ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 479, 28 September 1899, Page 6

ON THE WHEEL

I By

Cyolos.

The start for the Century Run was made at the Reservoir, corner of Ponsonby and Karangahape Roads, at 6.20 a.m. on Sunday morning, and we got back at 5.50 p.m., finishing at the Three Lamps. Forty-two started, but only thirteen finished. The route taken was from the Reservoir, up Symonds Street, and down Kyber Pass to Newmarket, through Mangere, round by the Papatoitoi Railway Station, and on to Papakura, where Mr T. McEwen, had an excellent breakfast waiting. Taking three-quarters of an hour for breakfast, the cyclists mounted again, and went off down to Wairoa, from there to Maraetai, and then, coming back to Wairoa, rode on to the Ness Valley and then to Otau. From there they rode back to Papakura, and had dinner. Taking an hour for dinner, the cyclists then proceeded on through Drury as far as Rama-Rama, where they turned back, coming through Papakura, and turning off at Otahuhu, thence making for home, through Mangere again, and thus finishing up the 100 miles journey. The only ones to finish were :—P. Smith, A. J. Baker, C. Stewart, R. Eraser, J. Conway, S. Tyson, H. Heatherington, D. Allen, F. Mens, R. Mens, 0. Henning, and R. Talbot. In the Century Run sixty-two miles were covered before 12.30 p.m., nineteen cyclists going this part of the journey. I might add that the pace during the early part of the day was made so strong that the majority of cyclists had to drop out. In most instances the cyclists that got knocked up were those who*had made the pace. The roads selected by Mr Peter Smith for the Century Run were very good indeed, with the exception of one or two short stretches of loose metal. All the Wairoa roads were first-class, and the scenery of the Wairoa River is perfect. One third of the would-be century riders never reached Papakura. There were several collisions during the early part of the Century Run, but the riders quickly mounted again and rode on. One man ran into a ditch and buckled his front wheel, but it was straightened out, and he was enabled to ride on. Only one puncture occurred during the day. Messrs C. and J. Stewart and R. Fraser rode a triplet in the Century Run. I consider this a first-class performance, the machine being geared to 84, and a large number of hills had to be climbed during the run. All entries for the Auckland Cycling Club’s Spring Meeting close on October 14. W. Wade, of Melbourne, broke the twenty-five miles I'oad record for Australia, covering the distance in Ihr 9min 40sec, which is 2min 14sec better than the previous record held by W. Hickox, of Melbourne. The principle events at the wheel races held in Adelaide on the first of this month were won on Massey-Harris bikes The Onehunga Club is going to erect a banked track on the local recreation ground. The club has been affiliated to to the Auckland centre of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen. A simple way to remove rust is to dampen a cloth with vinegar and dip it in emery flour, and rub briskly.

Jones and Sutherland, the well-known New Zealand Cyclists, at present racing in Australia, competed at the Adelaide meeting on September 2. Jones rode exceptionally well, giving a splendid exhibition of riding in.his half-mile heat, winning very easily off the syd mark in the fast time of 59 l-ssec. He, however, did not start in the final. In the mile heat, when winning easily, he was unable to negotiate the last corner, and ran into the fence. This, unfortunately, stopped him from competing again at the meeting. Sutherland had the misfortune to fall, two laps from home, whilst riding in the five-mile scratch race at Adelaide on September 2. It is stated that he was riding well when he came to grief. Gordon, one of the Melbourne cracks, won the principal events: the five-mile scratch and the one-mile handicap. Bill Martin is at present in Queensland competing at the different meetings. On a recent occasion he won the the three scratch events. Wall, the southern rider, will be a competitor at the A.C.C. meeting, to be held next month. The meeting between Wall and Reynolds will be looked forward to with great interest. C. Stewart, the Carbine of the track, has left the New Zealand Alliance, and has joined the League amateurs. Several of Auckland’s racing men have expressed a wish that the track in the Domain should be made round this season, as this would do away with the corners on last year’s track. Dave Crozier is at present on a business trip to Wellington. Christchurch has always been considered to have more cyclists than any other town in New Zealand; but lately it has been admitted that Masterton has the greatest number in comparison with the population: - The New Zealand Wheel Race, which is to be held in Christchurch on December 16, carries a cash prize of 75 sovs. Cycle agents in Auckland speak most enthusiastically of the coming season, one agent having sold the whole of his last shipment. Tom Clarkson, the Christchurch rider, intends returning to the track, and has started training again. I am glad to see that the numerous athletic bodies of Auckland are waking to the fact that they must have a portion of the Freeman’s Biy Reclamation reserved, on which can be made a banked cycle track, either wood or asphalt, and. a pavilion. The money can be got without any difficulty. It only remains for the citizens of Auckland to decide whether they are to have an athletic park or not. The athletic bodies of Auckland must take a firm stand in the matter, because they now have the opportunity of acquiring a piece of ground which, with the outlay of a certain amount of capital, could be converted into a first-class recreation and sports ground. The racing season in Australia opened at Adelaide on September 1 with the Adelaide Eight Hours’ Day Union Sports. A spendid programme and perfect weather attracted not only large fields of first-class riders from the different colonies and America but unusually large public support. The principal event on the programme, the £9O Wheel Race, was won by young Wilksch, of S.A., on a Massey-Harris bicycle, from Rowlands, of Melbourne. Kissling, a Massey-Harris novice, won both the Herald Handicap (one mile) and the Mile Maiden Handicap, while Symonds, of S A., ran second to Gordon, of Victoria, in the Half-mile Celebration Handicap, and Forbes, of New Zealand, on the same wheel, was third in the Federation Handicap. The Dunlop trio, the White brothers and Donald McKay, are making good progress, and are now up at Burketown, on the Gulf of Carpentaria (Q.), whence they telegraphed as follows under date September 6 : —“ We stayed at Normanton until Sunday morning. Found the roads horribly rough, and crossed the Bino, also the Flinders river. We stayed at Inverleigh Station. Mr Brown,

the manager, is a good sort. Next day rode over the Devil’s Punch Bowl to Leichhardt, fifty miles of very rough country. Reached Floraville, and made an early start, the road being still rough, and made Burketown to - night. We were met ten miles out by Shadforth and party, who brought some whisky and water, which was very acceptable after fifty miles of a dry stage. We had great delays, owing to sticks getting in the wheels and breaking the spokes, and we had to put twelve in in three days. We are putting up at Brown’s, and leaving here on the 7th inst. The machines are standing the work splendidly, and it is a wonder that any part of them is left after this last three days. The Dunlops are not even scratched.”

Under the League of New Zealand Wheelmen’s new form of local government, the sport will be governed by “Centres.” The Wanganui Centre, as at present constituted, extends from Patea to Palmerston North, and inland to Taupo. The first meeting of the Wanganui Centre took place on September 12. Present.—Messrs McNaught, Murray, Remington, James, representing Wanganui Bicycle Club; and Mr A H. Coe, Foxton Cycling Club. Mr McNaught was elected Chairman, and Mr Muir Secretary. Correspondence was read from the Foxton and Manawatu Cycling Clubs, the latter objecting to the proposed boundaries.—The Secretary was instructed to communicate with the League on the matter. Mr J. H. Parker was elected to represent the centre on the Council at Christchurch. Local riders may secure licenses and register colours with the Secretary. Fee, 2s 6d. The Centre also issues permits to hold sports meetings to cycling clubs, and authority to place bicycle events on sports programmes to unaffiliated bodies.

The “N.Z. Wheelman” says :—“lt is alleged that the recent Sutherland-Chal-mers dispute in Wellington was a clear case of cronk riding and should be thoroughly investigated by the League’s council, if that body wishes to retain the remnant of public confidence which has been left to it. The charges which were strongly supported by the League’s consul, Mr A. 0. Norris, were most glaring but the only satisfaction Chalmers has so far received has been the loss of his appeal deposit.” A well-known New Plymouth rider, A. J. Campbell will shortly attempt to lower the 20 mile road record. He has already been over the course in very good time.

CANTERBURY NOTES.

[By Our Own Correspondent.]

Allan Jones, or Honolulu Jones as he was known among New Zealand riders la,st season, has already given the Australian an exhibition of his wonderful speed over a mile course.. Allan was a starter in the mile handicap at Adelaide, and when apparently winning comfortably had the misfortune to come down. Australian critics have expressed the opinion that the Honolulu boy will be at the top of the tree.

New Zealand riders promise to play a prominent part in Australia’s great cycle races this season. Forbes and Hunt, who have had two years racing in various parts of Australia, are reported to be riding particularly well, and so is A. J. Body. Both George Sutherland and Allan Jones will represent this colony while, according to the Wheelman, Bert Pither and Fred Simpson two old and well known New Zealand riders are likely to sport silk once more. The Pioneer Amateur Bicycle and Athletic Club which is now the Pioneer Bicycle Club and Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club combined may be said to be second only in point of strength and influence to the Auckland Amateur Cycling and Athletic Club. With two such admittedly strong influential clubs behind it the Cyclists Alliance ought to make more headway than it is doing. The Ashburton Amateur Cycling and Athletic Club has declared itself strongly in favour of continuing under Cyclists Alliance rules The Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club is considering the question of altering its constitution so as to admit cyclists as members.

All the newspapers in New Zealand, especially those directly interested in cycling, are endeavouring to administer a death blow to the gimcrack-got-up-for-auction-class-of bicycle that is bringing ruin on the legitimate trader. The Sport-

ing Review has no sympathy for the speculator who trys to foist shoddy bikes on the market as high grade wheels. Ernie Wall and Joey Barker, the two Christchurch speed kings, have commenced to spin round Lancaster Park track in racing rig. The Christchurch Cycling Club’s big annual wheel race run on December 16 will be worth £75 this year.

The N.Z. crack of last season made his debut in Australia at the big Adelaide Eight Hours Carnival. Suthy was put on the scratch mark with Charlie Forbes, but failed to score a win. In the Five Mile Scratch he had a bad spill which prevented him from starting in later events.