ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 455, 13 April 1899, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

LBy

Cyclos.]

LEAGUE OF NEW ZEALAND WHEELMEN. The Governing Body of Cycling in New Zealand, AMATEUR and CASH. Federated with National Cyclists Union of England, International Cyclists’ Association. The Leagues of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia. AFFILIATED CLUBS. Club. Secretary. Auckland Cycling Club G. Peace Carterton Cycling Club W. McKenzie Danevirke Cycling Club ... ... J. Holt Foxton Cycling Club C. T. Austin Hawera Cycling Club A. M. Conroy Huntly Cycling Club W. Ellison Manawatu Cycling Club J. F. 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... ... E. W. Keddell Tnverca.rgill 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. C. 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. 8. 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 ... ... T. T. McAlister Pioneer Cycling Club ... .. R. O. Duncan Waitemata Cycling Club ... B. G. Skeates Oxford Cycling Club W H. Alford Waihi Cycling Club ... ... E. Joll Bruce Cycling Club J. McLeod Geraldine Cycling Club ... P. Bourke Temuka Cycling Club C. A C. Opie Winton Cycling Club F. Moore Leeston Cycling Club W. Dent Timaru Tourist Cycling Club ... A. H. Bourn Cromwell Cycling Club ... ... A. H. Harris Cambridge Cycling Club ... ... C. W. Arnold 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 formoney 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 any 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. The Executive of the League may entertain and deal with applications for reinstatement from those who have forfeited their amateur status or were not amateurs within the meaning of the foregoing definition ot Nov. 4, 1897, each case to be decided on its merits. A member applying for reinstatement must have abstained from any infringment of the amateur status for one year before his application can be considered 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—l. 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 b'-, 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.

At the V.R.C. League Meeting the very large entry was doubtless due to the fact that pacing prizes are offered for the first in each lap, and many secondrate riders enter whose only aim is, by sprinting round several laps, to earn a few shillings. This is not only hurtful to the sport itself, but dangerous to riders, while the championship men—those who are capable of displaying championship form—are hampered and prevented from riding a good race.

The Australian Cyclist thus describes the accident in the Ten Mile Championship at Melbourne. The pace as the last lad was entered was terrific, and the field, not to be shaken off, charged down the back stretch in a compact bunch of fourteen desperate riders. Nearing the Aquarium corner Walne made a rush to the front, and Body, unable to stand the strain, fell back among the ruck men. Corbett and another rider bumped as they swung round the bend, and the former cannoning against Body sent the New Zealander spinning across the asphalt in the path of the men behind. Lou Barker, who was closely following Body, crashed into the prostrate wheelman, and in an. instant Symonds was hurled headlong over the pair, with McDonald accompanying, whilst Denning and Lewis, who endeavoured to run up the bank and escape the collided, and then, to the horror of the spectators, crashed into the iron railings of the arena fence. Denning, who struck the rails almost full on, shot into the air, hit the electric light, knock-' ing it out, then, in a series of sickening thuds, whirled along the top of the iron stanchions, and fell in a heap upon the track beside McDonald, who lay with gaping wounds in his head and neck. Whilfta Wellington youth was riding his biJjfcle about one o’clock the other morning on his way to a fire, he stopped to ask a policeman where the fire was. The constable mystified him by asking him his name. The mystery was solved a day or two afterwards, when the cyclist was summoned and fined for riding without a light. The severe accident on the Melbourne Exhibition track was responsible for a meeting of professional cyclists to consider, the question of the overcrowding of the tracks. A resolution was carried to the effect that the overcrowding was dangerous to the lives of the contestants and detrimental to the interests of the sport. ' It was also decided to urge the immediate adoption of some system of selection in championship and other important scratch races, so as to limit the entries to those who have proved a claim by their previous performances. Melbourne Age, in reporting the accident which took place on the Melbourne Exhibition track in the Ten Mile Championship, says:—The direct cause of the accident was, of course, a collision between two riders, but many spectators, beside officials of the League, hold the opinion that the direct cause was the overcrowding of the track. Although the rules of the League state that not more than fifteen competitors shall start on the Exhibition track in a two-mile handicap event, in the five-mile champion race there were thirty-two starters, and in the ten-mile event there were twenty-nine starters. . - • “ The cause of the accident,’* says Mr McDonald when questioned as to how the mishap occurred, “ was undoubtedly the presence of these second-raters. It does not give a man a chance. They bustle things for the sake of a few shillings, and spoil the race for men who are capable of winning it. The wonder to me is that we are not all killed.” McDonald said that he had no idea of the position in which he was riding; he merely saw Barker, who was in front of him, sit up on his machine, and he recollected no more until he regained his senses in the casualty room. The results of the Championships came as a surprise to many of the old bauds. W. C. Jackson, who has again reached his old form, carried off the One Mile Championship of Victoria and the Five Mile Australasian Championship in brilliant fashion. Walne, who certainly rode a singular race in the Five Mile (Lampionship, snatched the Ten Mile Victorian Championship from Forbes by a wheel’s breadth. Greenfield, who won the Amateur Mile Championship of Australia, accidentally fouled Shrimpton, who, in true sportsmanlike fashion, refused to protest against the victor. G. Carpenter and R. W. Lewis also showed, greatly improved form.

Mr E. H. Lenne, the handicapper of the meeting, is emphatic in denouncing the system of allowing second rate riders to start in the championship events. ‘‘The race he said, “ with so many starters was positively dangerous from the commencement. I would suggest that out of all those who enter some fifteen should be selected who were

capable of showing championship form. . In the race in which the accident occurred there were some starters whom I would give nearly 200yds in a two-mile handicap. They should never have been allowed to ride.”

The Cycle Engineers’ Institute, England, recently held a general meeting, at which there was read a presidential address, and the first technical paper was submitted. This was from the pen of Mr Archibald Sharp, who more than any other man has devoted himself to the theory of cycling mechanics, resigning a professorship of mathematics to establish himself as a cycle engineer and consulting ezpert. His handbook on the cycle is considered the leading work of its nature, and in this paper he discussed the comparative values of chain and toothed wheel gears. As all his predecessors have done, he awarded the palm for efficiency to the chain, but he laid more than usual stress on the claims of toothed wheel gears to durability, cheapness, simpicity of parts and adaptability, to wear or distortion.

Now that the League of Victorian Wheelmen has decided to affiliate with tiie International Association some of the cracks of the Australian track will probably be found amongst the visitors to the World’s International Championship meeting at Mantreal in August. Should Australia or any one of the colonies decide to send a rider as its special representative it is to be hoped that the farce of trial races will be dispensed with. Everybody (says The Leader) knows that R. H. Walne is the one man qualified to represent Australia, and thb announcement of his selection to do so at Montreal would give general satisfaction throughout the colonies. Apart from Walne’s undeniable excellence as a rider, it is satisfactory to know that in all other respects he is a singularly creditable specimen of the Australian athlete, which is a matter of no small consideration. Last week I hinted that Allan Jones was going heme to America. It seems likely that he may have a companion, ;for George Sutherland is named as a fellow traveller.

The Wanderers Bicycle Club’s Road Race from Waipawa to Napier was decided on March 30. The weather was fine, and the roads in good order. The winner was G. Williamson, of Havelock, who was in receipt of 15min handicap. His net time for the distance was 2hr I6minsl l-ssec. Williamson and Mulcaster rode together throughout the race, and the former won by just a length, after a very fine finish.

The Hon. James Carroll was entertained at a smoking on Saturday night, the occasion being a farewell, tendered to Mr F. S. Malcolm, late president of the Auckland Cycling Club.