or gate money, without permission of the Executive.

Ralston won the Timaru Wheel Race, worth £5O, at the Tourists’ Meeting. He rode a Massey-Harris machine. Over on the “ other side ” the Massey-Harris has been coming in for a fair share of prize-money. The Dayton is another machine used by successful riders of late. Riders of the Dayton secured £3lO, or more than half the total amount of stake-money distributed at the late A.N.A. meeting at Melbourne. The A.N.A. Wheel Race, with its first prize of £250, fell to Wrenfird Matthews (220yds), who was followed home by Herman (230yds), Eales (200yds), and Hipkins (175yds). Prior to this important victory, Matthews, . who has been riding for some considerable time, had the unique record of two wins and one second.

The A.N.A. Gold Stakes was won by Walne, with Jackson second, Forbes third, and Barker fourth. Walne’s time for the final (three miles) was 7min 1 4-ssec. pgpwtaiiHii It is stated that Matthews, the winner of the A.N.A. Wheel Race, won nothing by his victory except the prize money. He started at the remunerative price of IGO to 1, so a very fair sum could have been won for a small investment. Commenting on the riding at the A.N.A. meeting, an Australian contemporary says, in regard to the racing on the last day : —“ There was not one race in which there was not some faking attempted. No one was wiped out, and perhaps for the reason that if justice had been done there would have been hardly enough men left to carry the programme through. Until the League makes an alteration in the dressing-room and betting arena, there will be no abatement of what is at once a disgrace and a calamity.” The above is pretty strong language, and what about this ? —At the present rate of progress in ‘ cronkness,’ cycling will achieve the character of other 1 cronk ’ sports in a season or two at the outside —if, indeed, it has not got there already.” The cycling events to be decided at the Autumn Meeting of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club comprise a , one mile handicap for novices, a half-mile handicap for schoolboys, and half-mile, one mile, two miles, and five miles handicaps. Entries for all these races close on Saturday, February 25, when Mr J. W. Browne wilFbe present at the Amateur Sports Club to receive nominations. Thus writes a Victorian There are apparently already difficulties arising as to amateur cycling here. Mr B. J. Parkinson and the hon. secretary of the V.A.A.A. were instructed to go into the question of putting two amateur cycling events in the programme for February 18. In previous years the association fixed small prizes with an entry fee of Is 6d, and took their risk as to the number of entries, and expenses were kept at a minimum. The V.A.O.U. having decided to join the L.V.W., the latter body was approached, and it was found that under their rules £lO was the minimum prize money for a race; further enquiries elicited that Is per entrant was chargeable for handicapping, and the L.V.W. deducted 5 per cent of the prize money. Under such conditions amateur cycling races are not likely to be held at our championship meeting, much as the V.A.A.A. might desire to aid amateur sport. Two or three first-class riders whitewashed the rims of their machines for the night racing at the A.N.A. meeting in Melbourne. They evidently took a lesson from the previous two A.N.A. finals, when the winners rode white rims, and when both races were so closely contested that the two leaders seemed to flash over the line together, the verdict in both cases being given to the white-rimmed machine as against the black-rimmed one. The Cyclone Tri contests for twentyfour picked riders at the A.N.A. meeting brought out all the cracks, and the spectators were accorded an opportunity to welcome back the New Zealand champion, A. J. Body, who started in the three and five miles events. F. S. Beauchamp, W. C. Jackson, and Don. Walker were most conspicuous at the finishes over the various distances of one, three, and five miles, taking first, second, and third prize in the order named. The one mile event resulted after a good contest, in Jackson stalling off Beauchamp, with Walker, who finished splendidly, 'close up third. A still more exciting finish for the three miles event saw Walkef just get home in front of Beauchamp, Jackson having to put up with third place, and then came Beauchamp’s turn, the ' b five miles falling to him, with Jackson second and Forbes third. These results gave Beauchamp 7 points, Jackson 6, and Walker 4,

The English National Cyclists’ Union has lately arranged a scheme of insurance for its members. The annual subscription of three shillings and sixpence includes an accident policy ensuring a payment of £5O for a fatal accident and £1 a week for five weeks for total disablement. There will be a big meeting at the Th am ar on Saturday, when the Thames Cycle Club holds its summer meeting. All th® cracks have entered for the various events, and Mr W. B. Eyre’s handicaps should bring good fields together and provide some close finishes. James Somerville, the GouTburn cyclist who died in the Sydney Hospital through his skull being fractured in a fall on the Sydney Cricket Ground at the electric light meeting, was only twenty-four years of age, and a finely-built, promising rider. He fell a few yards from the same spot where James Tooher was killed a short time ago. There were only a dozen riders in the race, and the cause of the accident has not been determined, but it is thought that Somerville knocked another rider’s back wheel in trying to rush to the front. He was buried at Goulbourn, and the League and Electric Light Syndicate sent wreaths to be placed on the young man’s coffin. He never regained consciousness after the accident, but lingered on for three days before passing away. The, leading English cycle is said to be the 1899 model Budge-Whitworth. Wrenford Matthews, the winner of the A.N.A. Wheel Race, used Palmer tyres. In many parts of Germany cyclists are compelled by law to carry an identification as a precaution in case of an accident occurring. Reynolds, Dexter, Hyauison, and Graham will take part in the Wanganui Championship Meeting. They leave for the South on Sunday. “ Honolulu ” Jones won the First-class Mile Handicap at Dunedin on Saturday from the 30yd mark. He easily won -From Ralston (25yds) and Middleton (40yds) in 2min 9sec. The Dunedin Wheel Race, two miles, resulted in a dead-heat between J. McMillan (20yds) and A. Middleton (70yds) the distance being covered, in 4min 38 4-ssec.. In the run off it -is said that McMillan won by nearly three-quarters of a lap from Middleton in the slow time of smin C 4-ssec. I think there must be some mistake in McMillan’s start as telegraphed. It is more likely that his handicap was 220yds instead of 20yds. The Two Mile Amateur Championship of Otago fell to F. Hill, who won after a good race by a couple of lengths from Gibson and Melville. The time is returned as 4min 59 3-ssec. A two mile cash race was-on the programme of the races at Dunedin on Saturday, but the entrants scratched, as they were under the impression that there were no cash prizes to ride for.